How to be productive during the Easter holidays.

Ah Easter break! A time to reunite with family, recover from Term 2, and of course, revise for exam season.

One thing that I appreciate about the structure of university, in comparison to the structure of secondary school/sixth form/college, is the extended time given for revision in Term 3. However, this time can feel overwhelming if you do not know how to spend it. So, what is the best way to create a revision timetable for exam season?

1. Do the math ➗

If you do not know where to begin, it may be best to do the math. What I mean by this is, if you calculate how many days you have until your exams and divide this number by the number of lectures you have in total – you can calculate how many lecturers you need to watch per day (as part of revision). Depending on your degree and availability you can adjust this to create a realistic timetable. 

If you have essay assignments, making similar calculations may be more difficult. Instead, you calculate how many weeks you have until your essay deadline and divide this number by the number of sections of your essay. For example, if your essay plan includes 4 sections and you have 4 weeks, you can aim to write one section per week. Of course, you can adjust this according to your specific essay format.

• Be realistic 📆

A revision timetable that is not realistic, is a revision timetable that will fail. Many of us can make the mistake of creating overly ambitious timetables, where we assume that we’ll be able to complete 100 tasks in 24 hours. But the reality is that with the time spent on showering, eating, and taking breaks – the average university student only studies for 6-10 hours a day. So, rather than attempting to complete several tasks within this time (and being disappointed because you did not complete them) – create 3-4 tasks to complete a day.

Some people prefer to create a time-to-time schedule and others prefer to use checklists. I have used both in the past and I find that either option works well when realistic (and when there is room for grace, because everything does not always go to plan!) 

• Rest 🧘🏽‍♀️

As much as it is important to meet deadlines and prepare for exams, it is even more important to rest. Life is all about balance, so dedicate time to work and dedicate time to doing hobbies, and resting.

One thing that I have been doing is taking weekly strolls. It does not matter how much work I must do, or how stressed I am about my exams – I always make time for a stroll. I use the time to escape, read, and think of things that don’t relate to university. Because at the end of the day, we are all worth more than our degree, and the world does not revolve around exams or essays. So, make time for people that you love, and for s that you love.

I hope your Easter break is restful and productive. Feel free to share how your Easter break is going so far, or to ask any questions in the comments!