
Finding the calm in New York City. Photo credit: Teresa Brown
This year winter break has been a bit shorter than usual. Finals ended late in December and we returned early in January. While this schedule change has been due to the unusual circumstances of this academic year, having less time off from school has made me appreciate the time I do get all the more.
As students, we are often taught good study habits in the context of how to make maximum use of every hour we spend doing school work. We learn how to make flashcards, how to make study guides, what kind of problems to do to prepare for an exam and how to edit an essay. There is also often pressure to stay up late doing work, sometimes sacrificing sleep. Learning how to work efficiently and how to stay focused are no doubt valuable skills, but working at full-capacity for as many hours as physically possible is unsustainable for most people. Managing a college schedule, one where I spend fewer hours in the classroom but have more work to complete outside of the classroom, has taught me the value of taking intentional breaks.