How to use reading week to set up the rest of the semester

No rest for the weary.

Post-secondary students know that the balance between school and extracurricular activities can be difficult. Everything pertaining to these obligations can be stressful. Life in itself is a balancing act.

Finding the time to rest and recover ultimately boils down to a change in mindset. A shift in how we as students prioritize our daily tasks is extremely important.

To avoid burnout, we must first identify our triggers. Additionally, preparing for reading week is key. This is a chance for you to rest, recover and set realistic expectations for the final stretch of the semester.

A tradition amongst post-secondary institutions across Canada is a week-long break during both fall and winter semesters, which can aid in revitalizing students. This includes recharging our internal batteries and aiding in our mental health.

So here’s how you can use this break to set up for the rest of the semester.

Why burnout peaks mid-semester

An animated image of a blue cat with the words above in text spelling "I don't want to work anymore." — *Via GIPHY*

There are a number of reasons why burnout peaks in the middle of each semester, particularly in the winter term. It relates to dopamine. Let’s delve in.

At the start of each semester, we have dopamine flooding our brains because new things are exciting. Halfway through, however, everything becomes routine.

The novelty is gone and our motivation can fall off a cliff. The brain just isn’t as thrilled with the prospect of that 8 a.m. class anymore. What once seemed brand new and fun has become old and tired.

However, there are ways to cope with this particular issue.

Resting during reading week

An animated image of a blue, white and yellow penguin with the text "Energy loading, please wait..." — *Via GIPHY*

Sleep deprivation is a huge issue for post-secondary students. It has an adverse effect on a wide array of health concerns, including obesity, diabetes, glucose tolerance, cardiovascular health, anxiety and even depression.

Sometimes, when we don’t have to commit time to schoolwork, we relax. We tend to procrastinate and go to sleep later than we usually do and become sleep deprived. So perhaps this reading week isn’t the right time to binge-watch that series you’ve been eyeing or going out late and enjoying the nightlife scene.

This week, try disciplining yourself to go to sleep at a set time (preferably earlier than you usually do) and resetting your internal clock. Watch a few episodes of that series you’ve been eyeing earlier in the day and head to bed.

Foster a restful and comfortable sleep environment, avoid caffeine in the evening and most importantly, limit your screen time on social media. Blue light can disrupt your ability to fall asleep.

How to prepare and share tips

An animated image of a penguin with sunglasses and a red cap with the text "Let's do this." — *Via GIPHY*

There are three main components to preparing for that arduous stretch of the proverbial last inning of the semester. Rest, recharge, reset.

Focus is always paramount when you need to buckle down and work, but it’s finding the motivation to tackle your daily tasks that leads to a high level of performance. Without the first two components of resting and recharging, resetting is impossible.

Sharing these tips with your friends and colleagues can help them prepare themselves for success, without putting undue pressure on the fun aspects of having a good time.

This doesn’t necessarily mean “all work and no play” during reading week, but rather it means finding a balance and shifting from a mindset of “I’m behind” to “I’m resetting.”

Setting realistic expectations

An image of an animated person with long blue hair with the text below spelling "my expectations for this are zero." — *Via GIPHY*

Getting a handle on what difficult assignments lie ahead is important to note. Identifying stressful assignments doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do them during reading week. It does mean making sure you have time allocated for them.

Set realistic expectations for the final weeks and plan ahead. Control what you can control and let the pieces fall where they may.

Being reasonable and not putting too much on your plate is a great way to make incremental progress. The more you are able to handle, the better this muscle will adapt to stress. Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

An image of an animated owl, jumping on levitating books. — *Via GIPHY*

University of Guelph-Humber reading week takes place on the week of Monday, Feb. 16. Take the time to reflect on what matters most and use these tips and tricks to help guide you to a restful and fulfilling break.

One thing that I’ve learned as a student is to create one achievable goal after the break. It can be related to anything, be it a fitness goal, a grade point average for a term (or even a class) or even graduating and finishing your program!

Whether you’re in your first program or taking classes in addition to another degree, diploma or certificate, it’s goal setting that orients your path forward.

Feature image courtesy of Dimitry B via Unsplash.

Looking for recipes you can make during reading week? Check out family recipes from your peers!