Make the most of the Easter period
Published on 22 March 13
Five ideas to get ahead during a break from your usual routine
For most of you, the Easter vacation is no doubt a welcome break. With the upcoming summer term promising to be one of the busiest periods of your studies, it's a great opportunity to stop, take a breath, and move forward in earnest.
But how can you get the most out of it? Here are our five top tips:
#1 Have a rest
It can be tempting to try and cram as much as possible into the next three weeks, but it's important that you take a break. Whether you're visiting friends and family back home, or sticking around in Manchester, do something different that will allow you to switch off.
- Take a look at our "Things to do in Manchester" article, or the Creative Tourist website for plenty of ideas.
#2 Plan your time
If you've got several deadlines to meet just after the break (and maybe even a dissertation to hand in), make a plan to maximise your day. While there are plenty of resources that can help you, only you know what works best for you. For example:
- If you're an early bird, get your big jobs (like hammering out 500 words of an essay) out of the way in the morning, and tackle smaller tasks (like finding articles from the Library's electronic resources) to later in the day. Being able to tick off the small jobs will keep you feeling productive.
- Alternatively, if mornings aren't your thing, try a few little tidbits to get you warmed up. That way, you'll be chomping at the bit to start writing that methodology chapter (maybe).
Whatever you do, make your plan realistic. There's nothing more demotivating than not achieving your day's goals.
You might also find it useful to take another look at our Study Skills series on managing your time, writing essays, and group work.
#3 Look after yourself
Take regular breaks. Take a walk. At the very least take a shower! If your body isn't functioning at top condition, neither will your mind. Consider carefully what you put into your body.
If you're not going back to home cooked meals, take a look back at the My Manchester Food Monthly articles for ideas on cheap, simple, and - most importantly - tasty meals to keep you going through those long hours of study.
Now is also the perfect opportunity to sign up for that GP and Dentist you promised yourself you would back in September, but never got round to.
#4 Talk to someone
Struggling with explaining a concept in an essay? Try and explain it to a friend in the pub. Can't remember what Bayes Theorem does? Skype a course-mate. Sure, you could Google it. But will Google also buy you a coffee and play pool with you? No. It won't. Because it's a website, and not another human being.
- Remember you can always email Nightline, 24 hours a day, about absolutely anything.
#5 Take advantage of all of the University's great services
Easter break, naturally, means that there are fewer people hanging around campus all day. Which means it's the perfect time to use some of the services on offer.
Most University services remain open during the break, including the libraries, Careers service, and counselling service. Computer clusters might also be a little easier to find a seat at, and the Learning Commons is open 24/7 throughout the period, with the exception of the Easter weekend (Friday to Monday). Remember, you can access more information about your services through the Crucial Guide Live, which is now searchable.
It's also a good opportunity to get advice from your academics, many of whom will continue to work during your break. While there are some restrictions, particularly around undergraduate dissertation advice, they will often be very happy to arrange an office hour, or answer questions via email. Make sure you check in advance though, to avoid disappointment.