Take it from me: A term break checklist

It’s finally term break — or, as most of us might call it, "Reading Week". 

For lots of students, these few lecture-free days come with a quiet (or not-so-quiet) pressure to catch up, get ahead and somehow reset your entire life in a single week. I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of trying to use this time “perfectly,” only to head back to class feeling just as overwhelmed. 

Over time, I’ve learned that the real value of this break isn’t in cramming in as much productivity as possible — it’s in finding a balance between rest and small, meaningful steps forward. Here are a few things that have helped me do exactly that.

Step One: Don’t try to fix everything 

This sounds counter-productive, but if you go in with the mindset that you need to use this time perfectly, you’ll only stress yourself out more. Look at this break as an opportunity, but not as the defining end-all, be-all. You can improve gradually, and smaller steps forward are still valuable.   

Step Two: Find a sleep schedule that works for you 

You might have the skills to perfectly balance late-night study sessions with early morning classes, but if you’reanything like me, your sleep schedule is a complete mess. Reading week is the perfect time to catch up on all your sleep, so take that time. But as much as I love doing it, staying up just for the fun of it isn’t going to make you feel rested. Plus, the novelty of sleeping past noon eventually wears off. 

Try sleeping at the same time every night, slowly building your way up to the ideal time, and waking up at the same time too. That time might be earlier or later than average, but what’s important is that you feel like you’ve gotten the rest you need.  

Step Three: Catch up on your readings 

I know — reading during reading week? Groundbreaking. It’s obvious advice, but it can be hard to actually take, especially if you have other assignments or exams due during or right after the break. Even if you feel like you’re extremely behind on readings and lectures, doing a little bit every day will ensure you can get caught up.  

I find what helps is to create a list of any readings, lectures and deadlines in general that you need to stay on top of. That way you can prioritize what needs to be done and not forget about what’s coming up after break.  

Step Four: Stay active 

It’s incredibly important to find healthy ways of being active that you actually enjoy. If you do go to the gym or regularly exercise, you can keep that up during reading week. If you don’t, you can go on walks, runs, or jogs whenever the weather is cooperating (luckily it has been recently).  

This is also a time where you can try a new form of exercise — yoga, cardio dance, rock climbing. Twenty to thirty minutes of exercise around three to four times a week can work well, and your body will definitely thank you.  

Step Five: Make room for things that bring you joy 

As much as reading week can be a great time to rest and to focus on your academics, it’s also a time to do the things you love. Binge the new season of that TV show, go see a movie, start partaking in your hobbies again and hangout with your family and friends. No time will be wasted if it's time that you are genuinely enjoying and appreciating.