Plan for your Spring Break

Spring break is usually a time that all students want to work on their summative assignments and prepare for examinations. It is certainly a period that you could focus on your study independently, without scheduled lectures and seminars. However, as mentioned in another article “Rest, Play, Study”, life consists of different areas, including but not limited to study. Like eating, we all need a balanced diet to maintain physical and mental health for the long run. The same applies to study. It is like a marathon; you need to sustain your energy level and motivation to reach the finishing line. Therefore, I suggest you plan for your Easter Break, to make sure you set aside time for study, fun, and rest.  

Quality vs Quantity  

Some students prefer going to the library, sitting there starting 9am, and staying there until their energy runs out. We are human beings but not robots. Of course, you can always study for extremely long hours per day; however, study is not just about quantity; but also quality. In most cases, quality, which is influenced by your productivity and energy level, is even more important than quantity (I.e. how many hours you spend in the library). I suggest you reflect on how many study hours per day would be a practical number for you, which will allow you to study with quality. Then, put your plan into practice, and see how you feel when you are studying. Be honest with yourself and be flexible. If your original plan makes you feel exhausted, for instance, allow yourself to make changes. Remember, if something is not working doesn’t mean that you are wrong; it simply means you need to adjust to make it works better for you.  

Explore Easter from a cultural perspective

Easter is an official holiday season in the UK. Depending on your interest and background, exploring art, music and culture in relation to history could be something for consideration. For instance, the South Bank Center is going to perform Bach's St Matthew Passion – a choral piece that narrate the Biblical story of Jesus. If you would like to  learn more about these classical work before the concert, there are many resources online that you could refer to. Meanwhile, artwork exhibited in galleries and museums also offer special highlights resonating with the season.