When to start studying in the summer holidays

The answer is now...

Welcome to 2019 my trustee readers, I hope you're all enjoying your summer of fun in the sun. Unfortunately, I am here to rain on your parade a little by bringing the idea of school and the HSC back into your minds. But try not to worry about it too much because hopefully, I’ll be able to answer your questions rather than make you more worried or confused.

It’s that time of year where you have 6-8 weeks of holidays and unless you’re super organised or have awesome time management skills, you will probably be feeling a little bit overwhelmed with the idea of studying and the pressure of year 12 and you might not know when to cut the holiday and start buckling down for the year.

So here is my guide to what you should be thinking around this time of year:

#1. Enjoy summer

It is probably the last time this year that you’ll be able to go multiple weeks or even days without thinking about school, so make the most of them. Enjoy the last few days of hot beach weather and the tennis and let the sun sink into your skin enough so that it can last you till November.

#2. January 20th...

This is the day. It’s a nice even number and it’s still 2.5 weeks before Term 1 starts. This is the date I think you should start thinking about school, studying, the HSC and all the other stuff that comes with it. This is the date you should commit to. Lock it in, write it in your diary and stick to it. Make this day your planning day.

What is a planning day?

A planning day is almost like a life admin day. It’s where you take the time to sit down at your desk, pull out all your school diaries, laptops, notes, etc and really organise what you have to do for each subject before Term 1 starts. The way I would go about this is to make a to-do list for every subject, as well as a general to do list that will have things like: ‘buy a new folder’, or ‘buy a new pencil case.’

For each subject, focus on doing things that will leave you well equipped and ready to start the term. It might look a little something like this for Business Studies for example:

• Read the syllabus and become familiar with topics being taught this year;
• Make sure all notes from topic 1 Operations are up to date;
• Find case study for Supply Chain Management and add into notes;
• Watch Operations Atomi videos and fill in notes with missed information;
• Pre-watch Marketing introduction videos on Atomi;
• Pre-read Marketing Chapter in the textbook to become familiar with content;
• Create a Marketing folder on the computer;
• Prepare 3 short answer responses for popular dot points in topic 1;
• Start saving articles about case studies relating to Marketing.

It may seem like a lot to do, but some of the things on the list are really easy and you’ll be able to get them done in 15 mins. A list of things to do for each subject will make sure you have revised last terms content, haven’t forgotten anything and are ready for what you’re about to learn and trust me it makes a huge difference when you get into class knowing what’s ahead rather than hearing it for the first time and being totally confused.

Spending a whole day going through each subject and making these lists will save you so much time later.

#3. English

English is one of those subjects that requires a lot of pre-work because it is largely based on your abilities to read and analyse texts. So the way I would recommend being prepared for English this year is to spend your free time in the next couple of weeks pre-reading your English texts.

This suggestions cops a lot of debate because there are so many people out there wondering, ‘do I actually need to read my English texts?’ Here’s the thing, the more you read them, the easier it will become to pick out the ideas, themes and good quotes to use later on in your essays and responses. If you’re still not convinced, check this out.

#4. Breathe through it

It’s best not to start your year off feeling stressed and overwhelmed. I know this is easier said than done but my main tip would be to try your hardest not to overthink everything and freak yourself out this early in the year, you’ll have plenty of time to do that later.

Try and set yourself up with some stress relieving habits early on in the year, whether this be going for a walk, meditating, binge watching a tv show or however else you choose to relax and not let the year ahead get to you, make sure you try and find something that you know you will be able to turn to when it all gets a bit too much.

And remember, this year won’t be as bad as you think. Yes, it will be stressful at times, but it’s only one year out of the rest of your life so try your best and if you are worried about anything, make sure you talk to someone about it early on.