Skip to content

Tag: Thanksgiving

Why You Should Take A Break This Thanksgiving Break

Why You Should Take A Break This Thanksgiving Break

Published by Alyssa on November 13, 2018

This is a stressful time of the school year. With only a few weeks left in the semester, classes are ramping up, group project deadlines are looming, and finals are getting closer by the day. It can be easy to panic. Thanksgiving break is a quick breath of relief before it’s crunch time. That being said, make sure you actually take a break during break!

If you’re like me and try to avoid doing any schoolwork during break, that’s great. I always try to get everything done early before I head home so that I can truly relax. While this is a great idea, it can be difficult to execute. We have a full week off, that’s plenty of time to do all of your work that’s due the day we get back, right? Wrong. Most of the time students tend to procrastinate, yep it’s a bad habit most of us have. Once we get on break, we are so happy to finally relax that it’s easy to completely forget about school all together. This is great, until it’s Sunday night and you’re trying to do an essay, take home exam, and start a group project all due the next day.

Ok, so what’s the solution? Do your best to complete as much as you can before break, that way you can relax on break and avoid the Sunday Scaries. If you try to do all your work over break, you’ll just end up burnt out, defeating the purpose of break. The last 2 weeks of classes and finals week is arguably the hardest part of the semester, you need your best self to finish strong. Use your break to refresh your mind and relax. If you’re really worried, try looking over notes 20-40 minutes per day. That will keep the information fresh in your mind without taking up your whole break.

Another great thing to do over break instead of schoolwork is to learn. Wait, what? I just said to take a break but also learn. Do some fun learning (yes, this is a real thing), here are some examples:

We don’t have time for this extra learning at school, so take advantage of your free time during breaks to learn different things! Self-education is very rewarding.

Overall, you deserve a break from school (no matter how much your professors’ deadlines disagree). Try to get ahead while you’re still at Penn State and use break to relax at home. You’ll need to refresh for the end of the semester. And don’t forget to do some fun learning like checking out everything The Informed Consumer Series has to offer!

© Image
Reflection: Being Thankful

Reflection: Being Thankful

Published by Alyssa on November 13, 2018

It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of the holiday season. However, it’s important to remember what the holidays are all about: family, friends, and being thankful. We are all very lucky to attend such an incredible university and have the opportunity to earn a higher education. We are also very lucky to have a home to go to during breaks where we get to spend time with our loved ones. Sometimes we get so busy that it’s easy to forget about being thankful. Try to reflect this holiday season so you can truly appreciate everything you have in your life. Enjoy your break from schoolwork and have some awesome experiences with the people you love. If you can, consider giving back during the holiday season to help those who aren’t as lucky. Whether its buying a gift for a child whose parents cannot afford any or volunteering to help at a food bank, giving back is a great way to get in the holiday spirit.

How to reflect:

If you’re having a hard time reflecting try finding a quiet place where you can clear your mind with no distractions. Maybe it’s the shower, or your car, or your favorite coffee shop. You can also try writing down your thoughts or meditate to better connect with yourself. Try to think about your past experiences and ask yourself some questions.

Here are some sample questions to consider

  • How did you become the person you are today?
  • What experiences have shaped you the most?
  • Are you content with your life, why or why not?
  • What goals are you working to achieve?
  • What goals have you already achieved?
  • What do you value most in your life?
  • Where do you want to be next year?
  • What are you most thankful for in your life?
  • How would your life change if you didn’t have the things/people that you’re thankful for?
  • What can you do to help people less fortunate?
  • What can you do to better take care of yourself?

Really reflecting is just taking time to think about who you are and who you want to be. Often times we neglect these questions because they can be scary and full of unknowns. However, reflecting consistently will help you to know yourself and your goals better. Note: Your reflection doesn’t have to follow these questions or even this theme, it should be personal to you.

© Image
Skip to toolbar