Best Ways to Utilize Winter Break for Students

Winter break is around the corner! The pandemic has transformed the lives of general public, with students in particular and everyone wants to return to the way things were before, but it doesn’t seem possible with new variants emerging frequently.

No one denies the fact that students have faced challenges in this pandemic. Without warning, the education system sunk into online teaching-learning alternatives amid prolonged closures of schools. Some international public schools are yet to take a decision on when to resume on-site training.  And students have now adapted learning through online classes to the comfort of their homes.

Worried about the global spread of Omnicron variant of Covid-19 virus, most countries are considering banning/limiting events such as celebrations and gatherings. It will be extra challenging for you to make this vacation fun and positive. Here we have come up with ideas that can make your winter break exciting and productive.

1. Mandatory Time Slot for Studies

Winter breaks are not long- they pass really quickly. So, make sure you use this precious time effectively to hone new skills and improve your weaknesses.

Did your math teacher leave an exercise to solve? Do you need to read a book for English class? Do you have a Hindi assignment due?

Complete all the tasks given to you in all classes. If no assignments are given, you could start preparing for upcoming examinations and projects.

Plan a schedule that doesn’t let you feel bored or tired of studying, such as a short early morning session. Dedicate certain days to specific subjects, take short breaks in between to relax.

You can apply several approaches to personalize your schedule and make your way to finish your work on time.

2. Keep the body moving!

Vacations are not only for studying, but they are also for recuperating from tedious study schedules.

Being a student of an international public school, you should know sports and recreation are an essential part of your life.

• Think about the games you can play in the winters, such as a dodge ball, ice skating, cricket, soccer etc.

• Try learning something new such as cooking, art and crafts, gardening, etc.

• Search interesting books online and give them a thorough reading.

• You can also make your leisure time a reward for your good behaviour/ fulfilling your study goals. The aim is to balance your playtime and study time to make the most out of your winter vacations.

3. Connect to yourself

Although physical activities rejuvenate our mind and help develop skills such as sportsmanship, creativity, teamwork, you must also explore your inner self during a quiescent winter morning. You can also complete a short meditation course during the vacation.  

“Meditation is a practice that helps individuals pay attention to their jumbled thoughts and eliminate them gradually.”

Several studies suggest that meditation in the classroom make students focused and reduces internalizing problems such as stress, fearfulness, depression, anxiety.

You can also leverage the benefits of this centuries-old spiritual practice this winter break to create calmness and inner harmony. Although there are many types of meditation- mindful meditation is the most popular and researched meditation worldwide.

In mindful meditation, you have to focus attention on your thoughts and let them pass through the mind without any judgements. Simply observe your thoughts and find out your thought pattern- Like what you most often think?

This mediation is easy to practice as you don’t require a teacher to guide you. Students should do meditation early morning between (5-6) and late at night (10-11).

If you have been taught meditation at your school, you can try learning new meditation practices on vacations.

4. Practice yoga

Children are now spending most of their time at home studying. The competitive environment, peer pressure and school closure have made them insecure and stressed. Also, staying at home is affecting their physical health.

Yoga can help children deal with these problems. It improves lung capacity, strengthens muscles, reduces distractions( which is common among children) and boosts immunity.

Yoga includes dynamic postures that are interesting to do. You can begin with easy breathing  exercises such as pranayama. And then go ahead with simple poses of Surya Namaskar, Vriskshasana, etc. You can also check out more yoga postures on the internet and keep yourself healthy. It’s good to practise yoga, empty stomach or at least four hours after eating.

At last, it takes effort to find the perfect balance between relaxation and productivity. You can blend your ideas with ours to return to your school refreshed and excited for the next year.