Reading time: three minutes

Many law students have the unfortunate fate of exams after the holidays. It’s important to take a break, but it can be difficult to juggle relaxation with revision. Below are a few tips that work for me in terms of motivation and practical advice. However, you should remember that everyone’s learning styles are different, so adapt this in a way that works for you.

1. Routine

With no lectures or seminars, you’re likely to have plenty of free time in the holidays, which makes it difficult for students who require structure in their day. For people who find their days blur into one during the holidays, I strongly recommend starting a planner. At the start of the day, or the night before, write down what you want to get done in the day and when. This doesn’t need to be detailed to the hour (though this works for me) but a rough guide will make you accountable and give purpose in your day. Not only will this tip boost productivity, but it also should give you a sense of accomplishment when ticking your checklist off. I also make a large holiday planner that I stick on my wall as a visual sense of time, which can be really helpful. This allows me to see my commitments and rest periods, easily factor in my revision and gives me perspective of the holiday as a whole. 

2. Little and often approach

Some students suffer from burnout at the beginning of the holidays or, in other cases, right before exams, following a period of cramming revision. Creating a sustainable revision plan, and doing a little bit of work each day, is a good way to help prevent this. Little and often is  better for factual retention but also will mean less stress as you gradually reach your goal. Personally, I find studying more than one module every day to also be more engaging and keeps my brain active. While this may not be the best fit for you, you should avoid the last minute all-nighters, particularly for in-person and e-assignments. Some people may perceive pressure as a good motivator to revise for exams but you want to be well rested so that you can perform your best.

3. Taking care of yourself

Self-care is so quickly sidelined when exams are looming. It’s tempting to put everything on hold until after your exams. However, self-care and exam success go hand in hand. Studies show that eating well, exercising and taking breaks all help with revision. These don’t need to be dramatic steps − even going for a walk and getting fresh air every morning can clear your mind and set you up for a productive day ahead. It’s also crucial that you reach out to people if you’re struggling – for example, family, friends or the myriad of help sites online. If you’d find it beneficial, you can look up your academic tutors office hours in the holidays as they are highly likely to be able to offer guidance in this stressful time. Even just a quick email with a question about the module content can go a long way to achieve success. Don’t struggle in silence. 

I hope that you found this blog post helpful and can implement at least one of these tips in these coming weeks. I wish you the best for your exams and hope you have a great holiday!