How to Manage Homework and Revision During the Holidays

Holidays are great. They allow you to take a break from the full-on routine of school and recharge your batteries. However, during GCSEs and A-Levels, it can become much more important to keep up the momentum during your break. So how do you find that balance between getting a well-deserved rest and keeping on top of your revision and homework? I've come up with a few hacks to help you make the most of your holidays without going back to school feeling more tired than when you left.

• Find a good working environment
  Doing your homework during term time is one thing, but trying to revise when everyone around you is relaxing and having fun can be difficult. Try and find somewhere in your house that is less distracting and make that your work zone. If you're still getting distracted, consider agreeing on an hour a day with your family where everyone tries to be a little quieter and doesn't talk to you. This is a great way of doing a little bit of work every day while also leaving time for having fun and enjoying your holidays! If this doesn't work, why not go to your local library or cafe and see if that works better for you? Be sure to check their opening times around national holidays such as Christmas though.

• Be realistic about your expectations
  You might be starting your holidays with the best of intentions, but it's important to be realistic! It's far better to plan a light revision schedule and then do a bit extra if you've can than to plan way more than you can do and feel stressed when you don't do it all. You're unlikely to be as productive during the holidays as you are during term time and that's ok! Just be realistic about your capabilities and don't beat yourself up about it when you take one day off to have fun.

• Little and often
  Forcing yourself to do a whole day's work when all you want to do is Netflix and chill is a recipe for failure. Instead, try and do a small amount of work every day and then reward yourself once you've finished. Even something as simple as a sticker chart or a hot chocolate can be a surprisingly effective way of persuading yourself to do an hour's work a day. When working our what your reward threshold is, be realistic about your attention span and make sure your reward is in keeping with the level of work done. For example, half an hour of revision will yield a smaller reward than two hours.

• Team up
  Working during the holidays doesn't mean you have to cancel your social life! Team up with your friends (either online or in-person) and do your work together. Not only will it make your revision more fun, but you'll also be able to get help on the trickier subjects.

So however much work you do this holiday season, if you remember these key points, the work will just fly by!