by Cheryl Doss

December.  A favorite month for a lot of people, especially children.  People are generally in a better mood as there are a lot of fun activities including parties, parades, shopping, and concerts.  And although the Christmas holidays are filled with the joy of celebrating the birth of Christ, time with family, and gifts, it is enough to exhaust a person.  But when the person is also a graduate student, it is especially tiring because December also means the end of a semester.  Deadlines for papers, a week of exams, and finalizing projects are just a few of the academic responsibilities that bring added stress to students, but when they also work or have family commitments, then December can quickly be less enjoyable.

Perspective is important when you are trying to manage a heavy work/study load and enjoy a balanced life.  Looking forward to a less busy time is often the encouragement and drive needed to keep moving forward. Christmas break is approximately a week away, but it will go very quickly.  Students are ready to enjoy freedom from textbooks and lab projects and have more fun than they have had time for in recent months.

We recommend three important R’s for our students during their Christmas break:  rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Rest – In recent weeks, sleep and proper rest have been sacrificed for studying and work.  Use the break to allow your body to rest and recover from sleep deprivation and a busy schedule.  Avoid the tendency to stay out late with friends and family too frequently during the break; instead, enjoy time watching movies and reading a book (for fun).

Relaxation – Spending time relaxing is also important during your time off from studying. We aren’t suggesting you hibernate during a break or put the “Do not disturb” sign on your door; what relaxes you may not relax someone else, but that is okay.  Find activities that you enjoy and allows you to spend time with friends and family.  Whatever the activity it should reduce your stress and help you rest.

Rejuvenation – Mixing rest with relaxing activities will contribute to rejuvenation.  Additionally, eating healthy is also important to return your body to a healthier state.  There is no need to pass on Christmas cookies, candy, and other delicious food that shows up more frequently during December but enjoy it in moderation.  After a time of intense work and stress; you need to be rejuvenated to return for another semester.

As our students complete the fall semester, we pray they will find time for the three R’s and return to us ready to take on the spring semester; because January can be a great month too, a new year to start a new semester – a fresh start.