Bouncing back from fall break
Posted on Oct 16, 2012 in Features
Breaks from school are great; you get to catch up on sleep, improve procrastination skills, and whatever else. Which means that sometimes getting back into the groove can be a difficult task.
I’m the type of person that can go to bed and wake up at the same times for a week and not get into the habit. But if I get one night of sleeping past a certain time, it sticks with me for weeks. A great way to fix that problem is by taking necessary measures to get back on the correct sleeping pattern. Obviously, medicine is a great way to achieve that. Any drug store has a variety of medicines that will help your body fall asleep. There are also other ways to get your body to rest. Certain food, such as almonds and bananas, can help increase the natural levels of melatonin. Also, cutting out caffeine can help. Coffee or chocolate too close to sleep tends to keep people awake.
Another great way to get back into the school routine is to simply make a schedule of class work. That way, procrastination doesn’t set in. By looking ahead, students are able to get a head start on assignments. This is especially important after a break. A great way to focus on studies is to take assignments and readings in hour intervals.
In order to get excited about classes or homework, music is a great energy booster. Listening to great music while walking to class can really get your blood pumping. And, since Halloween is coming up, I must mention “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” sound tracks. “The Oogie Boogie Song” has the perfect beat to match with your footsteps, and anything from the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be sure to either make you feel really beautiful, or give you the overall temptation to stop walking and dance in the middle of the Mini Park.
Perhaps one of the most important things about getting back into the school groove after a break, however, is keeping your social life. Going out to eat before or after class with peers can sometimes spark natural conversations about the materials being studied.
This will give students extra time to get different points of view on one topic or a series of topics. Maintaining social relationships can also serve as a way to reduce stress and increase campus involvement.
Laurie Christolear
Staff Writer
christolear@uab.edu