Winter break is the time where we can take a deep breath, relax, and get a mental break. Between teaching, grading, researching, writing, completing assignments, we deserve a well-deserved break...and rest! I've provided some suggestions for how to stay productive during break until the next phase of your academic career.

1. Get Rest and Relax This to me is most important. We've been on crazy schedules with school, work, families, other obligations we've committed to, so a little downtime to just relax will do the body and mind good.

2. Continuing Research For those of us who have a thesis or a dissertation to work on, winter break is a great time to take advantage of the availability to continue to review literature, write, organize, or whatever you need to do to get yourself in a great position for when your courses start up again.

3. Look for funding opportunities So if you're in a position where you may conduct your own research for school or even a job position you are in, look for grants or other types of funding for your research. We know that conducting a study may get costly, so why not get a head start.

4. Job searching & updating your resume/CV If you are looking to get into a specific area or field of interest, review job postings to review what those employers look for in an ideal candidate. This can also be a great time to revise your resume and/or your curriculum vitae (CV). This can provide areas of opportunities that may need to be developed, such as competencies.

5. Starting a side hustle/small business

Like a lot of other people in academia, starting another source of income isn't a horrible idea. It can definitely have challenges, especially with the time commitment that comes with it while you are in school. But that's where those time management skills come into play!

6. Blog about your experiences in academia You never know what the next person is going through with being in academia, however, what you post may help someone out to do better or revise their approach with something they are being challenged with.

7. Write out your goals and a plan to achieve them

As 2020 quickly approaches us, take the time to reevaluate your goals you met this year, and the ones you didn't meet. Decide if those goals you didn't meet are ones you want to take into the new year and exceed your expectations of meeting it. You can also look at the goals you did meet and develop a plan on how to go bigger and be better into the new year. Remember your goals do not have to be only academic-related, they can be whatever you want them to be.

I hope these 7 tips can help make your new quarter/semester, academic year, and 2020 a great one!

@TheStudentForLife

Do you have other tips that you feel will benefit others in the community, let me know and I'll add them to the list!