You’ve heard of the “summer slump” – the annual learning loss incurred by students after a long summer away from the classroom. But what about the “holiday slump”? While the winter holidays might be shorter than summer break, it’s still possible for students to break their stride, arriving back in January feeling as rusty as an old locker.

Let’s not let that happen. The new year can be a fantastic opportunity to renew your dedication to education, looking ahead to the next year while amending mistakes you made the past year. It can be a time of ambitious goals and much-needed relaxation.

In this article, let’s review a few tips for starting the year on the right academic foot. Here are four tips for learning in the new year.

Put Those Resolutions to Good Use with New Year Learning Goals

You’re already making New Year’s resolutions – you might as well pay your academic career some attention. Aside from the commonplace goals like exercise and habit-breaking, make education-specific resolutions. Some fruitful learning goals may include:

• Better time management (you can use apps or an old-fashioned agenda)
• A dedicated couple hours of extra study each evening
• A commitment to meeting every assignment deadline this year
• A “no cramming” rule, meaning you study for exams at least a week in advance

What might your New Year’s learning resolutions look like? Take some time in January to list a few areas you believe need some self-improvement.

Look to the Future (or Revise the Past) with an Online Course

January is a fantastic time to think ahead – or reflect on the past semester. Consider taking online high school courses in Ontario to work toward the next grade. Or take online upgrade courses to revamp your transcript if you received a less-than-stellar grade last semester.

Online courses are flexible and self-paced, meaning you can take them even as you fulfill your current course load. You might even consider switching all of your schooling to online courses!

Prioritize Rest, Relaxation and Diet

There’s a common misconception that learning is all about working hard. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your education is take time, get some rest and prioritize your physical and mental well-being.

The holidays can be particularly disruptive to rest and diet – all those late nights binge-watching bad Christmas movies, all those sugary desserts and rich foods. In the new year, set a reasonable sleep schedule and try to incorporate a veggie-forward meal plan. In turn, your body will reward you with added energy, extra clarity and (hopefully) more motivation.

It’s Never Too Early (or Late) to Start Applying for Post-Secondary Schools

Lastly, the new year is a fantastic time for Juniors (and some late-applying seniors) to start thinking about post-secondary applications. For juniors, this is primarily an illustrative task, a way to familiarize yourself with the application process, and maybe even give thought to your application essay.

For seniors, it’s the last call for applications. Check the deadlines in your local area to see if you can still make the cut; otherwise, you can always craft an application for the following semester.

Hopefully, these learning tips give you something to think about in the new year. Don’t let the holidays throw off your academic groove. Make concrete resolutions, work ahead with online courses, get some much-needed R&R and start your university or college applications.