Why Getting Away During School Breaks Can Help Improve Grades

Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash

In high school, everyone thinks that college involves fun, entertainment, and parties every weekend. While this is true for a select few, the vast majority of college students quickly discover that college is more of a full-time job consisting of being in the library, writing papers, and reading chapters about the microbiology of a flower for more hours than anyone can count.

Of course, there is plenty of time to still get out and enjoy the “college life,” but many college students feel a desire to get away from campus, relax, and do anything but write papers and take exams.

Benefits of Getting Away

Here at UWGB, we want all our students to love their experience and time here. For that reason, we strive to offer ample opportunities to participate in a variety of on-campus activities.

Despite this, we know that sometimes getting away can be beneficial, just as it can be in a full-time job. Studies have shown that a change in environment, whether at school or a full-time job, can boost energy, allow for a mental reset, and help to keep people engaged long term.

Finding ways to get away can be difficult. Money is often tight, and school breaks can sometimes seem random. There are options, you just have to know where to look.

Find an Opposite Environment

Life at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay is great, but let’s not pretend that the winters aren’t cold. In fact, UWGB is one of the coldest campuses in the U.S. during the winter months.

To prevent students from physically and mentally freezing, one recommendation is to go to a warmer climate and engage in activities that aren’t possible on campus. 

For example, instead of the negative degree wind chills, you could learn to deep sea fish somewhere warm. Instead of ice skating on one of the many lakes in the area, learn to surf on a sunny coastline.

Aside from the weather and climate, take time away from studying and academic learning. Instead, learn a new talent or develop a new hobby.

Internships

A misconception that many students have is that internships have to wait until a student is late into their program. While students may not receive credit from school for an internship, many companies offer students internships anyway.

These internships don’t even have to be related to the field of study. For example, a student studying to be in news media may find an internship at a corporate office selling products online. While it may not make a ton of sense at first, many students find quality in learning different trades and skills.

Again, the internship may not get school credit, but the experience will pay off and look good on a resume. For students who do need a school related internship, take the opportunity to travel to a new place. 

Do Nothing, Yes Nothing

Doing nothing sounds odd coming from a college website, but sometimes that is just what a student may need after a tough semester. Whether it means going home for a week or buying a ticket for a cruise (actually a lot cheaper than you may think), there are huge benefits to not having to worry about anything.

Doing nothing can also be helpful in allowing time for the brain to reset and evaluate everything. In this time, perhaps you will finally decide which degree program to pursue, or perhaps change programs completely.

Again, the ultimate goal for us at UWGB is for our students to learn and prepare for their best future. We realize that an education can be a challenge, and that is why we recommend that if needed, students utilize their school breaks to get away and re-energize so that when they come back, they are ready to learn and prepare for the future. 

This article was written by roged01