With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s easy to lose sight of your studies. Christmas parties, decorating the house with an unmentionable number of fairy lights, family get togethers mean there are many reasons to procrastinate.

Here are our top tips for keeping your studies on track over the next couple of weeks.

1. Plan your time

We agree that wrapping presents and getting last minute shopping are going to be essential tasks in the run up to Christmas, but try to make a plan that incorporates your study and stick to it. Alan, NEC maths tutor, says: ‘Plan your life, remember it’s busy people who get things done.’

2. Reward yourself

Set yourself goals and reward yourself for sticking to your plan.  If you’re aiming to get through a certain amount of material by the end of the day, break that material down into manageable sections to make it less daunting. Give yourself a little reward as you complete each section, and a big reward at the end when you’ve completed it all — perhaps another turkey sandwich!

3. Remind yourself why you’re studying

Everyone’s reasons for starting a course are different. Perhaps you want a career change in 2017 or you are applying to university. Don’t forget those reasons and remember what’s next. Remind yourself of why you want to learn something new, and look forward to what you will have achieved once you’re done. Remember also that education of any kind has a positive and enriching effect on your life, no matter what your plans for the future are and that in itself is motivating too.

4. Give it a try!

If you’re planning on making a change next year and need a qualification to do it, why not download the course sample from the NEC website and give the subject a try. Whether you’re looking for maths, English or counselling. A sample could be just the thing to get you motivated for the new year!

We hope you find these tips helpful. Whatever your plans over the next few weeks, we hope you have an enjoyable Christmas season and a wonderful New Year.

We’ll see you again in 2017 — may it be a year full of learning!