7 Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Reading Week

Academic Success Centre and @UAlberta share some tips for a productive reading week.

Brought to you by Academic Success Centre and @UAlbertaAcademic Success Centre and @UAlberta

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Hint: It’s not just about reading.

It’s that time of year: that welcome break between midterms and finals called Reading Week, also known as a nine-day weekend. It’s the perfect time to catch up on some sleep (#selfcare) and, hopefully, some studying and other tasks on that always-growing to-do list.

In order to make the most of all this free time, the Academic Success Centre and @UAlberta have shared some tips for a productive reading week.

1. Have a plan!

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Each day aim to complete a catchup task, a prepare task, and a fun task.

Check out some ways to conquer those fun tasks, if you will, in our post “Reading Week in the City.”Reading Week in the City.”

2. Organize

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Organize class notes, start an assignment early, follow up with a prof about grades or feedback, make a list of concepts that you don’t understand yet and review them.

3. Prioritize

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Rank the tasks within each category according to their importance. You may wish to consider each task’s impact on your learning and/or grade, how much time and work are involved, and its urgency and due date.

4. Take 30 minutes to reflect on how far you’ve come

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We tend to focus on GPA, achievement, and “what’s next” that we can lose sight of accomplishment and growth.

5. Stick to stable schedule

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Don’t let it get out of rhythm. Take naps if you can.

6. Catch up on things you love

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Make time for things you put off because you had to study. For example: art, journaling, playing music, singing, connecting with friends and family.

7. Plan ahead

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Do things now that will save you time later: meal prep lunches and dinners and freeze them; create mini self-tests for each lecture; create weekly class summaries; explore the SU exam registry.

(Realistically, reading week might go more like this. We don’t blame you if it does.)like thislike this. We don’t blame you if it does.)

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