Winter break can be a time of rest and relaxation – a much needed getaway from the craziness of homework, tests, and papers. Many students take this time to catch up on sleep, go on vacation, or hang out with friends. This year however, finals are right around the corner once we return from break, which puts a damper on the relaxation during break.

One student admitted to planning on doing homework and starting to prep for finals. Many students dread doing their break assignments, but it can feel so good to get them done earlier. Junior Jackie Foltz likes getting her homework done early on in the break. “It’s so much easier to get my homework done in the first few days,” Foltz explains, “Even though it kind of sucks having to do it, I’d rather do it early than at 12 the night before we go back to school.”

Junior Aly Johnston feels the same way, but her actions don’t always reflect it. “In theory I try to get my homework done early – I might start two or three assignments early on, but I usually don’t finish them until the day before we come back,” she confesses. Most of us can probably relate to this, since everyone seems to leave the homework for the last day. Johnston says she always ends up getting her assignments done, though.

Both Aly and Jackie recommend doing your assignments earlier because they will be easier – “By the time January 8th rolls around, I usually forget whatever we were learning back in December,” Johnston says. “Getting my assignments done earlier makes it so much easier.”

Foltz said “If I’ve finished my actual assignments, I’m way less stressed when I start studying for finals over break.” Enjoying the break is everyone’s number one goal, so we should all aspire to get our homework done early on.