How to take advantage of the summer to learn and train: 5 practical tips
Summer vacations are much more than an opportunity to dedicate all that free time that we have earned to leisure. They offer the possibility of detaching ourselves from the inertia of our work, achieving a more general vision of what we are dedicating our lives to, drawing new plans for the future and starting projects interesting
However, of course, to make that kind of qualitative leap in our personal and / or professional development, it is first necessary to learn new skills and consolidate certain knowledge that, sometimes, can even be part of topics in which we are not even initiated.
In this article we will review the psychological keys that you must take into account to take advantage of the summer to train, so that you optimize the use you make of your time and you continue to have hours to dedicate to leisure and rest.
- Related article: "The 9 most important learning theories"
Why train during the summer? 5 reasons to consider
Some people are reluctant to dedicate part of their free time to training during summer vacations; however, the truth is that there are many compelling reasons to do so. These are the most important:
- We have more physical and psychological energy to dedicate to our projects.
- Vacations take us out of the short-term mindset: we go from thinking about productivity goals to thinking about personal goals.
- Psychologically, we are less vulnerable to the "I'll save it for tomorrow" excuse.
- It is less difficult for us to balance the times for study sessions.
- We can continue training even while traveling, thanks to online courses.
For all this, the leisure we usually associate with summer is perfectly compatible with dedicating a few hours a week to training in something, either to specialize in an area of our work sector or to explore areas that may interest us personally and / or professionally. In some cases, not doing so would be a missed opportunity.
- You may be interested in: "10 tips to study better and efficiently"
5 tips to take advantage of the summer to train yourself
If you have decided to apply a learning routine to your summer vacation, keep these tips in mind.
1. Structure a clear schedule avoiding the hottest moments
If you live in an area with hot summers, it is recommended that you do not study the hours of the day when the Sun is highest.. If not, even if you don't realize it, your ability to concentrate will decrease and you are more likely to get frustrated and give up.
On the other hand, your schedule should establish start and end times of the study sessions of a clearly, without giving rise to ambiguities, so that in this way it is easier for you to enhance your self-discipline.
- Related article: "Learning to learn: what neuroscience tells us about learning"
2. Even if you have a lot of free time, get enough sleep
Many people tend to sleep poorly in the summer, because since they don't need to wake up early, they go to bed. very late and anyway they wake up naturally at a time when they haven't had enough rest yet.
Note that not getting enough sleep during a day already has a significant impact on your ability to concentrate, key element when studying.
- You may be interested in: "Insomnia: what is its impact on our health"
3. Make sure you don't expose yourself to distractions during study sessions
Even though you're on vacation it is important that you have your time and a private space to study, trying that the people you live with respect your need to be alone.
Of course, if necessary, come to a consensual decision about the times of the week when you you will study, to avoid conflicts in the distribution of responsibilities in relation to the tasks of the home.
4. Don't get obsessed with concentrating all your study time in one session
It is not necessary that you find a time of day when you can spend long periods studying and training. In fact, the most effective study technique, the so-called spaced repetition, can be used with relatively short study sessions, of 20 or 30 minutes, because it is based on reviewing the contents already studied.
So, on your summer vacations you can take the opportunity to learn during those “dead times” between activity blocks, in which otherwise you would not know what to do.
- Related article: "Spaced repetition (memorization technique): what it is and how to use it"
5. Don't forget the breaks
The breaks are part of the study and training processes; in fact, They are necessary to internalize the information to which you expose yourself and to keep your concentration capacity in tune.
Therefore, incorporate these little "breaths" into your schedule, allowing you to rest for about 10 or 15 minutes for every 45 minutes of study, more or less.
- You may be interested in: "How to better manage your time at work: 12 tips (and what to avoid)"
Do you want to train in Psychology through online courses?
If you are considering learning about different areas of Psychology through the online format, the courses of UPAD Psychology & Coaching they're for you. These are some of the courses addressed by these training programs:
- Basic Skills of the Therapist
- Sexual and Couples Therapy
- Sports Psychology in Soccer
- Sports Psychology in Basketball
- Sports Psychology in Tennis
- Sexuality and Erotic Growth
To learn more about UPAD Psychology & Coaching's online training options, get in touch with us.