Essays Vs Eggnog: How to Get Work Done Over The Holidays

As the year winds down and the Christmas lights go up, the last thing you want to think about is the 2500 word essay you need to write for next term.

While you shouldn’t avoid work, there’s no reason to miss out on the things you want to do over Christmas. Here are a few tips to help you make sure you create a great essay while still finding time to deck the halls.

Ask your teacher anything you need to before it’s too late

Be sure to ask your teacher/tutor about anything you’re not sure of before you leave for the break. Do you completely understand the assignment? Are you sure you know what sources are appropriate? Is that definitely the word count?

If you have any doubts, settle them now. Leaving it too late may mean you won’t be able to contact anyone in the know before the new year. This will only lead to stress.

Don’t go home too soon

If you know you find it more difficult to work from home, perhaps don’t go home straightaway at the end of the term. Take advantage of the absence of friends, housemates and library users and work on your essay before you leave. If you get most of it done or even finish a first draft then you can relax without feeling guilty.

Create an essay plan so you’re ready to go

If you’re against the clock or simply want to get the essay out the way, it’s tempting to avoid creating an essay plan; it’s just holding you back, right?

Well, maybe not. Essay plans can be pretty helpful. For one, they help you stay on topic and avoid spiralling off on tangents. If you find yourself having an off day, being able to check up on an essay plan may help give you hints and tips when you need them.

You don’t have to worry about colour coding and making it look beautiful (unless you really want to). Just be sure that it’s plotted out in a way that make sense to you. Ensure that it’s planned with the word count in mind, and that each paragraph’s point is strong enough and fits in with the essay as a whole.

If you manage to create an essay plan before the end of term, perhaps book a quick tutorial to make sure that your teacher thinks it works too.

Reserve any library books you need

The next step after creating a great essay plan is to research the best and most relevant library books for you and your essay – then reserve them straight away! There’s nothing worse than basing your whole essay on a book, only to find someone else has already taken it out.

It’s important to make sure that the books you choose definitely cover what you need them to. There’s no use lugging a book home to find it hardly mentions your topic at all. Always double-check.

Set yourself a word count a day

Break long essay into manageable chunks. Sitting down at your computer and telling yourself you have to hammer out 3,000 words there and then is more than a little daunting. However, if you plan to, for example, do 250 words in the morning and 500 in the afternoon, then, by the end of the day, you’ll have completed a quarter of your essay.

Have sensible expectations

Even with all the best intent and most beautiful essay plan, deciding to write your whole assignment on the day your cousins come to visit may prove more stressful than fruitful.

You know what your family traditions are like so try to give yourself slots of time in between events to make sure you’re not disappointing anyone and giving yourself the appropriate time to write.

Make your family aware that you have work to do

It’s important to manage other people’s expectations as well as your own. This will hopefully stop you feeling too pressured and allow you to work when you need to.

Don’t stress

The worst thing you can do is write an essay stressed out of your mind. Ahead of time, try to identify what stresses you out when essay writing.

Noisy rooms? Time running out? Plan properly so you can go into your essay with a clear head and produce the best possible piece you can.

Work on the train or coach or plane home

If you can, then begin your work on the journey home. While there may or may not be wifi, take the opportunity to at least plan your essay or sort out your introduction. This way it’ll be easier to get on with it when you get home.

Keep track of when your deadline is

It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of time when you don’t have a timetable to follow. Make sure you definitely know your deadline and you’ve booked the train etc back to uni in advance to avoid panic later down the line.

Take advantage of people’s lie-ins in the morning

If home gets a little crowded over the holidays, then perhaps working before people get up may be your best bet. Get your dressing gown on, rustle up a brew and get stuck in.

Find a good place to work and leave the house if you have to

While convenient, working at the kitchen table may not go so smoothly. If you’re struggling to find somewhere quiet and calm to work, check when your local library is open. Or maybe find an independent coffee shop and support a local business while you type.

Treat yourself to a cake or mince pie while you’re at it. It is Christmas after all!

As usual, focus on exactly what the question is asking

As you make your way through your essay, be sure you keep returning to the title and, if you made one, your essay plan. There are many distractions over the holidays and, if you see your conclusion in sight, then it’s easy to pad out your essay with quotes and ideas that may be a little irrelevant.

Stick to the topic and focus on exactly what the question is asking.

Don’t overlook the importance of editing

After typing that last satisfying full stop at the end of your conclusion, it’s tempting to consider your essay done. But overlooking the importance of proofreading and editing could cost you marks.

Finish your essay and then yes, take a break – you deserve it! Just be sure to pick a day the following week – or even in the new year depending on when you finish – and go over your essay again. Never leave proofreading until the day before deadline. While reading over something with a relatively fresh pair of eyes is helpful, you want to make sure you’ve left yourself enough time to correct any errors.

Essays may seem like a pain but there’s no reason they need blight your Christmas. Make sure you know all you need to know beforehand and take advantage of any lulls or quiet days to crack on with it.

Merry Christmas!

Jodie Reed writes for Inspiring Interns, a recruitment agency specialising in all the internships and graduate jobs London has to offer.

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency specialising in all the internships and graduate jobs London has to offer.