It's almost here! You're studying for your last few final exams and the holiday break is just around the corner. You may have two or three weeks off, but it's important to remember that the more you "break," the harder it will be to get back into the swing of things come January. Now I'm not recommending studying hard over the break, but there are some ways to keep you from falling into the lazy vacation mindset.

You may use the Christmas break as one long sleep-in, catching up on as much shut-eye as possible, but student success facilitator Cheryl Mills warned this may not be the best idea. "Balance the relaxation portion of the holidays, but also be mindful of the body and how desperately it can get out of whack. So do your best to stick to some kind of schedule in terms of going to bed consistently at the same time and getting up at a consistent time; it will serve you well when you're getting back into the new semester."

Mills also suggested picking up your textbooks early. "If you have your textbook list available, I'd really encourage you to purchase your textbooks now; at least if you're not going to read them, you can do a preview of the entire book so that you have a sense as to where this journey in your next class is going to be taking you."

If you have any full-year courses, it can be easy to forget information learned in first semester. Mills recommended reviewing your notes from first semester so that content is fresh when you head into the next phase of the course. If you're not into reading your textbooks, Mills said it's important to engage in some form of reading, at least. "It's hard on the mind to get back into the groove, so even if we choose not to read textbooks, you may choose to read a novel — something to keep your mind actively going."

Your break can also serve as a time for reflection. Maybe you failed one of your exams or forgot about a presentation — take time to think about how you can readjust what might not be working for you. Mills said to ask yourself, "Were you trying to study in a way that didn't really match the way that you prefer to learn? Were there some things that you could've done in a different fashion, for example reading the textbook before class instead of afterwards?" She also suggested looking into the amount of time you spent studying and whether or not that time was used well. A new semester can be a fresh start for new study habits.

You should also take a look at how you were staying organized over the course of the semester… or not! "Some students will take the handbook that we give them and they'll find that maybe it doesn't suit their purposes through the first semester. If you don't like the layout of the handbook that we give you, then choose something that you do like: some want to look at a day, some want to look at a month, some don't want the volume of the handbook," said Mills. She said the key is to choose something that you like because you'll be more apt to actually write in it and use it as a guide.

So while you're home this break, take the time to relax and hang with friends and family. But don't completely erase school from your brain; be mindful of the semester to come and get organized while you have the time off.