I'm Not Ready for Winter Break to Be Over

Winter break is now two weeks behind us and some of you might still be finding it difficult to get back into the study groove. For those of you taking the SAT in a couple of weeks, this lack of motivation has the potential to be a real problem. So how do you jump start your SAT prep routine? Here are some ideas that might help.

Remember, it's a new month, a new year and a new decade. You've got a clean slate. All of your frustrations, anxieties, confusions and mistakes about the SAT are a thing of the past. You don't have to make a new year's resolution to study well—just start doing it on a daily basis. Study for 30 minutes each day to get yourself into a good habit. You'll see much better results in a short time. Once you feel comfortable with 30 minutes, you can try for longer study sessions every other day. After a while, you won't have to give yourself a pep talk before every session; it will become one of those things you do without thinking about it, like watching TV.

Go for a run/jog/swim (if you can find a nice heated pool!) If the freezing weather makes these outdoor activities impossible, head to a gym or do some jumping jacks in your room. The point is to get your body moving. Then once you've cooled down, crack open your SAT notebook and study materials. Exercising gives you energy and rejuvenates your mind and body. And it's much healthier than downing a can of Coke and a donut.

Shake up your routine. If you usually study late at night, try studying right after school. Or if you normally study right after school, switch to studying in the evenings. Or wake up early and study in the morning. You might find that the new study time works much better for you.

Keep a calendar in front of you every day. Circle your test date in red. Look at it and know that the clock is ticking. Set your cell phone alarm to ring at a certain time after school every day—a reminder that you should probably be studying for the SAT right now instead of watching reruns of The Office.

Have you had trouble getting back into the swing of things? Share your thoughts in the comments and email your questions to testpreptutor@sparknotes.com.

Related Post: Winter Break! Time to Study!