Dear students,

As the hot summer days gradually draw to a close and the vacation season wraps up, are you ready to return to your studies?

This guide will help you shake off the holiday mood and embrace a new semester.

Self-check: Do you have post-holiday syndrome?

Whether you feel fully prepared or not, shifting from a relaxed and lazy holiday rhythm back to the demands of study can be challenging.

This adjustment period is often referred to as post-holiday syndrome.

While it isn’t a medical condition, it describes the temporary physical and mental discomfort that may appear as you readjust to academic or work routines.

You may experience:

• Slow responses

Reduced focus, poor time management, and lower self-control in the "pre-return fatigue" stage.

• Sleep problems

Irregular schedules may leave you feeling tired yet unable to fall asleep easily.

• Stomach issues

Heavy foods and holiday feasting may leave your digestive system overworked, leading to loss of appetite or stomach discomfort.

• Anxiety and restlessness

Trouble focusing on academic tasks, accompanied by irritability or anxiety.

How to overcome post-holiday syndrome

Post-holiday syndrome is common, but regaining focus and energy isn't difficult. Follow the steps and start your days with renewed energy.

Step 1: Mental preparation

A calm and positive mindset is the foundation for a smooth transition.

• Embrace the "buffer period"

It's normal to leave some time for the buffer period, especially when returning to your studies and picking up a second language. Don't worry if your Chinese listening comprehension feels slower at first or if you struggle to gather your thoughts when speaking.

Give yourself one to two weeks to readjust. Practice Chinese daily with classmates and friends. It will help you regain fluency and confidence, and find your own study pace.

• Set new goals

Draft a study plan and set new academic targets to shift into a positive mindset. Clear goals help ease anxiety and get motivated.

Step 2: Adapt your daily routines

Adjusting your daily routine can help restore your energy and focus for the following tasks.

• Reset your sleep schedule

Your sleep schedule during the holiday may differ from your campus routine, especially for those who returned to their home countries in different time zones. It's important to gradually readjust your body clock to match your school day rhythm in advance.

Try going to bed 15 minutes earlier every night until you return to your ideal bedtime. This will help you avoid low energy and poor concentration.

• Create a sense of routine

Bring closure to your holiday by summarizing the highlights. Write down five positive moments as a symbolic farewell to your vacation.

Create a "back-to-school" ritual: tidy your desk, buy new school supplies, or organize your backpack. These small actions can help ignite your anticipation for the new semester.

Step 3: Take action

Positive action is key to boosting productivity. After the holiday break, you may face stacks of emails, unread notifications, and various pending tasks.

• Tackle priority tasks first

Rank tasks by urgency and importance to manage time more effectively.

Urgent and important: Visa and residence permit renewal, course registrations, scholarship applications, and tuition payments. Set such priorities to avoid missing deadlines.

Less urgent: Club or interest group notifications, casual social invitations.

• Beat procrastination with the "5-minute rule"

Tell yourself: "Just five minutes."

For example, open the course website and browse the syllabus for five minutes; read aloud in Chinese for five minutes; draft a study plan for five minutes. Once you start, the habit will often carry you forward.

We hope you find your rhythm and enjoy this new semester with energy and confidence!

Source: Official WeChat account of China Scholarship Council at "gh_afaa09c3e5f3"