Christmas Vacation Procrastination

Christmas – when presents take precedence and work is cast under the bed and forgotten. Youth and adults alike put off assignments until the final day before their return to school or work.

Everyone recognizes the strain of procrastination. Be it an essay, a load of laundry, or simply booking time off so we can procrastinate more, we all know the feeling.

Have you had homework assigned for the winter break?

If you ask this question to a high school student the answer would almost surely be yes.

Is this fair? Shouldn’t the Christmas break serve as a retreat from the pressure of academics? The joke’s on you, fellow students.

Surely, teachers mean well, however, it does show that procrastination affects them, too.

The only reason that they are assigning us work at this time is because they put it off until the last minute. This small mismanagement of time results in a multitude of stressed-out students.

Pointing fingers is wrong and to blame the teachers for putting off their work would be unfair. However, as we realize we only have 24 hours to finish that essay, we can’t help but think, “Why?”

To the chagrin of students, teachers, too, miss deadlines. Rather than ask a teacher to not assign homework over the break, it would make more sense to ask them to make sure that they, too, meet their deadlines.

By assigning holiday homework, teachers do mean well, but unless students have a sudden inspiration to put forth a commendable effort, the finished project will be lacklustre. Very rarely will a student yearn to be given homework, especially over the holidays, and in such rare cases, they will most likely pursue their interests without being prompted.

Just like any physical activity puts a strain on bodies, learning puts a strain on the minds of students. Being similar to sports, it makes sense that mental recovery is key to being a healthy young adult (I refrain from using the word “teenager,” because it is often linked to delinquencies such as vandalism and low-riding pants).

Ultimately, the consequences of Christmas assignments far outweigh the rewards. So, if you are a teacher reading this, consider if the winter work is necessary for your young adults’ growth.

If you are a beleaguered student reading this, I will sympathize with you — once I get around to it, that is.

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