The Winter Break Playbook: Refresh, Recharge, and Return as a Motivated Argo

December 10, 2025 | Jenny Feysa | jfeysa1@uwf.edu

Greetings, Argos!

You made it! The Fall semester is officially wrapping up, and you should be incredibly proud of the hard work, late nights, and perseverance you demonstrated. Now it’s time for a well-deserved pause.

UWF’s Winter Break is scheduled from December 22, 2025, through January 2, 2026. While the university reopens on January 5, 2026, the Spring 2026 semester officially kicks off on January 7, 2026. That gives you just over two weeks to truly step away from the academic grind.

We know it can be tempting to jump right into preparing for Spring, but your academic success relies just as much on rest as it does on studying. Use this time wisely to refresh your mind and motivate yourself for a successful return.

Here is our Academic Advising guide to making the most of your Winter Break:

Phase 1: Maximum Recharge (December 22 – January 2)

• Your primary goal during this time is to combat burnout and refill your energy reserves. Give yourself permission to truly relax without guilt.
• Prioritize Sleep (Seriously): You likely accumulated a sleep deficit during finals. Establish a consistent, healthy sleep schedule (even if you sleep in a little later!) to let your mind and body recover. Improved sleep is proven to boost memory and concentration—your secret weapons for next semester.
• Embrace the Digital Detox: School often means constant screen time. Challenge yourself to set aside your phone or laptop for extended periods each day. Engage in non-screen hobbies like cooking, painting, playing an instrument, or finally reading that book you’ve been putting off for pleasure.
• Reconnect with Your Support System: Spend quality time with friends, family, and loved ones. These social connections are vital for your emotional well-being and sense of belonging. Whether it’s baking cookies, catching a movie, or just having a long conversation, focus on the people who support you.
• Find Movement and Fresh Air: Staying active is a powerful stress reliever. Take a walk, hit the gym, or enjoy the beautiful Northwest Florida winter weather. Physical activity helps clear your head and improves your mood.

Phase 2: The Soft Launch (January 3 – January 6)

After ringing in the New Year, use the few days before classes start to ease back into an academic mindset. This "soft launch" approach prevents the jarring transition from full relaxation to full-on school mode.

• Reflect and Refine Your Goals: Grab a coffee and spend an hour reflecting on the Fall semester. What worked well? What study habits failed you? Set a few small, realistic goals for Spring 2026. Maybe it's visiting the Writing Lab once a month, trying a new time management technique, or just attending all your office hours.
• Slowly Adjust Your Schedule: Start waking up and going to bed closer to your regular semester schedule. This will make that class on January 7th much more manageable.
• Review and Organize: Take a quick look at your Spring syllabi (if posted) and input major due dates (tests, papers, projects) into your planner or calendar. Clean and organize your study space—a clutter-free environment contributes to a clutter-free mind!
• Check Your UWF Email: While we encourage unplugging, check your UWF email (beginning January 5th when the university reopens) for any important updates, changes to your schedule, or communications from your Spring professors.

We hope you have a wonderfully restorative break. We can’t wait to welcome you back, rested and ready, when the Spring 2026 semester begins on Wednesday, January 7th!

Go Argos!

Topic coming in January! New Year, New Semester: Re-Setting Your Academic Compass