The holiday break is the perfect time to sharpen your sword before the second semester war begins.

The Goal: Not to learn new things, but to make sure your skills from the first semester are razor-sharp.

The Plan: Just 30 minutes a day for one week. That's it. It's a small investment with a huge payoff.

Day 1 & 2: Review your midterm exam. Re-solve every single problem you got wrong until it's effortless.

Day 3 & 4: Focus on the last chapter you covered before the break. This is the one you're most likely to forget.

Day 5 & 6: Do a 'skills drill.' Use an online tool like IXL to do 20 rapid-fire problems on a core skill like factoring.

Day 7: Rest. Let your brain consolidate the information.

This isn't about ruining your break. It's about using a tiny fraction of it to eliminate stress in January.

You will walk back into class feeling confident and prepared, while everyone else is struggling to remember.

That is a massive strategic advantage. Use it.