How to make your holiday plans efficiently

The summer holiday is almost here for most of us, students who have been looking for it for such a long time. The tiredness accumulated while completing all the daunting tasks of the school year may be a sufficient reason for wishing the holidays to come - as well as the need for a change from the schoolwork into something more suitable to our tastes. The question is - what are holidays really for and which objectives are worth filling our free time with?

Many times, we eagerly wait for having lots of free time, and when the occasion finally shows up, we don't actually know how we should spend all that time. That's why, anticipating the beginning of the summer holiday, we will try to establish some goals and understand what these three month are really for, not only as far as future architects and their preparations are concerned, but for any student in general.

Once the holiday starts, you may feel a little confused thinking of all the opportunities you have during the summer, with no external obligations to bother you. We can conclude that the choices you make then are the ones that best reflect your personality. Asked about their holiday plans, the majority will simply answer - sleeping more, having a rest, or, in case they leave for a certain destination, relating about the trip they planned. Of course, you cannot spend so much time with so little to do. In order to make all our actions as productive as possible, we should establish a list of priorities for the next three months of our life.

1) Relaxation and health care

We are all quite vulnerable when facing stress and tiredness for a long period of time - regardless of the motivation and our spiritual strength, it comes a moment when the physical you asks for a rest, for getting more sleep or even for a lifestyle change. In order to make ourselves able to achieve further goals, we should undoubtedly mind the state of our health.

See your goals in this respect more than some other obligations to check out from the to-do list, but as a natural form of expression. Work on a better version of you and do no longer postpone any initiative:

• Get yourself in shape in order to feel comfortable in your own skin.
• Change your eating habits - the beginning of summer truly is the best time for a new healthy diet, based on fruits and vegetables - there are plenty in this season. Never forget - You are what you eat and the purpose of eating is not for the sake of eating, but for providing you will the best nutrients that will keep you alive and healthy.
• Practice some physical activity - outdoor sports, fitness at the gym or at home, swimming, dancing, massage etc. - whatever seems enjoyable to you. Practice anything trusting yourself and the expected results won't be late to come! 

'Mens sana in corpore sano' - let this be the the motto of your holiday start! You deserve the best, and feeling well in your own skin is the essential first step for improving every other aspect of your life. Dedicate the first one or two weeks for this exclusively - take a break from the intellectual work and rediscover the pleasure of feeling healthy and relaxed. Let all the stress go away, stop having negative thoughts, think more about yourself and the importance that health has in your life. It is said that health is the most precious thing, but think - how much have you cared about it in the last few months...?

Focusing on self-improvement is not at all a selfish action. A man who lives in peace is the one that can deal with every situation efficiently, who care about others without looking only for his or her personal interests, who has a positive impact on anything or anyone surrounding them. You are the only reason for your problems - the exterior world may have a certain impact on you as long as you perceive it in that certain way. It comes a moment when you realize that happiness is a matter of choice, that you can motivate yourself into anything, no matter how difficult it may seem at first sight. We all have such an enormous potential inside that waits to be discovered - don't let this waiting last forever!

2) Make THIS holiday special!

Once you feel refreshed, you'll find out a myriad of activities that will suit your tastes and match your interests. Every holiday is a perfect occasion to discover new things, to diversify your life habits and hobbies. Make sure this holiday will be one of the best memories in the future!

• Learn a foreign language - you could go for a widely spoken one, such as French, Spanish, German, or make an exquisite choice: Persian or Sanskrit would surely provide you with an unique cultural insight, at the same time. There are lots of online resources, so the learning process will basically cost you just some time, attention and will.

• Travel! -discovering new places is a second-to-none experience. We can always make an idea by reading, watching documentaries or listening to the stories of people who were there, but we make our dreams come true only when seeing the respective places in reality.

• Start a new hobby - may it be a sport, an artistic activity, writing, reading, anything new in your daily schedule will enrich your cultural horizons and improve your approach on life.

• Redecorate your home - this is where you spend most of your time, especially on holidays - make sure you live in a pleasant and inspirational environment. The space surrounding us really has a huge impact on our mood and emotions, so it is worth taking it into consideration. You don't actually have to invest a lot - but there must be some things you wished you could change for a long time and never found the proper occasion. Well, here is it...

3) Work on self-improvement!

Relaxation and enjoyment are the two main purposes anyone would think of when it comes to holidays and they certainly have to be achieved. However, apart from the above-mentioned, there is still plenty of time left for work, as long as we know how to make it pleasant and useful. In general, we should see any work not as an obligation, but as a less personal hobby - a hobby that is not only to your pleasure, but also for the use of others.

As students, 'work' means studying. Any further studies done during the holiday will considerably ease our efforts in the school time. Holiday studies can have nothing to do with school subjects - we are free to get informed about any topic, any field of study - there are no barriers except of our reluctance and improper approach. Make sure everything you do, you do for yourself - because you wish to become a better person, to increase your chances in life, to know more, to live better, to make the best choices. All that bright future asks for knowledge - and nothing else can stay in our way in this direction. Laziness may be instinctual - but unless we learn to consciously prevent it, in time, this nasty habit will only result in frustration and regrets. We need such a little amount of mental effort to change for the better... Imagine how it would be like if the right choice you made today would save you years of struggle and disappointments. Does it seem to be worth it?

Study in advance for the upcoming exams. For the ones of you willing to enter an architecture university, you should place the following topics among the holiday plans:

• The history of architecture - I think you never get to learn enough on this subject. The past provides us with countless samples - better or worse attempts of defining beauty and living space, in more or less flourishing social and cultural contexts. This would provide you with a better understanding of the purposes and forms of architecture. Understanding the past is the key for creating a better future. 

• The history of art - so that you could understand the ways of artistic expression and make comparisons between the development of architecture and the evolution of other arts.

• Philosophy ( aesthetics, in particular) - You should make an idea of what the art is perceived like, what its purpose is said to be and of the different approaches on art and perceptions of beauty. Architecture is art and science at the same time - therefore, we should not look only for its practical aspects, but we should aim at recreating the idea of beauty in every part of our artworks and architectural projects. You cannot approach art pragmatically. Study the principles of classical architecture and the features of the architectural masterpieces of all over the world, from all regions and styles. If those architects made their creation to express such strength, balance and beauty, you can do it as well.

• Descriptive geometry and geometry in general - These will allow you to get a proper perception of space and to represent your ideas on paper more easily. Architecture is an interpretation of geometric forms. A good understanding of geometry makes the basis of architecture.

• Read the biographies of famous architects - you can always find new sources of inspiration in the experiences of your predecessors. Read about the projects they created, try to understand and distinguish the architectural styles, spot out what elements of each style is appealing to you and try to define your own style. This may turn into a lifelong objective - but it's not too early to start it even now. The more broad your knowledge will be, the more value and sense will be found in your creation.

• Define the connections between spirituality and interpretation of space by studying about religious architecture 

No matter what your main interests are, I hope the upcoming holiday will be amazing and unforgettable for all of us. May us all achieve all our goals and improve ourselves as much as possible. That because, once anyone of us gets better, all the world becomes better...