Jingle Your Way to Holiday Study Wins: Fun Tips for Online Students!

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The holiday season is here — a wonderful time for family, celebration, and reflection. For many online students, though, December and January can also bring a special challenge: how do you stay focused on your studies while everything around you is shouting “holiday mode”?

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At Robert Kennedy College (RKC), we truly value the flexibility that online learning offers. Our programmes are thoughtfully designed to fit your lifestyle — whether you’re on the move, enjoying family time, or working towards your career goals. Of course, with great flexibility comes responsibility. During the holidays, it’s common for your laptop to become a bit less of a priority as you indulge in festive meals, travel adventures, and social gatherings. We’re here to support you in staying on track while making the most of this joyful season.

If you’re working towards an online Bachelor’s, MBA, MSc, LL.M, or PhD and want to keep your momentum while soaking in the holiday cheer, here are some friendly tips to help you stay motivated and find balance during this festive season.

Harness the Power of Planning

Effective planning is your best shield against distraction. As Christmas and New Year approach, the weeks often bring busy, unpredictable schedules, family gatherings, and joyful celebrations. Crafting a study plan that thoughtfully accommodates this busy time can truly make a big difference in staying on track.

  • Set clear milestones for the holiday weeks. Think about the specific tasks — like reading assignments, discussion posts, or project drafts — that you’d like to accomplish before the year wraps up. Breaking them down into manageable steps can make the busy holiday season feel a bit more organised and upbeat!
  • Schedule your study time on your calendar just like you would for work meetings or holiday gatherings. Spending just two focused hours each day can help you stay on track with your progress and make your learning journey feel more manageable.
  • Be prepared for any disruptions that might come your way. Expect unexpected gatherings, travel days, or last-minute errands, and try to build in some extra buffer time. That way, if you miss a session, it won’t completely throw off your momentum.

Keep in mind: planning isn’t about being perfect; it’s about safeguarding your progress. Short, regular study sessions are much more effective than long, late-night cram sessions.

Create a Focused Holiday Study Area

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During the holidays, your surroundings can change quite a bit — from festive decorations to visiting loved ones, and sometimes even travelling to see family. That’s why setting up a cozy, dedicated study space is so helpful in staying focused and keeping things manageable.

  • Find a quiet spot, even if it’s just a cosy corner of your room or a special spot in your travel accommodation, make it a place you can easily connect with when you think about learning.
  • Try to minimise distractions both physically and digitally to create a more focused and relaxing study environment. Keep your study space tidy, free from festive clutter- including blinking lights- and remember to turn off social media notifications while you’re working to stay fully engaged.
  • Gently share your boundaries with the people around you. Saying something like, “I’ll join you in an hour once my classwork is done,” can help others understand and support your commitments, making everyone feel more connected and respectful of each other’s needs.

Creating a cosy, dedicated space really helps your mind switch gears between relaxing and focusing on studies. It’s a lovely way to enjoy both worlds without stress.

Use the Pomodoro Technique (with a Festive Twist)

If you often find your attention wandering, give the Pomodoro technique a try — work for 25 minutes, enjoy a short 5-minute break, and then repeat. It’s straightforward, effective, and surprisingly perfect for the holiday season.

Here’s how to make it festive:

  • Treat yourself after each session—perhaps with a delicious Christmas cookie, a leisurely walk under the sparkling holiday lights, or a lovely tune from your favourite carol. You’ve earned it!
  • After completing four Pomodoros, enjoy a longer break filled with activities like calling a friend, decorating, or watching a delightful short holiday movie.

Turning productivity into a fun, reward-based activity can really help keep your motivation high and make the season’s joy last even longer.

Harness RKC’s Flexibility and Community Support

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One of the wonderful benefits of studying with Robert Kennedy College is the flexibility offered by the OnlineCampus platform. You can easily access discussion forums, course materials, and recorded lectures from anywhere in the world — whether you’re travelling or relaxing at home, it’s all at your fingertips.

Make use of:

  • You now have mobile access to your materials, so you can conveniently review lessons whenever you have some travel downtime. This way, learning stays flexible and easy to fit into your busy schedule!
  • Participating in online discussions with your peers and tutors is a wonderful way to stay connected and motivated. Keeping this engagement alive can really help you stay accountable and focused on your studies, even amidst the busy holiday season.
  • With project flexibility, many RKC programmes give you the freedom to plan your assignments ahead of time or work at your own pace. This way, you can schedule your submissions thoughtfully, making things a little easier during this busy period.

Remember, you’re never alone on your learning journey — your worldwide RKC community is always there, active around the clock across different time zones.

Set Realistic, Not Idealistic, Goals

It’s understandable to want to create an ambitious study plan to “catch up” or “get ahead” during the holidays. However, it’s often more helpful to focus on making steady progress without overloading yourself, as this can prevent burnout and disappointment. Remember, every small step counts, and consistent effort is key. Aim for progress, not perfection!

Ask yourself:

  • What’s realistic for this festive season?
  • Can I commit to small wins — reading one chapter, completing one post, revising one essay?

Reframing success as manageable daily goals helps keep you motivated and feel good about your progress. Remember, if you do a little less than usual sometimes, that’s totally okay. The main aim is to enjoy sustainable learning, not to be perfect or overly strict with yourself.

Balance Festivity with Mindfulness

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It’s common to feel guilty sometimes, whether it’s about studying too little or too much. Remember to be kind to yourself and practice mindfulness: stay present and engaged in whatever you’re doing right now.

When you’re studying, give your full attention to your material, making it a productive time. When it’s time to celebrate, embrace every conversation, meal, or carol with joy, without any guilt. Truly separating these moments helps you avoid burnout and keeps your life balanced with both success and happiness.

You might even incorporate mindfulness into your study routine:

  • Take three deep breaths before starting a study session.
  • At the end of each day, take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for — your education, your family, or your progress.

Gratitude can be an unexpectedly powerful motivation during busy times.

Enjoy the Journey

Remember, this season, just like your studies, is a journey, not a race. If things don’t go perfectly as planned, don’t worry at all. Take a moment to adjust and keep going. Online study gives you the wonderful flexibility to live your life fully while learning in a meaningful way.

The world often seems to slow down around Christmas and New Year, creating a gentle invitation for reflection and renewal. It’s a wonderful time to recharge your spirit, celebrate how far you’ve come, and get ready for the exciting adventures that the new year has in store for you.

So, this festive season:

  • Plan wisely.
  • Stay flexible.
  • Cherish family, faith, and fellowship.
  • And return in the new year with renewed energy and focus.
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From everyone at Robert Kennedy College, here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Successful New Year filled with learning, achievement, and joy!

Graduation Ceremony – To go or not to go?

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Let me start by clarifying, at least for those who don’t know, it is not mandatory to attend the graduation ceremony to be awarded your degree.

You have worked hard for your degree, completed all your assignments and submitted your dissertation, meeting all the criteria for completing and being awarded your degree. And not being able to attend the graduation ceremony will not deny you your degree. The graduation ceremony is just that, a ceremony. The ceremony celebrates the successful completion of your degree programme and marks the start of the next phase of your life/career.

The University of Salford, UK – Summer Graduation – Class of 2018

So, should you attend your graduation ceremony? Well, it is a personal choice. The internet is filled with vlogs and stories of people choosing to go or opting not to attend the ceremony. Unfortunately, I did not attend either of my graduation ceremonies (graduate and master’s). Both times, not by choice. I don’t regret it now; it was a long time ago. And I don’t think I regrated it back then, apart from the fun photo ops and wearing the robs and the funny hat. I would have loved a photo looking like a graduate celebrating my degree.

But the ceremony is important. Case in point, every year, a number of our (Robert Kennedy College) graduates fly from all over the world to attend the graduation ceremony at the university in the United Kingdom (UK). They spend a lot of time and money to participate in the ceremony – travel, stay and socialise. They do this because they see value in attending the ceremony.

York St John University, UK, Graduation – Class of 2021 (RKC students can be seen getting the award at 45.17, 54.47 and 59.53)

The following five points might give you some insight in helping you decide on whether or not to attend your graduation ceremony.

(1) Money

The bases of most decisions we make in our lives. Attending the graduation ceremony can be a significant financial commitment, especially if you are staying or working in another country. You will have to arrange a visa, for which you might have to travel to the embassy/consulate. Plan your travel to and stay in the university town, which is not a minor expense—changing your wardrobe to meet the requirements of the graduation ceremony—keeping a budget for food and other social activities. If you have family travelling to attend your graduation ceremony, you must budget for them all these expenses. These expenses could lead to a substantial financial outlay, so plan for it well.

(2) Time

Our regular readers know how much we stress the importance of effective time management. You must take time off work, time away from your family, and time away from regular life. While making time to attend your graduation can impact the normal working of your life, it can also be just what the doctor ordered. The graduation ceremony will be a joyous time; it will help you remove your mind from life’s worries. And if you can extend your trip into a proper holiday, you will recharge your worn energy and can return to your regular life with a bang!

(3) Networking

While attending the graduation ceremony is a time for celebration, it can also be an opportunity to expand and solidify the networks you have made. You will not only have the chance to meet your professors and coursemates face-to-face to build on the networks you have already created but also meet with the staff and students of the university, which can provide you with new opportunities to network.

(4) Travel

A number of our students use the opportunity of attending their graduation ceremony as a getaway. We all get so caught up with work and life that we forget to take a break; we keep pushing that long cherished and overdue holiday. So, since they are already travelling to another country to attend the graduation ceremony, they make it into a holiday, most of whom travel with their families. And the hardcore workaholics of our students find a way to squeeze in a few business meetings.

(5) Celebration

Gregory Foster at his graduation at the University of Cumbria, UK – Class of 2018

At the end of the day, your graduation ceremony is a celebration. It might be fulfilling a lifelong dream of earning a master’s degree. It might be the end of one chapter of your life and the start of another. It might be the opportunity for a new career or the advancement in your current job. Or it might just be a celebration of the hard work and long nights you put into earning your degree. Whatever your reason, the graduation ceremony is a time of joy and celebration, whether by yourself or with your friends/classmates/family. So, have fun, takes photos and proudly wear that funny hat!

Hopefully, these points will help you decide on the importance of your graduation ceremony and if you will regret not attending your ceremony. If you have any suggestions or thoughts on the impact that attending the graduation ceremony can have, please share them here.

If you are hyped about attending your graduation ceremony someday, consider joining our globally recognised master’s degree programmes. Look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might offer.

Four benefits of Taking a Break

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After reading this blog’s title, most of us would have thought, “yeah, this is a no-brainer”. But the fact is, not many of us even realise when we are overworked, close to burnout and in desperate need of a break.

In 2011, I was overworked and struggling professionally, my personal life was dragging its feet, and I did not even realise this. Luckily for me, my friends were planning a month-long trip around South-East Asia and forced me to go with them. No matter how much I said NO!

And so I went. It was the best thing I ever did in my life (until then).

When I came back, I was almost a completely different man. I felt like I wanted to go swimming with sharks and skydiving, and within the year, I was a married man (what does that tell you?). I wanted to do something that pushed me professionally and personally, and all this happened because I went on a break I did not know I needed.

The following are four reasons why I feel it is essential to take a break from work (or school).

Mental health

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash.

No matter how much we love what we are doing, our jobs will add stress to our lives. Those lucky enough to do something you love might not even realise that some form of work stress is still always added to your lives. Then there is personal stress of managing the family, the kids, school work, etc. We have covered managing stress in a number of our previous blogs.

Taking a break from the daily grind of life can help you get away from the routine of life, giving you the time needed to reflect on your life and the choices you have made. But even if you don’t reflect on your life choices, don’t underestimate the power of relaxing your mind and letting it go blank.

Physical health

Photo by Israel Andrade on Unsplash.

Between work, family and being stuck in traffic (or since the coronavirus, being stuck at home), there is no time. Or at least that is the excuse most of us use for not exercising. Having a healthy body goes hand-in-hand with having a healthy mind. Taking a break might just help you kick start your physical system, reminding your body that it needs to be exercised.

One of the countries we went to on our break in 2011 was Cambodia, and my God, just walking around the temples in Siem Reap felt like a year’s worth of exercise. So you don’t have to go on nature walks or hiking on your break to get in your physical activity. You could get it from club hopping, swimming, or playing a game with your kids on the beach.

Take advantage of this added physical exertion and try to keep it going once you return to your routine.

Sleep

Photo by Kate Stone Matheson on Unsplash.

Sleep is one of the first things we compromise on when we fall behind on our routine. We always think that we can make up for the loss of sleep at a later time, but chances are bad sleep habits will be cultivated and will become regular sleep habits. Getting optimal rest at night is vital to having an efficient day. I know I am much more motivated to get to work when I have slept well and am a lot more pleasant to be around.

A break is an excellent opportunity to fix your bad sleep habits and to correct and better regulate your sleep cycle.

Productivity

Photo by Andreas Klassen on Unsplash.

There are several studies that have shown the correlation between taking a break and an increase in productivity, from being able to sleep better and being in a better mood after vacations to a rise in productivity and less exhaustion. And this proof is necessary because you should never just take someone’s word as fact. But speaking from personal experience, I know that taking breaks improved my productivity. And the break I took in 2011 was a life-changing one for me!

So go on your break. Recharge your cells. And when to get back to your routine, challenge yourself!

If you have taken your break and are ready to challenge yourself and have been thinking about doing a master’s degree, then take a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.

You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might offer.

3 reasons to start your master’s degree in 2021 at Robert Kennedy College

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There are only eight days left this year. Some of you must be reflecting on how they fared on their resolutions for the year, while others will be setting new resolutions for the new year 2022. I know it’s been an extremely challenging year for everyone around the world; with Covid-19 restrictions, life has not been ‘normal’ for the longest time. And it’s far from over. I do not mean to end 2021 on a sad note. On the bright side, there are still last few days left of 2021 to do something meaningful and progressive in your life. If starting a master’s degree has been one of the resolutions for 2020, it’s still not too late. You can still embark on the journey before the year ends.  

Everyone looks for “the right time” to start something new in their life. And when it’s about starting an online masters, there are many factors to consider, such as work-life balance, flexibility at work, financial factors etc.  

Here are three reasons why it’s a good time to start your master’s right now:  

ACCOMPLISH YOUR RESOLUTION 

As I mentioned above, it’s never too late to accomplish your ultimate goals. While you may procrastinate or become complacent with your goals or even postpone them for next year, you might regret the decision one day. So, take a quick decision and enrol yourself for the master’s degree programme. Applying for the master’s is simple. The process involves applying online and providing us with necessary documents like your CV and highest education certificate.   

Accomplish your resolution to attain master’s education

CHRISTMAS PROMOTION DISCOUNT OFFER  

We are currently offering special Christmas promotion until 26th December. With this limited-time offer, you can start with a deposit of just 500 Swiss Francs and receive a discount of 1000 Swiss Francs. (Yes, you saw that right!).  

Or if you pay between 25% and 50% of the fees in advance, you can receive a discount of 1500 Swiss Francs, or if you pay 100% of the fees in advance, the discount is 2000 Swiss Francs. You can find more details on this page where you can also convert the fees to your local currency: https://chf.help/#/christmas  

Save money with our Christmas promotion offer

STUDY AT UNIVERSITY RECOGNISED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT  

Put your mind at rest as the University of Cumbria, the University of Salford and York St John University are fully accredited by the British government and duly listed on the United Kingdom’s Department for Education list of recognised UK awarding institutions. You can verify their official University status directly at the UK government website.  

So, above are three of the many reasons you should start your master’s degree now. Talk to our advisors on WhatsApp, who can guide you through the admission process.  

Let me know in the comments section below your reason for starting the master’s programme! 

Express gratitude this holiday season

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2020 has been nothing but challenging for everyone in one way or another. Some people experienced greater difficulties than others. Nevertheless, everyone’s life, career, family, ambitions, dreams, and expectations from this year were affected. And as if matters were not bad enough, the world witnessed and was torn apart by numerous natural and man-made calamities: floods, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, civil unrest, humanitarian and refugee crises. 

Now I do not want to sound all negative. There is another side to the coin too, a side that we very often fail to recognise and acknowledge. It’s the positives, no matter how small, that happened in our lives amidst this mayhem. We should acknowledge every little moment of happiness, joy, and success we received in the past one year and be grateful for it. Someone might have a new job (even in the pandemic), got a raise, bought a new house, started a family, explored local places (as it is advisable not to travel), got healthier and fitter, had time to be with family during quarantine, enrolled for that online master’s programme that was put on the back-burner, something that positively impacted one’s life. 

Let’s reflect and be thankful for everything! 

For me personally, the holiday season brings a sense of joy and happiness. I forget my worries and enjoy the holiday cheer and bright lights that are all around. It humbles me in many ways. 

Expressing gratitude may sound easier than it actually is, because humans are prone to complaining, blaming, finding fault, and making comparisons with others. However, I would urge you to take a moment and instead understand your own shortcomings and if you do compare, compare yourself with the less fortunate. You might come to realise how blessed you actually are! 

There are many ways to feel thankful and express gratitude: 

1.  Introspect: self-introspection can be very powerful to analyse one’s true self. 

2.  Have faith: it pays off to be patient and trust that everything happening is part of the bigger picture and it will help in developing you in better ways. 

Give back to society

3.  Give back to society: you can make your contribution and give back to society in various ways by volunteering, providing food, shelter, clothing to the needy, providing financial  or emotional support. It will make you feel better and useful. 

4.  Maintain a gratitude journal: as it is said, a man is but the product of his thoughts. The more you write about positive happenings and events in your life, more your thoughts become positive. 

Your thoughts become positive when you capture positive happenings in your life

5.  Express yourself: It’s important not only to feel grateful but also to express your gratitude and spread the cheer to your near and dear ones. 

Gratitude plays a very powerful role in transforming lives. Express your gratitude towards your family, peers, friends, colleagues, bosses, teachers and professors. I am grateful to all our readers who have enjoyed reading and have benefited from our blogs. 

Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays!