Sir Godfrey Gregg

Teachers see it every year after long breaks: students return having forgotten significant portions of what they learned the previous term. Math skills have weakened, vocabulary has shrunk, and reading fluency has slowed. This “brain drain” is completely preventable with just minimal effort during your time off.

Your brain doesn’t store unused information efficiently. When you stop practising skills, neural pathways weaken. It’s like a trail through a forest—regularly walked paths stay clear, but abandoned ones quickly become overgrown. The solution is simple: keep walking those paths with regular, light practice.

You don’t need intensive study sessions. Just 15-20 minutes of math practice three times a week maintains your skills. Reading for pleasure 20 minutes daily preserves your literacy gains. Reviewing flashcards occasionally keeps information accessible. These small investments prevent the frustrating experience of returning to school feeling like you’ve forgotten everything.

Consider the alternative: if you take a complete break, the first weeks back at school will be spent relearning old material instead of progressing to new concepts. You’ll feel frustrated and behind while classmates who stayed engaged feel confident and ready. Which experience sounds better?

Think of holiday studying not as work but as maintenance. Just like you brush your teeth daily to prevent problems, you engage with learning briefly to prevent skill erosion. It’s preventive care for your brain. And honestly, once you’re in the habit, 20 minutes daily feels like nothing—you barely notice it—but the benefits are substantial.

Make a simple schedule for your holiday: read Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Do math practice on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Adjust based on your preferences, but build in regular touchpoints with learning. Your teachers, your parents, and most importantly, your future self will be grateful you prevented the brain drain that affects so many students after long breaks.