Don’t look back in anger

Beyond the Break: How to Set Up a Stronger Spring Term

The half-term break has come and gone. For some, it was a triumph of productivity; for many others, it didn’t quite go to plan. If you’re looking at a revision timetable that’s more “blank space” than “completed tasks,” it’s easy for the atmosphere at home to turn heavy.

But here is the secret: Dwelling on a “failed” week is the fastest way to derail the next one.

As we head into the second half of the Spring term, it’s time to lean into the “Planning Fallacy”—the human tendency to underestimate how long a task will take and overestimate our future energy levels. Instead of looking back with judgment, let’s look forward with coaching.

Here is how to reinvigorate your teen using a non-judgmental, coaching-style approach, tailored to their specific archetype.

The Art of the Coaching Reset

A coach doesn’t shout about the missed goal; they look at the footage and adjust the strategy. Your goal this week is to dial up the positive energy and focus on “What’s next?” rather than “Why didn’t you?” You can read more about Coaching in our guide for parents.

1. “Last-Minute” Larry

The Vibe: They might be feeling defensive or dismissive of the “lost” week because they believe they can still “crunch” it all at the end.
The Coaching Approach: Don’t fight their confidence; challenge their logic.
The Question: “Looking at the weeks left until exams, if we assume your energy stays exactly as it is now, how can we spread the ‘must-dos’ so you don’t have to pull all-nighters in May?”

2. “Disengaged” Doris

The Vibe: They may have completely checked out over half-term and are now dreading the return to the desk.
The Coaching Approach: Focus on the smallest possible win to build momentum.
The Question: “Forget about the whole term for a second. What is the one single topic that feels the least ‘scary’ to tackle this Tuesday? Let’s get that one win on the board.”

3. “Busy” Bea

The Vibe: They likely worked hard but feel they achieved little. They are prone to burnout and “time spent vs progress made” traps.
The Coaching Approach: Help them prioritise impact over volume.
The Question: “You put in a lot of hours last week, but you seem exhausted. Which 20% of your work is actually giving you the most confidence? Let’s double down on that and drop the ‘filler’ tasks.”

4. “Procrastinating” Peter

The Vibe: They talked a great game over half-term (and every other time) but struggled to actually start. They likely feel guilty and “behind” even if they’re hiding it.
The Coaching Approach: Remove the guilt. Acknowledge that starting is the hardest part of any journey.
The Question: “If we pretend last week didn’t happen—a total fresh start—what is the one thing we can change today to make starting just 10% easier?”

How The Study Buddy Method Helps

Resetting is easier when the plan is visual and realistic. Our system is designed to combat the Planning Fallacy by breaking daunting subjects into manageable, bite-sized tasks.

Don’t let a difficult half-term define the rest of the year. Let’s reset, reinvigorate, and go again.

The transition from the “rest” of half-term back into the high-pressure second half of the Spring term is where the “Planning Fallacy” usually hits hardest – teens (and parents) often over-estimate what they can achieve in a week, leading to a sense of failure.

The Planning Fallacy tells us we think we’ll achieve more in less time. The disconnect with reality hits hard, often causing the teen to down tools and abandon the whole plan. But the next half of the term is a fresh start.

Use this weekend to:

Reduce the “Revision Session” blocks: Make them shorter and more specific. We want small increments from last week, let’s be real about it!
Protect the “Downtime”: Ensure they know that “failure” last week doesn’t mean they have to “punish” themselves by losing sleep or hobbies this week.
Increase the “Play”: Positive energy is the fuel for revision. Revision won’t be the thing they rush home for, but it doesn’t have to be a punishment. Mix things up with different techniques. Let’s try to have some fun.