What Is Holiday Learning, And Why Are People Adopting It Lately?
Holiday learning is learning something new during the holiday season. It is a growing trend where people use their time off not just to relax but also to learn something new, combining rest with personal growth. What makes holiday learning different is your mindset. In everyday life, learning can feel like a chore with deadlines and pressure. But during the festive season, learning feels lighter. You learn because you want to, not because you have to. There is no stress or strict structure. You can explore at your own pace and enjoy the process.
This change in attitude is why more people are attracted to holiday learning. Instead of just unwinding, they return to their routines feeling refreshed and with a new skill that lasts beyond the holiday season. Currently, popular holiday learning options include short courses that only last a few days, skill workshops, and even trips. Whether it's a cooking class nearby or a week-long trip abroad to practice a new language, holiday learning is a simple, fun, and rewarding opportunity to improve ourselves in multiple ways.
The Science Behind Holiday Learning
Why does holiday learning seem so easy? Because your brain absorbs information better. When you're traveling, [1] your mind becomes more alert, curious, and open. During the holidays, your daily habits pause, your surroundings change, and your brain gets a chance to refresh. This helps you notice new details, focus better, and remember things more effectively. Simply put, your brain becomes more flexible, and its ability to adapt and learn improves.
Another reason holiday learning works well is that your stress levels drop. When you work hard, your brain produces high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that makes it tough to concentrate or remember things. [2] During your break, however, cortisol levels decrease, allowing your brain to relax. With less pressure and fewer distractions, you can focus on learning without feeling overwhelmed.
Positive emotions also play an important role. The holidays create moments of joy, excitement, and curiosity, and these feelings activate the brain's reward system. [3] This motivates you further and makes experiences feel rewarding. When you are happy and relaxed, learning becomes enjoyable rather than a chore, helping you absorb and remember information more effectively—which is why holiday learning often feels easier.
Why Holiday Learning Works Better Than Everyday Learning
A Break From Routine Boosts Creativity
Holiday learning is effective because it breaks you out of your daily routine. Normally, your day follows a pattern: wake up, work, do chores, run errands, and repeat. While this routine helps keep you organized, it may limit your creativity. However, during the holidays, everything changes. You meet with family and friends, travel to see new places, buy gifts, and have different experiences. This change helps your brain become more flexible. Another important factor is relaxation. Most of us do not get enough of this. Relaxing moments, such as while traveling, shopping, cooking, or meeting with loved ones, allow your mind to wander. This is where creativity grows. It's common for people to come up with their best ideas when they are relaxed and away from daily stress.
More Time To Absorb New Skills
In everyday life, we often learn while doing other things. For example, you might watch a tutorial while answering emails or read something in between tasks at work. Multitasking makes it harder to absorb new information. But during the holiday season, you can relax and remove those distractions. With fewer things on your mind, you can focus better. You can pay full attention to one task, whether it's learning to cook a new recipe, practicing a language, or taking a workshop. When your mind is calm, you can learn new skills more easily. Plus, you get to learn at your own pace. There's no rush, no pressure, and no guilt. You simply have the time to enjoy learning.
Encouraging Intrinsic Motivation
Holiday learning is effective because it feels voluntary. In everyday life, learning often comes with obligations like work, deadlines, or responsibilities. But during a holiday break, you choose what to learn for fun. This intrinsic motivation makes a big difference. When you are really interested in something, you stay engaged, curious, and consistent. You learn because you want to, not because you have to. This boosts your focus and helps you remember what you learn.
Types Of Holiday Learning
Skill-Based
Skill-based holiday learning is popular because it combines fun with personal growth. You can take cooking classes for Christmas dinner, go on photography walks in beautifully decorated neighborhoods or visit Christmas markets, attend pottery workshops to create ornaments, or even watch tutorials on gift-wrapping. These activities are enjoyable, but your brain treats them as valuable learning experiences. Why? These skills stick with you because you are fully present. The holiday season allows you to relax and focus on what you are doing. When you link learning to positive feelings like excitement, curiosity, or joy, your brain creates stronger memories. That's why many people can still recreate that recipe or use the photography tips they learned during their holiday breaks.
Adventure-Based
If you enjoy being active, adventure-based holiday learning might be for you. Activities like skiing, hiking, exploring, or traveling during the holiday season provide more than just excitement, as they also create strong learning experiences. When you engage in outdoor activities, you use both your body and mind. For example, when you ski and focus on your balance, or when you hike a tough trail, you become more aware and alert. This helps you better remember what you learn.
Cultural Holiday Learning
Many people travel abroad during the holidays to explore how the season is celebrated across different cultures, thus connecting with people, stories, and traditions. For instance, if you are learning a new language, being surrounded by native speakers is one of the best ways to learn. Simple interactions like ordering food, asking for directions, or chatting with locals help you learn new words faster than using an app. Cultural learning also involves exploring historical sites, attending local celebrations, and participating in new traditions. These experiences deepen your understanding of the world. Instead of just reading about a place, you get to live it. The sights, sounds, and emotions help you remember what you learned in a better way.
Conclusion
Holiday learning stays with you long after the festive season ends. When you pick up a new skill during a break, it naturally boosts your productivity, creativity, and confidence because you return feeling inspired and capable. It also builds a mindset of lifelong learning, making you more open to trying new things. As a personal development strategy, holiday learning supports self-growth, helps you refresh your perspective at work, and improves your overall well-being. If you want this year's holiday break to feel even more meaningful, consider adding a small learning experience and be surprised by the long-term benefits.
References:
[1] How does tourism memory boost creativity? The role of openness to experience
[2] Cortisol and Brain Health: How Chronic Stress Impacts Cognition and Memory
