A banner combining images and text to encourage making the most of February half term. On the left side, three individual images are displayed: a blurred person with outstretched hands in the foreground; a focused image of a person pouring a liquid into a pot with another person watching; and a person wearing headphones while reading a book titled "Do Fly: Find your way. Make a living. Be your best self." by Gavin Strange. These images are overlaid by a graphic of a megaphone, symbolizing a call to action.

Activities And Ideas To Make The Most Of February Half Term

By NCS 26/01/2024

4 min read

February half term means one thing: a whole week off to do as you please! With your GCSE and A level mocks now over, this half time couldn’t have come at a better time. So whether you want to relax, stay focused on your final exams, or do something totally new and wild this February half term, we’ve got you covered.

So let’s get into it:

Things to do during February half term

Half term. It’s one whole week. Seven entire days. All for you to focus on what you need (and want!) to do. So, if you’re looking for a little inspiration, here goes:

Enjoy time with friends and family.
Reflect on your mocks.
Give yourself time for rest and relaxation.
Let yourself catch up on sleep.
Challenge yourself to try something new.

A photo of four young adults enjoying a picnic near a tent in a wooded area. Two women and two men are seen engaging with each other over a colorful picnic blanket spread on the ground. One of the women is reaching for a thermos, while the others appear to be in the midst of conversation and preparing food. The background is softly lit with sunlight filtering through the trees.

Now, let’s go a little deeper….

This February half term, take time to reflect on mock exams

School and exams might be the last thing you want to think about during your break! But this half term is actually the ideal time to reflect on the results of your mocks — and get clear on your goals for the upcoming term.

Reflect
Ask yourself, “What can I learn from how my mock exams went?” Let yourself feel the emotions that come up — be that pride or regret, stress, confidence, or a rising sense of determination and a desire to focus.

Would just cut this one down a bit: A photo of two young women sitting at a wooden picnic table outdoors, focused on papers and a book in front of them. One woman, wearing a blue sweater, is writing notes, while the other, in a yellow sweater, is reading a document. A black bag and a white pouch rest on the table.

Look ahead
Based on your reflections about your mocks, make yourself a plan for the coming months. There might be a few things you want to consider:

Feeling stressed? Then plan to include more rest and relaxation into your week (scroll down for more info on that!), or set a time with a trusted friend to talk about how you’re feeling.
Want to improve your revision? Check out some tried and tested revision tips.
Struggling with procrastination? Get the lowdown (and great advice!) on how to stop procrastinating and start getting stuff done. Watch it now.

February half term is made for rest and relaxation

When you think of ‘rest’ you might think of chilling out lying on the sofa or fancy bubble baths. But, there are lots of different types of rest — here’s just a few:

Physical rest. This is exactly as it sounds! Give yourself the gift of sleep, lounging on the sofa, or having a lovely massage to help your muscles relax.
Mental rest. Everyone’s mind is busy dashing from one thought to the next. So, this half term, try and give your mind a little break from all the ‘doing’. Maybe put down your phone and head out for a walk. Or try meditation. Or just take regular small breaks throughout your day.
Social rest. If you feel drained after socialising then you might be in need of some time alone!
Creative rest. Being full of ideas is an amazing quality and a real talent. But, at times, it can also feel overwhelming. So allow yourself a chunk of time where you consciously don’t think about ‘producing’ or ‘solving’ something.

With all these different types of rest, how many will you try out this February half term?

Challenge yourself to try something new this half term

Being well-rested may just give you the energy you need to try something new during February half term.

Need a little inspiration?

How about:

Take up a new fitness challenge.
Get a sketchbook and do a drawing each day.
Do a random act of kindness for one of your neighbours.
Cook a meal from scratch (for yourself, or invite some friends).
Grab your place on one of the upcoming NCS away from home experiences and have something to look forward to!

Tag us @ncs and show us what new activity you tried out this February half term!

Help spread half term kindness

If you enjoy doing random acts of kindness — for neighbours, or friends and family, or for yourself — then this February half term could be the start of something beautiful.

Why is kindness so important?

Well, it’s proven that being kind to others can boost your own happiness, reduce your stress levels and improve your emotional wellbeing. Here’s some ideas to spread a little kindness with February half term:

Send a voicenote to a friend reminding them how wonderful they are.
Give someone a compliment.
Spend time volunteering on a community project.
Offer to help a friend with a task they need to get done.
Be kind to yourself by listening to your own needs.

Whatever you get up to, do your best to enjoy this February half term!

Learn more about volunteering
How to care for your mental health
Tried and tested revision tips
Natalia shares about her self-care routine