Summer projects
For academics, summer is for vacation. It’s also for catching up on things. It somehow also becomes the season of all the projects you don’t have time for during the year. But summer is short, really, especially if you live in New England. That list of summer goals can be overwhelming, given the day to day things you have to do regardless of the season. The structure of the term keeps the trains moving, but when they stop, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. As the days lose their structure, it’s easy to keep doing the things you have to do, and not make time for the things you really want to do. So what can we do so that we don’t spend the summer busy NOT making progress towards our goals?
As I was thinking about this and writing this post, LinkedIn showed me this helpful article, about how to develop a sustainable writing practice, which can start in summer or any season. It is better to write more regularly than to wait for large chunks of time, which is true for any activity. I am always working on this, and helping students and scholars think about it too. She also started out with a scary summer list, and learned over time how to help keep her writing sustainable, portable, and adaptable.
Her suggestions are great, and I bet you already use a lot of them. I love the Notes app on my phone, for when an idea strikes and I don’t have my computer. Yesterday I bumped into a student writing outside on her laptop, taking advantage of the nice day. Being productive doesn't mean being chained to your desk. I would just add a few things to start: set manageable goals, prioritize, and plan intentionally. Making a schedule can help keep you on track, though it’s good to keep it flexible. Decide when you are going to work, and when you're going to take off, so you don’t feel like you are failing when you take a break. Trying to keep email to set blocks of time during the day has really helped me.
As I am often saying, we have to practice the things we want to be good at doing. And once we develop a habit, it becomes easier to stick with it. Let’s follow this through using running as an example. I want to be a better runner, so I try to run at least 5 days a week. Some days are better quality than others, which is part of the process. The days I don’t feel like running and I go anyway are probably the more important days; over time I have really built up my fitness. I know I have to run in the morning, so if I have something to do early in the morning I have to plan to go earlier or switch my running day. But now that I am in the habit of this, I feel accomplished, and I stick with it. It’s just something I do. I also keep a log and can look back at my ups and downs and how well I am achieving my goals. You can do the same thing for writing or any other project you want to do well!
What are your summer goals? Do you want a thought partner to help you think about a schedule and project plan that makes sense, so you feel accomplished in the fall? I am here.
