Be productive this summer

With the passing of Memorial Day, we are into summer! Don't blink, you might miss it. To be sure that you are productive this summer, here are some tips...

Set goals
Begin by identifying what you need to accomplish to feel like you were productive and to set yourself up for a highly productive year. Be sure to consider goals in terms of research projects, generating preliminary data, writing grant proposals, developing manuscripts for publications, and any teaching development activities.

Create a schedule
Next, create a schedule. You might want to start off just trying to write an hour a day and then gradually increase that to about three hours a day. Make sure that you stick to your schedule and find a place to work that you can focus. Once you have your schedule and your place, continue your routine to build your habits. I'm reminded of Steven King's habits of sitting in the same place every day, having a glass of water and taking a vitamin. He does these simple things ritually to let his mind and body know that it's time to write. Try building these sorts of habits.

If you miss a goal, let it go
Although these habits and repetitive scheduling can help you to be productive, it's important to not let it be the determiner of your success. For instance, if you're not able to meet a goal or not able to write for a full hour one day, let it go, and come back the next day. And, don't try to force yourself to make up for it by writing twice as much the next day, just let it go and carry on.

Think about planning for fall early
As you know, summer will be over quickly, so in the midst of all of your productivity, don't forget about your fall responsibilities. Plan your class prep in with your summer goals, so you don't face a rude awakening at the end of the summer, scrambling to get all your classes ready.

Resources:
Harness Your Clean Slate Moment - Katelyn Knox
Planning a Productive Summer - The Chronicle of Higher Education
No More Post-Summer Regret - InsideHigherEd