Setting and Maintaining Your Summer Writing Schedule

Yesterday, we held our e-seminar on setting and maintaining your summer writing schedule and brainstormed some great ideas to stay on track with your summer writing. Below were some of our big takeaways:

Setting Goals

When it first begins, summer feels like it will go on forever, but in reality, we only have 10-12 weeks in the summer when there is a respite from teaching and other faculty responsibilities. So, when we realize that this time will fly, the sooner we set goals, the better. When setting your goals for summer, think about what you need to accomplish this summer to feel like you've been productive. But also make sure these goals are realistic and account for your well-deserved relaxation time. Remember, you don't want to push yourself so hard in the summer that when fall comes around, you feel like you just ran a marathon!

Scheduling

Once you've set your ambitious yet realistic goals, time to schedule. Break out those 10-12 weeks and divvy up your goals into weekly tasks. Then focus on the daily. To do this, you want to identify when you do your best writing. Most of our group seemed to find their best writing time in the early morning (~5:00 am) and might defer tasks that took less brain power to later in the day and early evening. Consider blocking your calendar for writing time. One of our participants noted that their schedule varied so much that they needed to sit down every Sunday to identify their writing time for that week.

Habits

Developing good writing habits can help you most effectively get your work done. These habits might include establishing rituals around when, where, and how you write. Eliminating distractions like phones, email, social media, or even things like dishes and laundry, which loom large during the pandemic. You can also engage writing sprints and building in breaks where you move around. Start off experimenting with what works for you and then make it a habit!

Support and Accountability

Lastly, find ways to stay accountable. Try forming a writing group or finding a partner. One participant noted that she and a colleague would get up at 5 am to start writing and just send each other a text to keep them going and accountable. Another person said they would blurt out deadlines for themselves in meetings so that everyone who heard them could help keep them accountable.

Hopefully, this offers some ideas to help you be productive this summer, but still allow you to be feel refreshed and ready to gear up come fall!

Resources:

ORDE Seminar: Setting & Maintaining Your Summer Writing Schedule

Scheduling Summer Writing - IHE