August in New England signals the height of summer heat, and with it, the tendency to move at a slower pace. But for those of us who live by the academic calendar, the laziness of August quickly yields to a bubbling sense of urgency as the fall term approaches. Classes will soon kick off again, fellowship proposals and job applications will have impending deadlines, and time will be in short supply. Indeed, at the start of this week, we saw the year’s final sunset of 8:00 p.m. or later, as summer presaged its steady diurnal descent into September. Before you get too caught up in the whirlwind of the fall, however, this can be a good opportunity to assess your goals and priorities, to complete a side project or read that book you’ve been putting off until now, perhaps even to take up something new. Below, we share some of our ideas on how to take advantage of August.
In the summer, there always seems to be a bit more time. With more daylight and fewer academic obligations, we all have some extra capacity. One productive use for this extra time is to pick up a new habit. In particular, consider a type of habit that is good for you and makes your life easier long-term, but seems too insurmountable to institute during the academic year. However, if you make the conscious effort to incorporate this habit into August, it will be an established part of your routine by the time the term begins.
The right habit can sit anywhere across a wide spectrum of areas, from financial to organizational to mindful. Maybe you start packing yourself lunch instead of buying it at school. Or perhaps you institute a spreadsheet to better organize key takeaways from new papers and seminars. Or maybe you use a few moments each morning to set intentions and goals for your coming day. Whatever it is you’re hoping to achieve or improve in the upcoming term, there’s a small habit that can propel you toward that goal. Implementing such a habit before the frenzy of September can set you up for success in the new academic year.
–Shannon McCarthy
When August arrives, it can be tempting to focus on the term looming ahead. However, focusing too much on the future can compress and degrade the time we have now, limiting our ability to enjoy the last breaths of summer or to effectively use the time remaining. While it might seem counterintuitive, I would suggest trying, even for a day, to ignore that impulse to prepare now for the fall. Instead, relax and lean into your summer plans. Whether you are trying to get in some quality relaxation before the term or hoping to finish a writing project, you will feel happier doing those things if you focus on all the days of summer that you still have, rather than the weeks that you don’t. This glass-half-full perspective can be difficult to pull off, especially when you have obligations that require you to begin preparing for the term, but I suggest trying it nonetheless.
Inspired by one of my Writing Oasis students who said they are challenging themselves to write for 30 minutes every day in August, I have decided to do the same. When I think about the number of hours in a day, 30 minutes seems really manageable, and yet, I know if I stick to that plan, a lot can be accomplished. The same thing is true for all the days left in August. You could look at them and think there’s not enough time left or feel anxious about the future, but you could also look at the calendar and think about all the possibilities in those days and hours.
–Josephine Reece
If you’ve spent the summer working on a writing project, then the arrival of August may not be so welcome. For November degree candidates, in particular, the September 3 deadline for ProQuest submissions is just around the corner. But as my colleague Josephine expressed so eloquently, rather than worry about the time you don’t have, focus on the time that you do. To start, it helps to set up a concrete work schedule for the days ahead, dividing and prioritizing your tasks. Some things require intense reflection (e.g., properly framing your argument in the introduction), while others require time but less thought (e.g., polishing your bibliography). Maybe you leave the latter until the end, or maybe you check them off when you’re otherwise checked out. Remember, too, that you’ll likely continue to work on the dissertation material in future projects. The dissertation is merely a step along the way; the key is to finish it!
Even as you’re pushing to complete your project before September, try your best to maintain some balance in your life and not to burn yourself out completely—which is detrimental to your health but also your work. It’s a good idea to intentionally build breaks into your schedule, including a summer excursion here or there. August features a full lineup of free concerts and movie screenings around the city, and it’s also the month of North End feasts. For more of an escape, consider visiting one of the historic towns in the area, many of which are accessible via public transportation. In the end, a day away can make all the difference.
–Christopher Brown
