The academic year has finished now, and it opens space for three months of summer break before the new academic year starts again in September.

During this time, I work with many PhD students who want to plan their summer, think about the structure they want to adopt and the direction they want to take. It’s an important part of the year for researchers but it can be also challenging to navigate operating between keeping some work going, teaching summer school, working on publications, starting fieldwork or finishing final chapters before thesis submission in September.

Every researcher is at a different stage and therefore, there is not one plan that would fit everybody. The key is to consider what you want to achieve by the end of September and embrace your own path – is there anything specific that you want to complete, submit, write up or read? All of these give you directions that you can then translate into designing your summer working plan. It starts with a decision and then a plan starts unfolding. It’s important to keep things simple and allow yourself to have a different routine than during the normal academic year.

In addition, it’s vital for researchers to take time off – when you do no academic work, don’t check emails and give yourself permission to have some rest and re-energise. Your brain needs it. I work with many students who don’t take any time off or they still work while on holiday. However, I strongly encourage them to set clear boundaries. Commit to periods where you work 100 percent but also to spaces where you fully unplug.

Set an out of office (even if it feels like a challenge) and allow yourself this time off. It is crucial and it will not only help your energy levels but also your wellbeing. Give yourself some space over the summer when you reduce social media and technology and when you pause. Find some fiction books, allow yourself to explore, go on a trip, visit an exhibition, do some creative work that you didn’t have time for earlier during the year. You will be surprised how this time off nurtures your academic work and how it provides inspiration into the next working steps.

What are you doing this summer?

If you would like any support with planning your work and time off just reach out!