Finding Balance: Navigating Summer Writing Challenges
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Chapter 1: The Paradox of Summer Break
Teaching college English is a true privilege, and I have often found myself reflecting on how to maximize my writing time. A few years back, I began meticulously tracking my writing sessions, eager to analyze the resulting data. As I settled into my role as a professor, I was curious to find out during which seasons I was most productive in my writing endeavors.
I tend to be a methodical writer, gradually making progress on my larger projects. My assumption was that summer and winter breaks would be the most fruitful times for my research and writing, as they seemed to offer endless opportunities for focused work on journal articles. However, I was in for a surprise.
Reality Check
Upon reviewing my data, I discovered that my peak writing months were actually January, February, and September—those initial months of a new semester. During my breaks, I often found myself writing on less than half the days available in a month.
Initially, I was dismayed by my inability to cultivate a consistent writing routine over the summer. I had always envisioned this season as my golden opportunity for research and writing, only to realize that many days had slipped away without sufficient focus on my top priorities.
Through some introspection, I identified a few key reasons behind my sporadic writing habits:
- Travel Commitments: Summer and winter breaks are typically filled with travel to reconnect with family and friends who live far away. While these gatherings are invaluable, spending four to five weeks away from home during the summer leaves little time for writing. As primary childcare providers, my spouse and I often find ourselves too occupied to dedicate hours to writing.
- Discipline and Structure: The relaxed nature of breaks often leads to a lack of discipline in managing my time. Surprisingly, I found that having children made my summers more productive, as the limited childcare hours created a sense of urgency I previously lacked.
- Disruption of Routine: During the academic year, my writing is woven into my teaching schedule. When that structure is disrupted, it becomes all too easy for days to vanish amidst errands, social commitments, and various household tasks that I defer until break.
Reflecting on these challenges, I devised two strategies to enhance my productivity during breaks, knowing that travel wouldn’t be decreasing:
- Establish a consistent writing routine while at home to increase the likelihood of writing on any given day.
- Adjust my expectations for summer work to focus on making my early-semester writing sessions even more productive. This includes committing time to reading—an essential part of research writing that can be managed even while traveling.
I implemented these strategies during my 2023 summer break, and with increased childcare hours this year, I am optimistic about my writing prospects for 2024.
Chapter 2: Strategies for Summer 2024
As I prepare for the upcoming summer, here’s my foundational plan for weekdays, regardless of whether I’m at home or on the go:
- Daily Writing Goal: Aim to write at least 100 words towards my current academic writing project each day, regardless of my location. These words don’t have to be perfect; I’ll utilize a Google Doc that allows me to jot down thoughts even from bed while my daughter sleeps nearby.
- Reading for Research: Dedicate time each day to research reading. If I’m traveling, this can be small snippets accessed on my phone right before bedtime.
- Enhanced Writing Days: On days when I can access my office, I will elevate my goals to writing for a minimum of one hour and reading for at least one hour. While I hope to exceed these minimums, I recognize the need to balance other commitments.
To keep track of my progress, I’ll use my Daily Writing Microgoals Google sheet, a straightforward tool I’ve previously discussed. If I remember, I plan to share my outcomes in August.
Do you experience seasonal shifts in your work that affect your creative output? I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment below!
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