Stop Working so Hard During Summer Vacation
Summer is about warm weather, outdoor recreation and time with friends and family. This is a chance to stop, slow down and hopefully explore our interests during these long, slow summer days. Yet too many of us are so addicted to the juice of productivity that we go to summer camp, summer school, take additional jobs, or prepare for fall. Stop it: it is important that the “break” is in the “summer vacation”.
We all know resting is important, even if you don’t think it’s a good time , but it’s more than that. If you’re in school, summer seems like a valuable time away from school to head off to camp, find a part-time job, or prepare for your next semester or college. This is all great, but it is equally important to make room for yourself, and since summer is traditionally associated with creativity and vacation, this is a natural time.
Why Downtime Is So Important
We all need boredom and downtime in our lives . Downtime gives you the opportunity to explore your interests instead of forcing yourself to work on what you “should be doing,” and boredom allows your brain to process what you have learned and the events you have experienced. It’s also important for creativity: a busy schedule that never stops, never gives you the opportunity to stop, think, and come up with your own ideas and solutions to problems.
One study from the University of Limerick found that while boredom can make you lose direction, it also encourages you to seek more meaningful pursuits, especially among other people. Daydreaming and longingly letting your mind wander also play an important role in developing focus and long-term mental performance, according to research published in The Journal of Neuroscience . Of course, when we talk about downtime, we usually talk about work interruptions or short-term absences from work. Maybe a few weekends or a long weekend. This is great, but it’s also important to take longer breaks whenever possible.
Summer is especially important for creativity
When I was in college, one of my old professors reminded me to take a little break from school and extracurricular activities in the summer. I would try to explain that I would like to dramatically speed up my studies, but he replied that summer is the perfect time to “rearrange my thoughts,” and even if I was studying, I had to set aside time specifically to not do anything . He explained that creative minds across generations such as Tennyson, Keats, Bronte, Dickinson, and Shakespeare admire the rejuvenating beauty of summer and that this is a special time of year to develop your creativity.
You may remember how you felt as a child in the summer: full of possibilities and seemingly endless amount of time to do whatever you want. If you have children, try to make them feel the same way, even if you feel like you should use the time to “give them a head start over their peers.” If you miss those days yourself, recreate them by writing your own summer manifesto or a simple shortlist of things you want to do this summer or steps you can take to make your daily life feel like a vacation .
The goals on your list can be as broad as “relax more” or as specific as “have a mint julep on your porch on hot days.” If they are actionable, concrete things that you can do and look back upon having fun, then you are in good shape. They should also encourage you to take time out for yourself. In short, they should be activities that you enjoy and are emotionally enriching for you. Think about books you would like to read or groups you would like to see. Perhaps you want to take a trip or visit a museum you’ve never been to. Maybe you just want to rebuild relationships with old friends. The only thing that matters is that your manifesto should not include work or home “productive” projects, even if you enjoy them at some level. It’s all about taking the time to broaden your horizons and give your brain some free time, even if you have to plan for it .
Yes, it’s harder than it sounds
I know it sounds simpler here. Many people need the downtime and long hours that summer brings in order to actually get something done. Maybe you need to send the kids to camp so you have the downtime you need. Or perhaps you need this part-time job to make ends meet or pay for your studies in the fall. It’s easy to assume that this kind of advice is for office workers who are given vacation weeks by their humble employers, but this is not the case. The key is not to take weeks off and sunbathe on the beach in Cabo (although if that’s your thing, you have more energy), but to carve out time for purposeful, deliberate relaxation and empty thinking.
The goal is the same as when you take breaks to get more done at work , or meditate to “defrag” your brain . The big difference is that instead of seeking a solitary getaway or focusing on a summer getaway , you have a unique opportunity to capitalize on all of this summer’s wonderful connotations. You also have the opportunity to explore and discover new interests that you would not want or could not at any other time of the year. After all, it is common in most workplaces to understand that when summer comes, people take vacations, and chances are good that wherever you live, your community is busy planning outdoor activities, social gatherings, parties, free movies, and more. leave the house. , get together and relax together. Even if you can’t come up with the goals of your manifesto, one of them might be to “ go with the flow ” and take advantage of the opportunities that open up in your community.
Even if you are stuck at work or need to go to camp or continue your studies, take time for yourself to do nothing and explore your personal interests. You will feel refreshed and more engaged when it comes time to head back to school, return to work, or pursue your own projects from where you left off. We also bet that you will be happy if you have an unforgettable summer under your belt.