To be fair, depending on where you live, it might not even feel like summer yet. Even here in Windsor, we’re suspicious that “Winter” is just wearing spring clothing. However, according to the exam schedule, summer is indeed imminent, and unless you’ll be taking classes this Summer/Intersession, that means your summer vacation starts now.

But remember last summer break? The summer break you told yourself  “I’m going to get so much done” but didn’t? Remember how you made that huge list of things to do, stuff to get caught up on, and so on, and isn’t it funny how that list is still taped to your wall fresh and unchecked?

Let’s not be heroes this summer. Let’s try to be realistic about the things we want to accomplish and the time we have to do it. Let’s also try to think seriously about what we are prioritizing.

As others have written in the past, there is no one-size-fits-all definition of productivity. Perspective and context are essential to a productive summer break, as they are in most aspects of academia. But if you’re looking for advice, or at least open to it, we have some suggestions on how you can make this the most productive (and restful) summer break ever.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be dedicating Motivation Mondays to the pursuit of the worthwhile summer break. We’ve taken some cues from Les McKeown at Inc.com and TIME Magazine online, because we play to strengths, and the business world knows productivity. We’ll discuss the following:

1. Putting Your Year In Perspective (April 28th)
2. The Importance of (SoTL) Reading (May 5th)
3. Reviewing Your “Project List” (May 12th)
4. Slaying Your Email Demons (May 19th)
5. The GA/TA Budget (May 26th)
6. Taking a Break from Academia (June 2nd June 3rd)
7. Writing Your Teaching and Learning Philosophy (June 9th)
8. Making the Time for Personal Development (June 16th)
9. Finding Your Workspace (June 23rd)
10. Connecting With Other GAs/TAs (June 30th)