You’ve made it through the summer! Whether you have basked in sunshine and bliss or were doomed to your tiny office and massive manuscript, reflecting on the summer behind you is important. How do you feel? Are you ready for a whole new academic year? If you answered ‘Not well’ or ‘Absolutely not’, this post will walk you through strategies to feel more prepared for the upcoming year.

Rejuvenate
If you have spent most of your summer in relaxation, that’s fantastic! Perhaps you are already mentally rejuvenated and ready to get back to school. In this case, you can rejuvenate your academic gears for a more seamless transition into the first day of classes. This rejuvenation could look like a daily short blurb writing on interesting topics, reading a book that inspires you, or chatting over lunch with a peer from your department. 

If you spent most of your summer locked into your work, that is also fantastic! Since you have been so productive, and will likely be fruitful in the upcoming academic year, take some time before the start of Fall 2024 to simply exist. If feasible, forget about your deadline for a few days and catch up on sleep, take a road trip, or rewatch your favorite TV series.  

[Image Description: A finger presses a white button with ‘reset’ in red text.]
[Caption: Time to hit reset!]

Goal Setting and Go-Getting
In my experience, what evokes anxiety throughout the year is the uncertainty of whether I am being as productive as I can be. If you can relate to this, try setting some goals before the start of the year. These goals should be feasible, actionable, and far enough in advance to set yourself up for success. If you have a milestone project due in Spring 2025, you may set the following goals:

1. Finish Analysis by Week 6 of Fall 2024
2. Draft Manuscript by Winter 2025
3. Complete Revisions by Week 3 of Spring 2025

In addition to setting goals like these above, add action items to each goal to double as a to-do list. This way, you’ll know exactly how and when you are on track without the added anxiety of uncertainty. Additionally, it will be easier to keep your eye on the prize when you have a step-by-step guide toward the prize.

[Image Description: An animated written goal list on a clipboard, looping through new pages.]
[Caption: Set yourself up for success.]

Establish Feel-Good Habits
Once you have had some space to reset and reflect, ask yourself: What helped me feel calm and in control during this summer? What helped me to cope with challenges this summer? For all that comes to mind, consider how to integrate more of it into your daily life. If what helped you is high effort, brainstorm low-effort alternatives. If water and pools helped you this summer, consider planning a relaxing bath or shower to end your days/weeks. If you benefitted from spending time with your loved ones, consider scheduling a daily or weekly call with your favorite people. The bottom line is to engage in regular practices toward happiness and fun. No matter how your academic year is going, you deserve to feel well – in fact, you sometimes need to feel well to do well. Prepare for success!    

[Image Description: Animated words ‘Feel’ and ‘Good’ looping in pink and yellow text.]
[Caption: You deserve to feel well and at ease!]