DP&L Episode 231 - Work or Play!

In this summer-themed episode, President and executive writing coach Christine Tulley addresses the common challenge academics face during summer months: distinguishing between work time and personal time while managing writing projects effectively. She provides practical strategies for creating sustainable boundaries around scholarly work during the less structured summer period.

Christine begins by acknowledging a widespread issue among her clients - the tendency to view summer as an unlimited reservoir of time to "catch up" on writing projects that may have stalled during the academic year. However, she warns against this all-or-nothing approach, noting that summer brings its own challenges including schedule changes, family vacations, travel commitments, and the natural desire to enjoy pleasant weather rather than remaining confined to an office.

The episode focuses on two key time management strategies that can transform how academics approach summer productivity. The first strategy involves establishing a realistic weekly hour commitment for scholarly work before each week begins. Christine emphasizes that attempting 40 hours per week of reading and writing is unrealistic due to the mentally taxing nature of screen-based, high-stress academic work, particularly for those working on dissertations or tenure-track requirements.

Drawing from her personal experience, Christine shares her approach of targeting 8-12 hours per week during the regular academic year, with 8 hours as her minimum threshold and 12 hours as her maximum before she allows herself to stop. She explains the psychological benefits of using a range rather than a fixed number, as it provides flexibility while ensuring minimum productivity standards are met. For summer intensification, she suggests scaling up to ranges like 16-20 hours per week for those with reduced teaching loads.

The range system offers several advantages, including the ability to track progress throughout the week and make informed decisions about additional work sessions. Christine illustrates this with an example of checking progress on Thursday and determining whether additional hours are needed by week's end to meet the minimum threshold.

The second major strategy involves deliberately scheduling non-work days during the summer. Christine recommends intentionally designating certain days as completely writing-free, whether for vacation, service obligations, or simply personal choice. This planned approach to rest prevents the guilt and uncertainty that often accompanies unstructured time off.

Christine concludes by emphasizing that this systematic approach to work-life boundaries helps answer the persistent question of "how much writing is enough?" She acknowledges that while there's theoretically no limit to academic productivity, realistic physical and mental constraints require thoughtful planning and self-imposed limits.

DPL Resources

• Summer Coaching Opportunity: Defend, Publish & Lead is offering a limited-time summer burst sale with 100 coaching hours available at reduced rates. Whether you're a current client or new to their services, email [e-mail] to learn more.
• Free Consultation Available: New clients can schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation to discuss projects, summer writing planning, or fall preparation strategies.
• Need help with your academic writing goals or semester transitions? Contact Defend, Publish & Lead for personalized coaching support tailored to your specific needs and timeline.