LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

When you're in college, the summertime offers many opportunities for you. You could choose to study abroad, take a summer class on campus, do undergraduate research, or take a break from school. The choice is up to you! 

For many students, taking the summer to step back from classes can be a welcome break. However, some students worry that the long break away will disrupt their motivation and cause them to feel apprehensive about returning in the fall semester. Below are a few tips if you are considering taking the summer off from courses: 

Use this time to reflect 

Taking time to intentionally reflect on your academic year can provide important insights into how you approach returning to classes in the fall. For example, you could reflect on the following questions: 

• What went well for me this academic year? 
• Where did I run into challenges? 
• If I could change something about this past academic year, what would it be and why? 
• When did I feel engaged the most when it came to my classwork? 
• What projects did I complete that I’m really proud of? 

Asking these questions can help you start to build your new goals for the next academic year, while also taking time to reflect on projects, moments, or experiences that you are proud of. Acknowledging your accomplishments is a big part of feeling motivated to continue in your learning! 

Create at least three new SMART goals for the next semester

Once you finish reflecting on your past academic year, use your notes from your reflections to help craft your new goals for the upcoming semester. For example, maybe in your reflections, you noticed that most of the challenges you mentioned had to do with balancing your coursework and not feeling like you had enough time to study. This could help you craft a SMART goal focused on a new time management plan and study strategy that you can implement at the start of the fall semester. 

SMART goals are a great way to set goals and maintain motivation to following them through to completion. SMART goals stand for the following: 

S – Specific 

M – Measurable

A – Achievable

R – Relevant

T – Time-Bound

For example, if you wanted to craft a time management and study strategy goal for the fall that used the SMART goal format, that goal might look like this: 

“For Fall 2025, I am going to set aside three days a week where, for three hours each day, I block off for time to study on my planner and my iPhone calendar”. 

This is specific, it’s easy to measure, it’s achievable, it’s relevant to your success as a student, and it's time-bound, meaning you will be able to look back on this goal at the end of the fall semester to see if you kept this goal each week during the fall term. 

Setting up goals in a SMART goal formula can provide structure to your plan for the fall term, which can help you feel more confident and motivated when it comes time to start your classes in August. 

RELAX! 

Taking care of yourself is just as important as creating new goals for your upcoming academic year. Use the summer to take care of yourself in a holistic way, whether that is going on trips, spending time with family, or simply taking a day where you don’t have any plans. Hard work can't be accomplished if you are feeling burnt-out or unmotivated, so make sure you are also taking time this summer to take care of YOU. If you find a relaxing activity, or an activity that brings you a lot of joy, make a note of it and find ways to incorporate that activity into your academic term, so you can continue to rest and rejuvenate in the fall semester. 

We know that sometimes, it feels like you’re barely making progress on your goals when you're in classes. However, taking intentional time this summer can help you reflect, plan, and rejuvenate so you feel ready and motivated to dive back into your learning in the next semester. We can't wait to see all that you do in your upcoming semesters!