The summer break offers academics more than rest – it’s a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and realign. Isabelle Kohler shares how a quieter pace can help you recalibrate your academic compass and make intentional choices for the year ahead.

As the academic year reaches its end and inboxes grow quieter, the summer offers something rare in academia: space to think. For academics, this period brings a slower rhythm – fewer meetings, less teaching, and a chance to breathe. Some use the time to catch up on work they’ve postponed, while others step away entirely and focus on rest and strategic thinking.

I’m part of the latter group: every year, I plan at least three weeks of holidays and add a few weeks of offline work – no emails, no meetings, no commitments. These offline weeks are often the most productive and creative of the year: that’s when ideas pop up, big plans get drawn, and things finally get done.