Make the most of winter break

Let’s keep this one short and sweet1 — who has the time this holiday season, anyway?

Winter breaks differ across institutions, but I’m mostly talking here to those who have longer stretches between terms. In my case, I’ll have roughly 45 days between the end of my Fall 2025 teaching responsibilities and the start of Spring 2026. Because of this, I tend to view winter break as a valuable opportunity to make progress and get. things. done.

Of course, I build in time to rest and catch up with family and friends. But I also feel eager (and sometimes anxious) to dive back into my work. This isn’t because I’m more committed than anyone else. Rather, as someone who teaches every term, these breaks are the only time I can engage with my research without also balancing teaching-related obligations.

And before anyone thinks I’m dismissive of teaching — I care deeply about teaching and mentorship! I also care about protecting breaks so that I can move my scholarship forward.

So, here’s how I’m planning to make the most of my winter break, and perhaps you’ll find some of these strategies helpful, too.

I maintain a spreadsheet documenting my major activities each term. At the end of the semester, I review it and ask whether I met, fell short of, or exceeded my goals. Goal setting is notoriously difficult, so falling short or overshooting may reflect unrealistic expectations or inefficient time management (among other things). Essentially, I create a “Fall 2025 Wrapped” for myself.

If I’m being honest, I’m almost always disappointed by something. This term, for example, I excelled in the classroom, completed appropriate service, and made good writing progress, but I wasn’t as disciplined with writing as I wanted to be and didn’t launch a much-anticipated study (but we’re close!). When you conduct your own audit, it’s easy to get stuck on the negatives, so make sure you keep the wins in mind.

• What goals did I set, and how closely did my actions align with them?

• Which accomplishments am I proud of, even if they weren’t on my original plan?

• Where did I overestimate or underestimate my capacity?

• What patterns (helpful or unhelpful) show up across the term?

My spring goals usually begin as a reactive list based on my audit, and they’re often too ambitious. So I let them sit for a bit and revisit them right before the new term starts. When I revise, I consider several things: tenure expectations (mostly tenure expectations tbh), the learning experiences I want to offer my students, and the projects requiring sustained attention.

• What must happen next term (e.g., deadlines, requirements)?

• What should happen to move my research forward?

• What would I like to happen if time and energy allow?

• How can I set goals that support my long-term trajectory rather than only my short-term anxieties?

I have a complicated relationship with structure. On one hand, I love the autonomy of being a professor. On the other, I’m more productive when I have some structure, which naturally exists during the term. Between terms, I can feel a bit aimless.

To combat this, I impose a gentle routine during breaks. I work regular hours, though usually shorter and earlier than during the academic term. I capitalize on early-morning productivity. I wake up and start working immediately. After about six solid hours, I take a break and decide whether to continue or transition into work-adjacent activities like reading, meetings, or simply thinking through ideas.

When I say “work work,” I mean the tasks I want to catch up on or get ahead in, such as writing or pushing projects toward manuscript writing.

• When during the day do I feel focused and energized?

• What kind of structure helps me thrive without feeling constrained?

• What would a sustainable winter break routine look like for me?

• How can I differentiate “work work” from tasks that only feel like work?

This is where my privilege is most obvious. I do my best work when I’m not at home and often, that means being in another country. When I’m away, I’m not consumed by household tasks, and I feel less beholden to the daily requests that tend to fill my time. I also feel a sense of urgency. I want to finish my work so I can go explore a new place. And the people watching (my favorite hobby!) often sparks new ideas.

Having the ability to pack up and spend several weeks abroad is an enormous privilege made possible by social support from my partner and my parents. I am grateful for this reality. I also hope to eventually learn how to build better boundaries at home so that I don’t need to fly across an ocean (or land border) to access this clarity.

• What environment allows me to think clearly and work joyfully?

• How can I create physical or psychological distance from daily obligations?

• What boundaries do I need to set (and with whom) to protect my break time?

• Are there smaller, local ways to create the “away from home” feeling?

How will you make the most of your winter break?

Until next time!

How to reach me: You are always welcome to email me (letstalkgradschool@gmail.com). You can also find me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.

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Wishing you all the best!

Margaret