Summer Goals & Habits 2024

Values + Commitment

Today is the last day of school for 2023-2024. That means I have officially been a band teacher for twenty years.

TWENTY YEARS. I was basically a child when I started teaching.

That also means that I’ve had twenty summers off, and every summer has been different. One summer started with my honeymoon; for two summers, I was heavily pregnant; for others, I was nursing, caretaking, and nurturing infants and toddlers, which in many ways was harder than my teaching job. Some summers had a lot of travel (in 2021, we took our then- 4-year old and 8-year old to California AND Maine); some had none (2020, because, yeah). Sometimes I set a theme for the summer; last year, it was “the summer of not writing.” Also, depending on the year, I’ve needed varying degrees of burnout recovery. (Thanks to my early, inadvertent Slowing Down, I don’t think I’ll need it this year.) Basically, each summer has had its own character, plot and narrative arc.

So. What will this summer be? I’ve been asking myself that for many weeks. And I think my answer is this:

CREATIVITY + PRODUCTIVITY + FUN

I feel ready for a full summer. I have goals and dreams in all categories: a rainbow of goals and dreams, to continue my RAINBOW theme for the year. Here are a few that I’m willing to share:

Health:

• Exercise at least 4 hours per week (I already do this, so just continuing!) and try for a “streak” of exercising every day, building in lighter days for recovery.

• Get up and get outdoors as early as possible.

• Eat 7 daily fruits and vegetables; don’t eat dessert until after dinner (I am often tempted to eat sweets early in the day during the summer, but I know I can handle them better after dinner).

Writing/Creativity:

• This is the big one. Write first draft of tentatively-titled historical novel, “Jo and Mary,” aiming for 1,500 words per day (Saturdays off). This should get me a 78,000 word draft by August 31 if I can maintain the schedule. I’ve already done a lot of character/plot/research prep, so I feel ready.

• Spend 15-20 minutes a day on drafting, editing or submitting flash pieces, working with the overall theme of “Band.” (I’m hoping to start a collection…)

• Some not-fun but necessary website maintenance.

• Some fun but possibly difficult podcast attempts.

• Write Good Character once per month, keeping my readers (you!) apprised of my progress.

• Read in all spare moments, several books at a time, like a continuous, joyous binge. (This is my one summer constant: every summer is reading season. For my current book list, see below.)

Home/Parenting:

• Paint the dining room and the inside of my closet.

• Order new blinds for all the bedrooms and have them installed.

• Print and hang photo collages in hallways.

• Get a passport for my younger child.

• Research and choose a phone for my older child (he’s going into seventh grade…)

• Help my older child with his summer reading list.

• Continue to work on our financial plan with our advisor.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY…. FUN!!!

The 2024 Summer Fun List includes…

• Pool time whenever possible. We have access to a lake/beach with treated water, and a very nice HOA pool— plus, my in-laws’ house.

• Berry picking— we all love picking blueberries, especially!

• Day trips with my husband to towns around the Hudson Valley, like Beacon, Kingston and Millerton. We’re keeping a list of places to visit. We both love a road trip, and will have time while the kids are in long days of camp.

• Trips to NYC— flexible, for when it’s not too hot. My NYC list is heavy on museums and food tours.

• Visits to Inisfree Gardens, to which we’re members.

• Watching the Olympics, especially gymnastics!

• Taking my son to the area Renaissance Faire.

And many more!

A beach photo from summer 2023. Photo credit: Leanne Sowul

How will I do all this? Well, the truth is, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll fail; that could happen. But I’m setting myself up for success. First, I’m being clear about my goals. I know what I want to accomplish, and I can envision— even physically feel— the excitement of achievement at the end. (God, I love that feeling.) Second, I’m planning the time to accomplish them. I know how early I need to get up, when I need to go to bed, how many words I need to write. And third, I’m communicating with my partner. Each night, we’ll review the next day’s plans, so we’re on the same page about what needs to get done for the kids, when we’re going to have family time, and when I might need some time to write.

I’ve had enough summers to know: the time moves both quickly and slowly. If you want a full, rich summer, you should value your time, commit to your best plans— and then be flexible, in case something even more fun comes along.

Stuff You Might Like To Know

Here’s my current reading list for summer 2024. I’ve already started the top four; I’ll be getting to the rest, and adding more, as the summer progresses.

HOW TO KNOW A PERSON by David Brooks (nonfiction)

THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT by Carley Fortune (romance)

THE HUSBANDS by Holly Gramazio via Audible (fiction)

REAL AMERICANS by Rachel Khong (fiction)

THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl (fiction)

THE MINISTRY OF TIME by Kaliane Bradley (fiction) (I may try this on Audible as I’ve heard the voices are strong)

THE RESILIENCE MYTH by Soraya Chemaly (nonfiction)

THE KAMOGAWA FOOD DETECTIVES by Hisashi Kashiwai (fiction)

SANDWICH by Catherine Newman (fiction)

JACKPOT SUMMER by Elyssa Friedland (fiction)

ANNIE BOT by Sierra Greer (fiction)

THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS by Chris Bohjalian (fiction)

THE LIST by Yomi Adegoke (fiction)

GOING ZERO by Anthony McCarten (fiction)

THE CREATIVE ACT: A WAY OF BEING by Rick Rubin (nonfiction)

SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand (fiction)

Very heavy on the fiction this summer! I guess that’s what’s appealing to me right now. Are you planning to read any of these books?

Here’s to you and a summer that lives up to your wildest dreams, whatever they may be. I’ll check back in with all of you in late July.