What Do You Do With a Free Summer?

As it’s coming up to the end of the summer term, I realise for the first time in 8 years that I don’t have any exams to sit! 

For the last two years, I have been completing postgraduate modules at the Essex Summer School (ESS) as part of an MA in Social Science Data Analysis. This training has been invaluable in helping me complete some of my PhD Psychology projects, focusing on measuring and predicting work addiction. Prior to that, I’ve had exams and dissertations related to my MSc Organisational Psychology and MSc Psychology courses.

But what to do with myself this summer?! Well, I have my final PhD Psychology projects to start and complete, and I’m presenting at the International Conference on Behavioral Addictions in Istanbul in August before taking a little break.

It does seem weird to me that I wouldn’t be formally taking any courses this summer…. such a hole to fill. To the point, where I’m even considering learning Python through some self-study, and planning out how I can complete my PhD and my MA next year. The MA requires £6k to do a dissertation, and I’m not sure I need another Master’s qualification, given that it may not add much to my CV and I have already published some studies from the training I learned at the ESS. Oh, but it would be good to just complete it so that it is done… anyway.

I can’t deny that it’s been hard. All those summers, doing intensive studying and sitting the exams in the heat, while everyone was enjoying themselves on holidays. But I’ve been through tougher times, and I know the difference. I count myself very lucky to be able to study, learn new things and challenge myself in ways I didn’t think would be possible in 2018, before it all started.

Here’s to a somewhat free summer… some research, some rest, and maybe a bit of Python.

Have you ever felt strange having “free time” after years of structured study or work? I’d be interested to hear how you’ve navigated it.

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