We’ve made it to the summer break (almost…) and when you have time to take a breath in between activities week, report writing, SATs 
fallout and feeling exhausted, this is a great time to reflect on the year that has just gone and spend time planning some summer self-care to set you up for September.
Key themes that the Diary Project has highlighted so far are the spaces diary-keeping provides for catharsis, celebration, and perspective. These three things can help us wind down and ‘decompress’ after a long and busy final term.
Catharisis: This process of releasing strong emotions can be challenging and may raise issues or emotions that need to be addressed. In this way it can be the first step before reaching out for support or having that conversation with our line-manager about something that is making life particularly stressful. In externalising our thoughts, we begin to free up space for other things and space to tackle the things that cause us stress.
Celebration: You may have gone to a prom or leavers party for your students and congratulated them on their successes this year – you might even have had a staff party where departing teachers are given gifts and have the chance to make a speech, but have you taken the chance to celebrate your own achievements, no matter how big or small they may be? What have you been proud of this academic year and how did that make you feel? Making a diary entry that represents this kind of emotion – creatively, visually or through writing – can have a positive impact on our mood and motivate us to keep going.
Perspective: In her book, Lucy describes a diary as offering a route to gaining perspective – “It’s a portal where (you) can zoom out and gain clarity and reconnect with (your) personal and professional purposes” Kelly 2023. Being able to reconnect with our ‘why’ can have a very positive impact on wellbeing; it can act as an anchor, or compass in times of stormy educational seas.
The RtD team take the process of this reflection very seriously – especially the chance to plan for some summer recouperation! Below we share our reflections on this academic year and get excited about our plans for the summer.
Our RtD Principal Investigator Lucy reflects at the end of a busy academic year: “I can’t believe we’re here! Where has the time gone?! It’s been a very full year but I’m feeling grateful for the amazing opportunities I’ve had, particularly publishing my book and expanding the Reimagining the Diary project and team. I think it’s a reminder to enjoy the journey as well as the outcome, and to take stock and celebrate.”
How is she planning to relax over the summer? “I have some ring-fenced holiday time with my family. We’re lucky to be going to Cyprus so that will definitely be a time to disconnect from work. I also want to enjoy time at home – e.g. playing with my sons and slowing down, reading, sewing, catching up with friends and family.”
Her reflections on self-care for the next academic year: “This is an area I need to get better at – I’m definitely a work in progress. I can fall into the trap of toxic productivity and feeling I need to be busy all of the time. I want to reinsert some boundaries around life/work, particularly work-free evenings and weekends. I want to continue running three times a week, as well as reading, sewing, attending my pottery class and having quality time with my husband, sons and family. I need to keep reminding myself that I’m a human, not a machine, and that I deserve rest.”
Kimberley our Commercial Lead reflects: “I am glad I have opened up to more people at work about my menopause, this has allowed for me to put boundaries in to protect myself and other people understand my needs better. I have learnt to stop and remember what other people are dealing with and take that into consideration and not leap to negative judgements.”
How is she planning to relax over the summer? “I am looking forward to lots of lazy mornings and hoping our neighbour’s cockerel doesn’t wake me up too often at 5am! We are off on a grand adventure to France with my brother and his family so I plan to eat lots of cheese and drink lots of red wine whilst reading books in the sunshine! I must get on to organising meeting up with friends that I haven’t been able to see in term time!”
Her reflections on self-care for the next academic year: “Continuing to prep a healthy lunch to take with me, I’ve been really good at this lately and it is definitely helping. I would like to be better at delegating!
RtD Research Assistant Pen reflects on the past year: “It’s been a fantastic year but I’m exhausted! I’m 
looking forward to building on what I’ve done this year in my own research and on the other projects I’ve been lucky to work on – but I need to be careful of saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity!”
How is she planning to relax over the summer? “I’m looking forward to spending some time with my family – hopefully a lot of that will be outdoors and in the forest! I’ll also be gardening in my tiny garden, listening to music, singing along loudly and catching up on some reading!”
Her reflections on self-care for the next academic year: “Sleep, sleep, sleep! I’m going to try and create a good evening routine over the summer that I can stick to in September and beyond…”
Our RA Jen reflects on this academic year: “This academic year, despite its challenges, has offered me the opportunity to expand my understanding, develop critical thinking skills, and deepen my passion for learning and work on my PhD research.”
How is she planning to relax over the summer? “I’m particularly excited about embarking on a hiking trip to reconnect with nature and enjoy the tranquillity it offers with my friends.”
Her reflections on self-care for the next academic year: “Going into the next academic year, I plan to dedicate time each week to activities that help me unwind and destress – exercising especially!”
RtD Pro tip:
The end of term is a busy place which can leave us feeling frazzled and overwhelmed. We’ve talked about cognitive overload on the blog before and at the end of the academic year we may well be experiencing this. A good way of combating this can be ‘free writing’ where you simply write (or type or audio record if you prefer) whatever comes to mind. This can be past events, hopes, worries, serious, ridiculous – whatever! Noone else has to read it – you don’t even have to keep it. Don’t overthink it; just keep your hand moving and drain your brain!
Everyone at RtD hopes you have a great summer doing as much or as little as you need to destress and recharge. We look forward to working with lots of you on our project in September. In the meantime, if you’d like to share your thoughts or get involved in the project, drop an email to Pen at pw17644@bristol.ac.uk or send us a tweet @diarytoolkit.
If you need support over the summer here are some useful contacts:
Education support:
Helpline 08000 562 561
Education Support, supporting teachers and education staff
Samaritans
Helpline 116 123
Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen