A thread: taking time off and/vs. academic overworking. I have just returned from a 3-week family holiday at the North Sea. In Germany, August is also the month where you could try to 'get things done', as term usually starts mid-October (i.e. teaching prep in Sept./Oct.). 1/7

So how much work did I get done? Well, I did write e-mails more or less regularly (mostly to spare myself the horror of an exploding inbox once I returned), I had 1 (one!) work phone call, and I read about 1 1/2 books for upcoming projects. 2/7 https://twitter.com/susannegruss/status/1293794987184971776

I spent most of my time reading for pleasure (w/ slight work overlaps - 2 novels were for student term papers, 1 for a project that I'm thinking about, & I plan to teach dystopian feminist fiction at some point in the foreseeable future). 3/7 https://twitter.com/susannegruss/status/1291013648673116162

But mostly I did... nothing. I took so many photographs of sunsets that my family started making fun of me. I tried to fill a tiny glass jar w/ tiny shells (& failed). I ate too much ice cream & fried fish. I stared at the sky. I stared at the sea. I stared at the tidelands. 4/7

So I really, really took a break - & I have not had a 3-week break since my early 20s (I think). This also means that I will have to write 2 articles, 1 handbook entry & 1 review in Sept (oops, cue panic). I still managed to enjoy leave w/out feeling guilty about n/ working. 5/7

So don't let people (supervisors, colleagues, peers) pressure you into believing that you NEED to get work done while on annual leave. I know everyone of us is juggling deadlines - but we are also facing another Covid-term & need all the energy we can get! 6/7

Disclaimer: I know I am massively privileged - I finished a big project right before Corona hit Germany, I have a 4-year-contract & enough disposable income for that holiday. Also: if you ENJOY working while on leave, keep on working! You do you, I do me. 7/7