Thriving in August

It's August. I heard someone say that August is like the Sunday night of summer. You know the relaxing part is over and the sun is setting on some freedoms, but the excitement of a fresh new start awaits. For many of you a new academic year is likely more enticing than a Monday morning, so the analogy may be faulty but you get the point.

UMR-ACUHO sponsored a free webinar in August 4 (conveniently our first day of professional staff training) about "Working Smarter, Not Harder." The presentation was by Grant Anderson (@GrantThink) from the University of Minnesota. Grant is well-versed in positive psychology and the use of strengths in res life, student development and professional development.

Grant talked a lot about re-framing the hectic time before the school year starts so that you are THRIVING during August, not just surviving.

That's important to me and to my staff this year. We have two new staff members and are replacing our Assistant Director as we head into the busiest time of the year. It's hard not to think about just pushing through to the end of the day (which often actually ends as the clock swings itself into the next day) and surviving. Grant's session gave us a mantra to use to remind ourselves to celebrate what we can and when we can so that we feel like we are thriving.

The first six weeks are vital, but we often start that clock when school begins. Our first six weeks in residential life includes August - it includes the lead-up to training, the long days of planning and organizing and preparing. It includes professional staff training. It includes student staff training. And it includes the excitement and rush of move-in and the first days of school.

I'm reframing and refocusing this August. If you have struggled with August or are just at a point where the freshness of this time of year is fading a bit, I encourage you to do the same.

Find a way to document some stuff - journal, blog, Tweet, post, scribble on a notecard, tell a friend... whatever it takes to think about how you will proactively approach your work this month to insure that your students get the best YOU in the next few weeks.

• What are your reasons to be excited?
• What new ideas you are you bringing to the table?
• In what ways are you connecting with colleagues and students at this time of year to set up a successful start to the year?
• What are the things you can celebrate with your staff to insure that you are feeling good about the busy times ahead?

Good luck with training, move-in and the start of the year! Remember: don't just survive... THRIVE.