Managing academic work-life balance during breaks is a perennial challenge, as many of us see these periods not as opportunities for rest, but as chances to finally catch up on our endless academic backlog. We create extensive lists of papers to write, proposals to draft, and courses to plan. It’s as if we see time off as a chance to catch up, rather than what it actually should be – a break.

So this year, I’m going to continue with an experiment I tried in the summer break last year. I’m creating a “do not do” list instead of a to-do list. Here’s my first item: I will not use this break to catch up on work. Because here’s the thing – there will always be more work to catch up on. The academic backlog is infinite. What isn’t infinite is our capacity to keep pushing ourselves without genuine rest. The most productive thing we can do during our break is to actually break.

My “do not do” list

Here’s my list of things I’m not doing during the break:

1. I will not open my work email. Not even to “just check” or “quickly clear” my inbox. Those unread messages can stay unread for a few weeks.
2. I will not feel guilty about not working. This is actually hardest one for me because a lot of what I read and write about looks a lot like what other people call ‘work’. It helps if your institutional culture means no-one else is working either.
3. I will not start any new academic projects. Yes, I know the break seems like the perfect time to dive into that fascinating new research idea. But it will still be fascinating when I return, refreshed and ready to give it my full attention.
4. I will not agree to review “just one paper” or take on “one quick task” because it’s small. Small tasks have a sneaky way of multiplying when we’re trying to rest.

Work-life balance during breaks

The beauty of a “do not do” list is that success means doing less, not more. And unlike our endless academic to-do lists, this one is actually completable – by simply not doing anything on it. By embracing these boundaries, you’re taking a crucial step toward better academic work-life balance during breaks, creating space for genuine restoration instead of just shifting your workplace from the office to your home.

So here’s to a break that’s actually a break – where the only thing you need to accomplish is rest. Whether you’re spending time with loved ones, catching up on sleep, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea, I hope you find moments of genuine peace. May your holiday be filled with whatever brings you joy, and completely empty of academic obligations. Here’s to returning in the new year with renewed energy, fresh perspective, and absolutely zero guilt about all the work you didn’t do during your break.