Development Monthly | #34 August 2024 | Reset & Connect Over The Summer
Summer is often seen as a time for relaxation and a break from the routine, but it can also be an excellent opportunity to stay sharp and productive. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, engage in enriching activities, or simply keep your mind active, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the sunny season. From diving into thought-provoking books, attending stimulating events to exploring engaging media options. This article from the Development Monthly team offers a curated list of personal recommendations for that free time over summer.
Jonathan Dempsey – Development Monthly Editorial Board
This summer, I’ll be out and about, enjoying weekends with my partner and our dog Persie (still working on her bravery in the water – it’s a bit chilly for her taste!). But amidst the fun, I’m also tackling my DBA – journals aren’t that fun in the sun!
Whilst I’m not doing any “fun” reading this summer I am catching up on podcasts and tv shows for those longer train and plane journeys – I can recommend Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble or No Such This As a Fish for some laughs and facts and watching Supacell on Netflix for something different in the superhero genre.
Finding balance between studies, work, and family is an ongoing challenge, but it feels even more crucial in summer. Even though the academic year’s “busy-ness” doesn’t truly fade the summer does mentally create a moment to stop, step outside and get sand or grass between our toes, and enjoy time away from the daily grind so we don’t fade (like our tans come September).
And if summer is not your thing, it’s less than five months until Christmas!!!
Chiara Singh – Development Monthly Editor
This summer I will be planning a trip to South America to explore the ancient wonders of the world and the Amazon rainforest. Closer to home I am undertaking training with the mental health charity Mind and hope to volunteer on their Mindline mental health helpline.
During the summer months I like to spend time with loved ones, get out into the nature, and enjoy swimming in the sea. To relax and recharge with self-care, carve out some protected time for you to do whatever you enjoy that energises you.
The more energy and care you give to yourself, the more energy and the greater capacity you may have to care for others. Do you have a passion project you’ve always wanted to work on, learning to paint, making a podcast, writing a book, or just spending a day with yourself? This can be a great way to reconnect with your creative side and to get away from screen time with our phones and laptops.
Listening to music is one of my favourite ways to switch off and relax. This summer I’ve been listening to the album ‘Volcano’ by London based producers Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland otherwise known as ‘Jungle’. With its feel-good summer vibes and a mix of 70s soul, 80s funk and 90s house music you can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGDJGe_PSc
Emily Hargreaves – Development Monthly Deputy Editor
This summer I’m taking a few weeks off to go to Devon with my family. We’re splitting the trip between a cabin on a farm, where you’re encouraged to help feed the animals every morning (rescue donkeys, chickens and pigs), and just over a week at the seaside. If we’re not existing on a diet of fudge, scones and pasties within a week, I’ll be very surprised!
I typically spend any summer down-time trying to reduce my reading pile, which can get perilously high towards the end of the summer term. When time permits, I tend to have a novel running alongside non-fiction for a bit of variety. I was recommended the Brilliant Coaching book by Julie Starr during a leadership course this year, and I’ve found it to be really valuable in realigning how I think about supporting colleagues. Although aimed at leaders and managers, the skills are ones you can usefully apply to any part of your life.
Josh Parker – AHEP Marketing Coordinator & DM Editorial Team Member
This summer I am excited to be exploring AHEP’s home city of Manchester, with plenty to offer, I will be be a bit spoilt for choice but one event I am looking forward to attending is the Sweet Dreams art installation at the Aviva Studios in Castlefield.
Created by Marshmallow Laser Feast, Sweet Dreams centres on a fictional fast-food brand. The immersive installation uses various media, including puppetry and AI, to explore themes of marketing, branding, and consumerism through the story of mascot Chicky Ricky. The piece humorously critiques the branding and food industry, aiming to provoke reflection on consumer habits and corporate ethics so as a marketer should be thought provoking!
Beyond this I will be making the most of the (hopefully) warmer weather to explore the many green spaces I am lucky to have on my doorstep with some trails up Rivington Pike on my radar, where you can also explore the beautiful terraced gardens. When not exploring the outdoors, I intend to keep busy with the ever-growing pile of books on my shelf. It is an eclectic range so I will have something to get lost in no matter my mood but first on my list will most likely be something from my favourite genre (sci-fi) after picking up a copy of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four in a local charity shop.
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