Making Personal Development a Summer Holiday Activity
As the summer months unfold, many of us look forward to a much-needed break from routine. Whether it’s time spent at the beach, in the garden, or simply away from work, the summer holiday presents an ideal opportunity not just for rest, but also for personal growth. With its slower pace and reflective atmosphere, summer is perfectly suited to self-improvement—making it the perfect time to turn personal development into a holiday activity.
The Value of Intentional Rest
Rest and personal development are not mutually exclusive. In fact, rest plays a critical role in our ability to learn and grow. Research in cognitive psychology shows that rest enhances memory consolidation and problem-solving ability (Mednick, Cai, Kanady, & Drummond, 2008). When we allow ourselves time to step away from the pressures of daily work, we open cognitive space for insight, creativity, and personal reflection.
Summer, therefore, isn’t just a break—it’s a season of potential. The key is to approach it with intention.
Redefining the Summer Break: From Passive to Purposeful
Traditionally, holidays are associated with escapism—disconnecting from work, routines, and responsibilities. But what if we reframed summer as a time for reconnection? A season to realign with our values, revisit our goals, and refuel our aspirations.
Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) suggests that humans have three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The summer break is an ideal time to meet these needs. By choosing developmental activities aligned with our interests (autonomy), engaging in skill-building (competence), and strengthening relationships (relatedness), we can foster well-being and personal growth.
Personal Development Activities for the Summer
Here are several ways to turn your summer into a season of self-growth:
1. Reading for Growth
Reading remains one of the most effective tools for learning. Consider exploring books on emotional intelligence, leadership, or creativity. Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence (1995) or Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead (2018) are excellent starting points. Even 15 minutes of reading per day can significantly impact your mindset and motivation (National Endowment for the Arts, 2007).
2. Outdoor Reflection and Journaling
Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress and improve cognitive function (Bratman, Hamilton, & Daily, 2012). Combine this with journaling for a powerful self-reflection practice. Writing about goals, challenges, or new insights helps clarify thoughts and fosters emotional regulation (Pennebaker & Chung, 2011).
3. Online Learning and Micro-Credentials
Flexible online courses allow you to learn at your own pace. Whether it’s a short course in communication skills, coaching models, or mindfulness, platforms like FutureLearn, Coursera, or UKCPD’s Open Access resources that include, free Personal Development courses, Professional CPD events, the Be inspired Group or UKCPD-TV provide structured yet flexible learning options.
4. Coaching Conversations and Peer Learning
Summer is a great time to reconnect with mentors, peers, or a coach. Informal conversations over coffee or a coaching walk can be both relaxing and transformative. Peer learning and social dialogue are essential to adult learning, as noted by Knowles’ theory of andragogy (Knowles, Holton & Swanson, 2015).
5. Goal Setting and Visioning
Take time to re-evaluate your goals. Are they still aligned with your purpose? Vision boards, goal-mapping tools, or even a simple mind-map can help clarify where you want to head next—personally or professionally. Locke and Latham (2002) demonstrated that setting specific and challenging goals leads to higher performance and increased motivation.
The S.M.A.R.T.S. model is a great place to start when considering setting a new personal and professional future goal.
Personal Development as a Lifelong Habit
The ultimate goal of summer personal development isn’t to overload yourself, but to integrate growth into the rhythm of life. By making personal development a natural, even enjoyable part of your holiday, you reinforce the habit of lifelong learning—essential in today’s rapidly changing world.
The World Economic Forum (2020) identifies lifelong learning as a key skill for the future workforce. As automation and AI reshape industries, the ability to continuously adapt and evolve becomes a core asset—not just for employability, but for personal fulfilment.
Summer offers a unique blend of space, time, and energy—three resources often in short supply during the rest of the year. By embracing personal development as a summer activity, you can return to your routine not just rested, but renewed, realigned, and ready for what’s next.
So, whether you’re hiking up a hill, lounging with a good book, or setting goals under a parasol—make your summer matter. Not just for the memories, but for the momentum it can build in your personal journey.
References
Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., & Daily, G. C. (2012). The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1249(1), 118–136.
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books.
Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2015). The Adult Learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development (8th ed.). Routledge.
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717.
Mednick, S. C., Cai, D. J., Kanady, J., & Drummond, S. P. (2008). Comparing the benefits of caffeine, naps and placebo on verbal, motor and perceptual memory. Behavioural Brain Research, 193(1), 79–86.
National Endowment for the Arts. (2007). To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence. Research Report #47.
Pennebaker, J. W., & Chung, C. K. (2011). Expressive writing: Connections to physical and mental health. In H. S. Friedman (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology (pp. 417–437). Oxford University Press.
World Economic Forum. (2020). The Future of Jobs Report 2020.
