Being Done Isn't the Same as Being Okay
Five Reflection Prompts for Winding Down After a Hard Semester
Happy Wednesday, work friends.
Whew. The end of the semester is finally here.
You made it.
The last three months have been filled with several crises—from DEI rollbacks, the removal of federal datasets, research funds being revoked, ICE campus raids, and so much more.
This semester has been a lot.
For many of you, this may be the first time you’ve had a chance to slow down and sit in silence and feel everything you’ve just been through.
This week, it feels imperative to say this: Being done is not the same as having processed what you’ve been through.
This is why I want to offer a gentle reframe as we transition into the summer: instead of rushing to your research or the next thing, consider pausing to process and reflect.
I’ve written before about my end-of-semester reflection ritual and how it has helped me transition more intentionally into break. It started small: a few pages in a journal about what felt hard, what worked, and what I wanted to carry forward. Over time, it has become a key part of protecting my peace while on the tenure track.
This practice has helped me process everything from pandemic-era teaching to the sting of mean-spirited course evaluations. It gave me a container to hold my experiences instead of stuffing them down.
In fact, some of the reflections that have stayed with me most came from the semesters that felt the hardest—when it was tempting to skip reflection altogether because everything felt like a blur.
One semester stands out in particular. In Fall 2022, I caught COVID for the first time and was sick in bed for two weeks as I recovered. Returning to the classroom that semester was extremely challenging because it took months for my energy to return to normal.
Everything felt really hard.
Though it took me nearly a month to write my reflection, when I did, I remembered several small teaching wins that reminded me that even when I was feeling at my worst, I was still making a positive impact on my students.
For example, I wrote about a student who stayed in his seat after I dismissed class and was staring at his screen. When I asked what he was doing, he said that he was preparing slides for a meeting he was leading. As we talked, he asked for my feedback on the slides and mentioned that he had copied my approach to designing slides because he thought it was the “perfect balance of giving critical information on the slide but leaving out just enough to encourage the audience to listen.”
I didn’t even know he had noticed my intentional approach to creating slides for each meeting.
His words provided an unexpected proud teacher moment I can only recall when writing this post because of my intentional end-of-semester reflection practice.
This week, I plan to return to my reflection practice as everything in higher ed feels unpredictable and unresolved. I thought I’d share some of my end-of-semester reflection prompts in case any of you are looking for a way to wind down and process the semester so that you have mental space to enjoy time with your loved ones and navigate whatever pivots are necessary for you this summer:
(1) What did you make possible for your students, colleagues, or community this semester even if it wasn’t on your syllabus or CV?
(2) When did you feel most disoriented this semester? What was happening around you and what did your body or spirit need in that moment?
(3) What inner stories did this semester bring up about your worth, work, or role as a scholar? Do those stories still serve you?
(4) What are you grieving, even if it feels "silly" or small?
(5) What does your body need right now and what boundaries or rituals might help you honor that?
Photo by José M. Reyes on Unsplash
Not sure how to start? Here are a few ways I’ve approached reflection in the past:
A. Block out one quiet hour with your favorite drink at your desk or local coffee shop. Open a blank document and free-write whatever comes to mind after reading each prompt.
B. Does the blank page feel intimidating? Use a voice note app to record your responses while walking or commuting.
C. Do these questions feel intimidating or like a lot of work? React to a prompt a day over a week instead of trying to sit down and respond all at once.
D. Are you drawing a blank about what happened this semester? Review your planner or course evaluations to jog your memory.
Beyond journaling, I’d love to know what end-of-semester rituals each of you has adopted that have helped you process what’s happened during the semester, recharge, and transition into a productive summer. Let’s learn from one another!
Until next time,
Brielle aka Your Cooperative Colleague