CollegeSurfing Insider

So I was away last week sipping all-inclusive drinks at a Caribbean resort. A long holiday weekend followed that, and 90-degree weather has rounded out the last few back-to-work days here in New York. It’s no wonder I’ve been stricken with severe blogger’s block. I think I’ve got an early case of “summer brain.” You know what I’m talking about.

Remember when you were in grade school and you literally forgot how to spell and multiply by the time you returned to school in September? My editorial team discussed this very topic yesterday because it’s happening to all of us. And wouldn’t you know, I found out this morning that it’s not just a lame excuse to subconsciously try to extend our time away from the office.

According to a study of Baltimore students by Johns Hopkins University researchers, students fall almost 2.6 months behind in math skills over the summer. Furthermore, the study showed that 65 percent of the achievement gap between poor and affluent children can be explained by unequal summer learning experiences during the elementary school years.

In other words, kids (and adults, too) need to keep their brains stimulated to avoid permanent brain vacation mode. How can you do that this summer? Why not use the extra downtime and office summer Fridays (if you’re lucky!) to research a return to education that’ll boost your career or start a completely new one?

Whether it’s a full-fledged degree or certificate program, a computer training course to bulk up your lacking tech skills, or some on-your-own reading, dedicate some summer time to improving your skills or learning something new.

Whew… now, I’m spent! (Sorry — still working out those summer brain issues.)