Summer is the season for rest and vacations, but for many of us, summer is our busiest time of year. A smaller population on campus means we spend June and July undertaking major projects that are difficult to complete when the residence halls and classrooms are at capacity. This summer, that includes upgrading the Wi-Fi infrastructure at 12 NYU buildings (including the Kimmel Center) and installing 1,600 new wireless access points; and upgrading the audio/visual equipment at the student tech centers.
A lot of people are doing a lot of work in a short amount of time. It can be hard to remember to take a breath when we’re all moving so fast, but taking a break is essential for your mental health (and the mental health of your co-workers) and can actually improve productivity. A walk around the block—even a walk around the floor if you’re in the office—can do a lot to clear your head and give you space to think.
We should also remember that one of the great perks of working at NYU is our vacation time—use it! Managers, take note of your staff’s workload and whether or not they’re using their time off, and if they’re not, then help them schedule it.
I also want to acknowledge that next Monday is Juneteenth and a University holiday. I’m proud of the work we have done to create a sense of belonging where diversity is welcomed and celebrated. This critical IDBEA work continues. There are events commemorating Juneteenth across New York and at NYU, including GSI: A Juneteenth Conversation with Jennifer L. Morgan, which was mentioned in a recent issue of the IT News.