If you’re in the northern hemisphere (below the Arctic Circle, at least), it’s probably pretty hot today, and you might find yourself dragging a bit, both physically and mentally, disinclined to do anything that requires any energy and uninterested in any situation that doesn’t involve a cool breeze, ice water, and a lot of sitting around. In these dog days¹ of August, many people experience this lassitude due to the high temperatures. Lassitude means a lack of energy or enthusiasm, and can be due to physical fatigue (from illness or overexertion, perhaps) or mental fatigue (a feeling of being burned out²). Synonyms for lassitude include listlessness and lethargy.

Example: The children ran around the yard playing all morning, but by afternoon they had succumbed to lassitude and spent the rest of the day sitting in the shade.

If you’ve been working hard on your studies, you might be feeling tired and lethargic, and ready for a break. Don’t be afraid of taking some time off now and then to refresh your mind and body. While it’s important to maintain a regular routine in order to guarantee a steady progress towards an improved and expanded vocabulary, it’s also important to balance that routine with rest and relaxation. Don’t forget that you can continue to increase your vocabulary knowledge by reading for fun – a good book enjoyed on the beach will add to your word base just like an hour-long targeted memorization drill does. Of course, we encourage you to slip a few flash cards into your beach bag as well, for a few minutes of quick review here and there!

¹ According to legend, the Romans first referred to these hot summer days as the “dog days” (dies caniculares) because of the prominence of the star Sirius, the “Dog Star” and the brightest star in the sky during this time.

² The idiomatic expression “to burn out” means to reach the end of one’s energy (again, either physical or mental) for a given period of time or a specific project.