Summer TIME!
Your Well-Deserved Recharge Starts Now
***Well, this is odd. Writing again for you, my patient and fabulous readers! I hope your school year was fantastic. However, it’s time to recharge and enjoy the break YOU DESERVE. Here are some thoughts on what my colleagues and I do during our summer break.***
With the final bell of the school year behind us and summer stretching ahead, now is the perfect moment to pause, breathe, and reclaim your energy. The pace of teaching can be relentless—lesson plans, assessments, classroom management, parent communication—all demanding more than just time. They take a toll on your well-being.
But here’s the truth: Rest isn’t optional. It’s essential. Summer is your window to reset mentally, emotionally, and physically so you can return as your best self for your students and you in the fall.
I. Unplug from Work Tech
Try This: Avoid school emails, planning apps, and any platform that reminds you of to-do lists.
Why It Matters: Constant digital engagement is linked to burnout. Reducing screen time can improve sleep, lower stress, and boost mindfulness (Radtke et al., 2022). Think of it as giving your brain a much-needed breather.
II. Move Your Body, Your Way
Try This: Find joy in movement—go for daily walks, take a yoga class, swim at the local pool, or hike somewhere new.
Why It Matters: Physical activity improves cardiovascular health, lifts your mood, and helps you think more clearly (Eftoda, 2023). It also builds emotional resilience for those high-energy classroom days ahead.
III. Rediscover Your Hobbies
Try This: Dive back into passions you didn’t have time for during the year—painting, gardening, cooking, or reading.
Why It Matters: Hobbies foster creativity and fulfillment. And when you feel creatively charged, that energy naturally flows back into your teaching.
IV. Rebuild Your Social Circle
Try This: Call up a friend, plan a weekend getaway, host a backyard dinner, or meet someone for coffee.
Why It Matters: A Meaningful connection strengthens mental health and longevity. Teachers often sacrifice social time during the school year—now is your chance to refill that emotional cup.
V. Travel to Shift Your Perspective
Try This: Visit a new city, explore a state park, or even take a spontaneous road trip.
Why It Matters: Travel can reduce stress and fuel inspiration. New experiences expand your worldview—and your teaching toolkit.
VI. Reflect + Reimagine
Try This: Journal about last year’s wins and lessons. Create a vision board for next year’s goals. Take time to process what you want more (or less) of.
Why It Matters: Reflection is the foundation of growth. Intentional goal-setting gives you direction, purpose, and motivation (Moon, 2013).
VII. Prioritize Deep Self-Care
Try This: Meditate, book a massage, soak in a long bath, catch up on sleep, and nourish yourself with real food.
Why It Matters: Self-care isn’t indulgent—it’s strategic. Well-rested teachers are more effective, present, and impactful (Leahy & Wolfe, 2021).
Final Thought: Invest in You
This summer, resist the urge to rush into next year’s prep. Instead, claim this time as your own. Reflect, move, laugh, sleep, explore—and most importantly, heal.
When you return rested and recharged, your students benefit, too. A thriving teacher creates thriving learners.
You’ve earned this break. Take it.
References
Eftoda, S. (2023). Understanding Perspectives of Teachers who Engage in Regular Physical Activity and Implications on Teacher Wellbeing. University of Calgary.
Leahy, J., & Wolfe, J. (2021). Teacher self-care: A guide for educators.
Moon, J. A. (2013). Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice. Routledge.
Radtke, T., Apel, T., Schenkel, K., Keller, J., & von Lindern, E. (2022). Digital detox: An effective solution in the smartphone era? Mobile Media & Communication, 10(2), 190–215.