School’s out for summer!

Do you hear the tune? If you’ve read any of my other blogs or emails you may notice a musical trend. I can’t help it, that’s simply how my brain works.

Any whosie – back to the business at hand.

Now, one might say, “How is it necessary that people need to be told how to relax?” Being a teacher for ten years myself, and knowing PLENTY of teacher friends, it is QUITE obvious that we can be a bit of a high strung bunch. That sounds negative, but I don’t mean it that way.

So what do I mean? I mean that the pace of the school year is so hectic, that it can be hard to get the train to slow down. Plus, getting through to the end of the year has a bit of a whip lash effect! 😳

The change of pace – even if we have a busy summer of activities lined up – can leave us scrambling with how to address our needs, what to put first, and how to manage our time. So, here is a place to start:

1. Get some sleep!

This could mean starting your days later like getting up at 7 instead of 5 or it could mean scheduling in a nap every once and a while. Sleep is one of the factors that influences our health the MOST. Give your body and BRAIN the recharge it needs by allowing it more time to rest!

2. Journal

Gt shit off your chest. Process your experience from the school year. Analyze your thoughts, emotions, etc. Get in touch with YOU. Reconnect with yourself and nurture the most important relationship in your life – the one with YOURSELF! If you’d like someplace to start, I have a three part reflection series for teachers. The first one focuses on SELF-CARE and SELF-ADVOCACY. There’s a freebie linked in the blog too!

3. Enjoy nature.

Hit the trails (paved or natural). Sit on the sand. Hug some trees (no seriously). Find a secluded spot and just listen. Spending time in nature has a huge number of positive effects and we know as teachers we’ve spent most of the year corralled inside a brick building. If you want to see some FACTS about nature’s benefits, check out this article from Newport Academy. The title addresses teens and young adults, but all 5 of the reasons apply to us fully grown adults too!

4. Meditate.

I feel like people are either for or against meditation, but I firmly believe that those against it just haven’t seen it through! Meditation is another strategy for reducing stress and managing mental health. What better time to start your practice than over the summer months. Experiment with the lengths of your meditation, your location, guided or unguided, etc. There are quite a few apps out there that are GREAT resources for starting you own meditation practice. Personally, I use the Insight Timer app. but CALM is another app I have seen and tried as well.

5. Water – Drink it!

Hydration is another HUGELY impactful variable to our overall health. Now is the time – you don’t have to worry about when you’ll have your next bathroom break. 😬. Plus, our bodies get used to a higher water intake over time – so summer could be the time to train your body to be able to handle more water with less bathroom breaks!

6. Water – Engage with it!

Water has extremely soothing properties as well. Find a lake, a river, a stream, or even take longer showers – because you have the time! Honestly thought, natural bodies of water – whether you’re in it or near it – will definitely help reduce your stress levels. Just make sure you’re wearing sunscreen!

7. Get creative.

Creating art is another way to reduce stress levels. This can be as basic and guided as an adult coloring book, a paint by numbers canvas, or those fancy diamond art projects or if you’ve really got a creative side, check out Pinterest for DIY ideas that are more challenging.

8. Stay local.

Check out your community education, local library, or Facebook event offerings! There are likely all sorts of things going on near you this summer. Find community doing activities that interest you! You might take some Tai Chi classes, learn to knit, or find a new book club. Honestly I’m always blown away by all of the options that my local community has to offer.

9. Move that body!

Again, this DOES NOT have to be complicated. Simply walking is SO BENEFICIAL for you. Find a paved or natural trail. Walk around your neighborhood. Find a friend and walk around their neighborhood! If your body is craving a sweat, there are countless options, from your local gym or community center, digital platforms like BODi, or even free videos on YouTube or Pinterest. Just LISTEN TO YOUR BODY and give it the movement opportunities it yearns for.

10. Schedule a coffee date.

Your weekdays are free – get together and have a chat with someone! It could be a short coffee date, or you could actually get through your whole cup before it gets cold – crazy 😜. Catch up with a friend or fellow teacher who finally has the free time now too.

11. Check out the attractions.

Hit a museum. Visit the zoo. Go to the theater. Get tickets to a professional sporting event. Attend a concert. Take a splash at a waterpark. Hitch a ride at a carnival. Personally, I like the idea of the quieter, more self-guided attractions, but some of the other attractions are only available in the summer and should be taken advantage of.

12. Read – for fun!

Do you have a stack of books that you’ve been wanting to dig into? Or maybe you have a book that you stopped and started so many times that you can’t remember where you left off… Either way, summer is a GREAT time to chill out with a book (and maybe a drink) in hand. If you’d like to see what I’ve been reading, you can follow me on GoodReads. It’s a great way to keep track of what you’ve read (and if you liked it) and find other books to read next. Also, don’t forget to check out your local library – those librarians really know what’s up!

13. Get your hands DIRTy

Plant something! You could be REAL crazy and get a whole garden started, you could plant a flower bed or too, or simply plant a couple of pots for your patio or front door. I recommend having a bit of a plan and then heading to a local nursery. First of all, the nurseries are glorious – so beautiful and full of a HUGE variety of plants. Secondly, whether you’re new to planting or a seasoned veteran, you’ll be able to get recommendations from the staff that are priceless.

14. Have a plan for HATERS

Okay…I feel like this last one is the MOST IMPORTANT one. Even trying to write about this right now has my heart rate increasing. Have a plan for the inevitable comment, “Must be nice to have summer off.” Frankly, I’d do my best to just steer clear of anyone you know who might say that – because who needs that kind of energy right?! If that’s not possible, then gauge where you’re at before figuring out how to respond. Also, take into consideration who said it. If they’re not your people, then they’re not worth your energy. If you think they are your people, then maybe they’d benefit from a little education about how that statement is invalid and invalidating. Best of luck to you 🫣 🫶🏼

MAKE SURE TO TAKE TIME FOR YOU!

I know that all caps AND bold AND an exclamation point might seem like a bit much, but we teachers can be hard-headed folks. This is your summer BREAK. Do everything in your power to make it actually FEEL like one – even if it means only focusing on #1.

PRETTY PLEASE 🙏 💜

With love – talk soon.