It is no secret that this school year has been one of the hardest to date. The stress of the pandemic and shift in education has taken quite a toll on teachers. According to a recent survey, teachers reported working an extra 900 hours or 37.5 days since the start of the pandemic. This extra workload has prompted many teachers to think about retiring early or leaving the profession completely. With summer just around the corner, what can teachers do? Let’s start planning ways to rest and recharge over the summer so that teachers can return rejuvenated in the fall. Here are five tips to help you do so.

1. Pick up a good book

Teachers are constantly encouraging students to read but the summer is also the time for teachers to read! Take a break from school-related material and get lost in a good book. Whether it is a New York Times bestseller, new, old, or a self-help book to inspire wellness, there are a ton of options. Picking up a good book will help you to decompress over the summer while bringing a slew of other benefits. Psychology today reports that adults who read are often more empathetic and reading improves overall cognition. (Schwanenflugel & Flanagan Knapp, 2015) So head to your local book store and start planning your summer reading list!

2. Get out of town

Get out of town whether it be virtually or physically! If you choose to go on a summer vacation, it doesn’t have to break the bank. You can take a day trip or go on an overnighter somewhere close to home. If you opt for the virtual route, Air BnB has a plethora of virtual experiences from making sangria to mediating. A lot of these experiences are affordable, entertaining, and will give you the long-overdue break you need this summer.

3. Spend time with friends and family

This is another one that can be done both in person or virtually. Teachers are often so busy during the school year, it is easy to miss out on valuable time with family. Summer is the perfect opportunity to catch up. One thing my family has done recently is play a game of bingo together virtually. Game boards were dropped off on doorsteps and played with our phones! Whether you see your family in person or over a screen, summer is the time to spend with them.

4. Disconnect from tech

Summer is the perfect time to disconnect from technology for a bit. Ignore some emails. Turn off your phone. Shut off the tv. Unplug your Alexa. If possible, get out in nature and take a walk outside and get those hands dirty! With all the online teaching done this year, your eyes will thank you.

5. Develop a healthy habit

The 2020-2021 school year has been rough. Summer is a great time to develop a healthy habit. The habit can be simple. You can try to wake up every day and reflect on something to be grateful for. You can try to drink more water or go on a five-minute walk in the evenings. It takes 21 days to create a healthy habit and summer is just the time to do it.

So whether it be disconnecting from tech, spending time with family, or getting out of town, try to start planning some fun this summer so you can return to the 2021-2022 school year recharged!

Sources:

• Photo by Drew Coffman on Unsplash
• 2021 TEACHING SURVEY: K–12 Teachers Are (More) Overworked During Pandemic. (n.d.).
• Schwanenflugel, P. J., Ph.D, & Flanagan Knapp, N., Ph.D. (2015, November 30). Does Reading Matter?