Tips for Teacher Self-care this Summer
Summertime for teachers is a mix of relaxation and planning for the next school year. I’d like to suggest that it can also be a great time to practice self-care and develop some healthy routines that you can continue using in the fall.
I think about self-care as creating daily, intentional habits that contribute to overall mental and physical well-being. That can be difficult to do during the school day as short breaks are often used for grading, paperwork, and other tasks. While I can’t give you more breaks between classes, I can suggest that you find ways to take care of yourself throughout the day.
Adopting the same Essential Habits we ask our students to practice is a great place to start. These habits help you make small changes that become habits you can use every day, even in a hectic teaching environment.
First Things First
The first step is to start the habit of self-care.
- Rest and Recharge: Your first priority this summer is to take some time to recover from the demands of the school year. Sometimes the best way to practice self-care is to spend time pursuing your favorite activities. Reconnect with the things you love whether it’s gardening, swimming, hiking, or finding a cozy spot to curl up with a great book. (If you need book suggestions, see our summer reading list.)
- Unplug and Disconnect: At the beginning of your summer break, limit the time you spend checking work emails or thinking about lesson plans and what you want to do in the fall. Give yourself permission to fully disconnect from work.
- Spend Time with Friends and Family: Nothing feels better than swapping stories with family or sharing a laugh with friends old and new. Summer can be a great time to reconnect and spend quality time with our favorite people.
Building on our Habits
Now that you have some good self-care habits in place, you can start to think about the coming school year. Continue with your self-care routine, but add some time for reflecting and planning.
- Reflect: Celebrate your successes over the past school year and consider areas for growth. What worked? What would you do differently? What are your goals for the upcoming year? If you need some inspiration, check out our free resources. I recommend Teacher Reflection Frameworks, such as Engagement through Active Learning and Engagement through Effective Feedback.
- Plan: What ideas did you come up with while reflecting? What are your goals for the upcoming year? Maybe you want to focus on student development and growth or establish your support system, classroom routines, relationships, and academic expectations. Resources, such as the First Days of School Checklist and Creating a Culture of Growth, can help with that.
- Seek Professional Development: Refresh your skills and dive into the areas that interest you. This will help you feel better prepared for the school year. As you think about what you want to achieve this year, try a resource like Designing Your Space or Feedback Basics.
- Embrace new ideas and resources: Check out our “How To” and “Professional Learning” resources in our resource library.
When you go back to school, bring your self-care habits with you. Having a balanced approach to working and self-care is going to help keep you performing at your best.