What HAPPY Teachers REALLY Do Over Break: 5 Ways To Head Back Refreshed and Ready to Teach
We’ve all seen the memes of people who are living in sweats or pajamas, living off holiday leftovers and binge watching Netflix series like there is no tomorrow. And sure, there is absolutely a strong internal pull for most educators to turn off the alarm, watch a little Good morning, America and live like seemingly ‘normal’ people who don’t have to know all the latest rap lyrics and the pythagorean theorem at the same time.
But vegging for two weeks is liable to give you a regret hangover come Sunday night on the eve of the first day back. So, whether you’ve spent a few more days than maybe you should have avoiding the light or you want to avoid that at all cost, here’s a few things you can do over the break that will give you the right kind of rest with a side of renewal too.
Read something inspirational NOT about teaching. I don’t care if it’s personal development or a great piece of fiction. Magazine or page turning novel, your brain is filled with curriculum and content and sometimes you just need to plant some new inspirational seeds. Popping in an audiobook while you’re out and about or pulling out a couple magazines from the grocery checkout, just let yourself get into something purely for pleasure.
Go to bed early. The sleep cycle that we get into over break can feel fun while you’re watching the late show and catching the end of the movie, but research shows it’s harder to get back into your routine and you can end up feeling sleep deprived for days or weeks. While you don’t need to catch the early bird special at Denny’s sticking a little closer to your usual bedtime at least a few times during the break will help you avoid feeling exhausted when you go back.
Purge one area of clutter. Do NOT, I repeat, do not pull a Frankie Heck and try to tackle the entire house over break. You will regret it. But do take care of that junk drawer in the kitchen or the hallway closet. One small area could lead to others over the course of the weeks but even one area will likely let you feel more clear and accomplished by itself.
Unfollow someone on social media. This is one of my favorite self-care activities. Social media has become a world all it’s own but many of us simply tolerate the people we are connected to, even when they are frustrating or irritating to us. You may love your Uncle Steve, but there is ZERO reasons for you to argue with him about politics every time he shares a GIF you do’t like. Sometimes it can be a celebrity or influencer who just don’t speak your language anymore. Either way, unfollow or unfriend anything and anyone who disrupts your piece.
Make a vision board or BOOK. The start of the year is the perfect time to get clear on your goals and spend some time setting your intention to achieve them. Creating a vision board, a physical representation, in picture form has been shown to be really helpful in making sure you actually achieve your goals. You can make a simple board with some cardboard, glue and a few magazines. But if you are serious about making 2020 a year to remember, you can start by ramping up your efforts and creating a vision book using a 3 ring binder or scrapbook and a few sheets of paper. If you’d like some guidance, you can join me for a FREE virtual workshop where I’ll walk you through some simple, yet effective exercises to help you get excited about your life. Register for the FREE class here and I’ll see you LIVE on Saturday, 1/4/20.