Ahhh summer!
That beautiful time of year where teachers get to unwind after a crazy school year.
It’s that time of year where teachers hopefully get to relax, enjoy the summer weather, and get some things done in your personal life that you have been putting off during the school year.
But if you are anything like a lot of teachers I know, summer isn’t always a relaxing time of year.
In fact, you might have that natural “go-getter” attitude that a lot of other teachers do. This means that instead of relaxing, you have a to-do list the size of your arm on all the things you want to accomplish this summer.
Yes, I am talking to you Ms. Overachiever!
If this sounds like you, that’s fine!
Summer is such a great time to work ahead. But the problem is, many teachers work so hard over the summer that they blink and feel exhausted when back to school comes.
That’s why today I want to point out the importance of incorporating self-care into your busy summer schedule.
So today we are going to talk about:
- What is Self-Care?
- Why is Self-Care Important for Teachers Over the Summer?
- Some of my Favorite Summer Self-Care Activities For Teachers
So if you have a long list of things to do this summer, but still want to prioritize yourself and find a balance – this post is for you!
So grab that iced drink and let’s get started!
(This post may contain affiliate or external links. Meaning I get a commission if you purchase anything through my links at no cost to you. Read full disclosure here.)
What is Self-Care?
To put it simply, Self-Care is the action of preserving or improving one’s health.
In other words, it is prioritizing your health first so that you can better preserve your energy and perform better as a teacher.
It’s the ability to make healthy habits that make sure all the different aspects of your health are taken care of.
This is extremely important for teachers because it ensures that you are teaching while at your optimal health. Maintaining this optimal health allows you to teach and overcome challenges more effectively.
The common misconception about Self-Care is that it is all about incorporating healthy habits rather than random acts of self-love.
For instance, if you go for a walk every day for 10 minutes that is an awesome example of incorporating self-care consistently.
However, if you were to have a stressful day and treat yourself to a piece of chocolate, that would not be considered self-care. In fact, that would be considered to be self-indulgence.
To read more about self-care vs. self-indulgence click here to read “The Number One Thing Causing You to Burnout.”
If you want to learn more about what self-care is, click here to read “The Ultimate Guide of Self-Care For Teachers.” In this article we talk about not only what self-care is, but how you can incorporate it into your busy teacher life in 5 minutes or less.
Why is Self-Care Important for Teachers Over the Summer?
Self-care is so important for teachers over the summer for several reasons.
First of all, taking the time to make and incorporate healthy habits into your daily life might be easier now than when the school year starts again.
By prioritizing self-care now and incorporating systems to stay consistent, you are setting yourself up for success during the school year.
Another reason why self-care is important for teachers to incorporate over the summer is that this is a perfect time to experiment.
Every teacher is different and needs different kinds of healthy habits to reach optimal health. That’s why this time is so crucial to see which activities fit your needs the most.
After all,
“Self-Care is a journey, not a destination.”
You might find that things that worked for you previously, don’t work as well now. And that’s okay!
Self-care is a fluid journey full of transitions and adaptations.
To summarize, here are the main reasons why self-care is so important for teachers during the school year:
- Sets you up for success for the next school year.
- Great to experiment with new activities and habits and try something new.
- Great time to reflect, adapt and adjust some old habits that may not serve you anymore.
My Favorite Summer Self-Care Activities for Teachers
Now that we have covered what self-care is and why it is important, let’s talk about my favorite summer self-care activities for teachers.
These summer self-care activities for teachers are perfect for those teachers who want to prioritize themselves, while also getting their to-do list done.
Silence or Meditation
The first summer self-care activity for teachers is silence or meditation. Sitting in silence is a great self-care activity for teachers because it’s a great way to reflect on gratefulness and the power of the breath.
By prioritizing gratefulness in your life, you are transforming your mindset from scarcity to abundance.
In other words, you are taking the time to recognize all the positives there are in the world and making them easier to identify.
This is one of the best summer self-care activities for teachers because it is such a powerful tool that you can use during school hours or in everyday life.
So if you could use a little more quiet or positivity in your life, find a quiet place to sit and focus on being present!
Read Books… No, Not That One
Another great summer self-care activity for teachers is to read a book!
No, I don’t mean that college book you’ve been meaning to reread.
I mean that FUN book you have been putting off reading for months or dare I say years!
While reading books to prepare for the following school is something you should do, it’s also important to read something fun!
Whether you’re a Harry Potter or Percy Jackson Fan, taking the time to read a fun book is one of the best summer self-care activities for teachers that you can do!
Reading is a great way to appeal to intellectual and emotional self-care.
So if you are an avid reader or used to be, make a bucket list and start reading!
Related:
- The Secret to Getting Out of Teacher Burnout With Brittany Blackwell
- First Year Teaching: 7 Strategies to Avoid Teacher Burnout
- Unlock the Secrets on How to Find Joy as a First Year Teacher with Emily Person
Journal
Journaling is another great summer self-care activity for teachers because it is a great habit to make before the upcoming school year.
Much like sitting in silence or meditating, journaling is a great way to reflect on things you are grateful for and how things are going throughout your day.
For instance, one way I like to journal is by writing down 5 things I am grateful for each day.
This summer self-care activity for teachers allows me to focus on maintaining an abundance mindset and keep me positive throughout the week.
Journaling is also a great self-care activity because it can help cut through craziness during the school year.
This is just one way to journal! And there is no write way (pun intended), to do it!
So if you are feeling inspired, grab a notebook and start drawing or writing!
Walk-in Nature
So there’s this phenomenon that I like to refer to as the “shower phenomenon.”
Have you ever taken a shower and then suddenly had an “Ah-ha” moment?
This is the shower phenomenon.
You see, the world is a crazy place and it can be hard to cut through all the noise.
But when you find yourself in silence, for instance, in the shower, you might have just enough quiet to realize something.
That’s why things like meditating or going for a walk in nature are a great way to get your creativity or passion back!
So if you are looking for inspiration or just some time to reflect, grab some tennis shoes and go for a quick walk outside.
Not only is this summer self-care activity for teachers perfect for psychological and emotional self-care, but physical self-care as well!
Organize… #Monica!
So you know that closet that is now overflowing with things?
Or that drawer that you have no idea what’s in it?
There’s something you should know about it that many others might not.
When your house is cluttered it might impact how you are feeling and how productive you are.
It’s so true!
Have you ever had a messy office that was so messy you couldn’t think?
Same thing!
So if you want to get prepared for the upcoming school year, it’s time to get organized like #Monica.
So the next summer self-care activity for teachers is to get organized.
Pick one thing in your house that is cluttered. Now don’t just organize it, but figure out a system to keep it organized!
That way during the school year, it won’t continue to get cluttered during the chaos!
Oh, there you are teacher bestie!
Remember those teacher friends you have wanted to keep in touch with but just didn’t have time for during the school year?
Well now’s the time to send them a dm and make some summer plans.
You see, getting social with your friend or family group is important for your social self-care.
That’s why one of the best summer self-care activities for teachers you can do is to make plans with your #teacherbesties!
Here are some ideas of some things you can do:
- Go for a walk or hike.
- Do a paint and sip in person or over zoom.
- Go out to a restaurant.
- Take a class together.
Find that New Healthy Meal
If I am being completely honest, I am not the best cook.
So one of my goals over the summer is to hop onto Pinterest and check out some recipes I can try over the summer.
Summertime is a great time to try out new recipes and find new meals you love!
This also helps with the school year because you’ll have even more favorite go-to recipes for weeknights.
So find some things you would like to make and start cooking.
Cooking new meals is one of the tastiest summer self-care activities for teachers! Yum!
Make a Bucket List!
So let’s be honest, I could give you the biggest list of summer self-care activities for teachers, and you would not do a single one of them.
That’s why one of the best summer self-care activities for teachers you can do is to make a bucket list!
The summer is such a great time to learn something new and find a new inspiration!
Hence why I want to challenge you to sit down, make some goals and start doing them.
Because you could make all the healthy meals, or go for a walk every day, but if that’s not your priority then you aren’t going to feel like you had a successful summer.
So take the time to get clear on what you want this summer to look like and write them down.
You got this!
Love Yourself… Yes, I am Talking to You!
This is probably the hardest summer self-care activity for teachers you can do, and that is to love yourself.
Let’s be real for a second, when I first started teaching, I had such a hard time with this!
It felt like I was my own worst enemy and that I was my own biggest critique.
While striving for excellence is important, I challenge you to start the journey of being your own biggest cheerleader!
Because the world has enough critics. And when you start to believe in yourself, you won’t believe all of the amazing opportunities that come up!
Let’s Wrap This Up!
Thank you so much for reading to the end! As a recap, in this article we talked about:
- What Self-Care Is
- Why Self-Care Is Important for Teachers Over the Summer
- Some of my Favorite Summer Self-Care Activities For Teachers
Before you go I have one more piece of advice before you set off for your summer and that’s this:
Self-care is a journey, not a destination!
It doesn’t matter if you aren’t always consistent or perfect. What matters is that you are always trying to learn to love yourself.
And always remember that we are stronger together.
So lean on me, and each other for support. Because you are not alone!
There are so many teachers just like you that are on this journey.
With that in mind, I have a secret for you!
Since you made it to the end I want to secretly invite you to an exclusive membership I will be hosting for teachers.
This Self-Care Teacher Membership is perfect for teachers who:
- Are tired of getting burned out.
- Can’t be consistent with their self-care plan.
- Don’t have the time for their self-care.
- Have a hard time making boundaries and priorities during the school year.
So if this sounds like you, I want to formally invite you to our exclusive Present Teachers Self-Care Membership. You can join the waitlist by clicking here.
I am so excited for you, and can’t wait to see you inside!
Happy Teaching!
