As our end of the school year countdown dwindles and summer days are on the horizon, we must discuss ways to decompress after the stressful school year we’ve all had. Focusing on summer self-care in some of the areas we’ve neglected over this school year is imperative.
That’s why I created my Summer Bucket List for Teachers. This freebie addresses the four areas that often get neglected during the school year: physical, spiritual, emotional, and professional health.
Do you want to see some of the ideas on the bucket list before you download it? Keep reading!
Summer Self Care: Physical Health
This school year has been STRESSFUL. We’re all feeling it. And when we’re under stress, it causes many crazy things to happen to our bodies. Our physical health is the most important thing, and we must make it a priority by putting it first. There are several ways that we can do that. Below are some tips and ideas for improving your physical health.
Get your body moving
Exercising is a great way to relieve stress. Exercising outside is one of the best places because soaking in the smells, sounds, sights, and feelings of nature relaxes your body. Consider walking outside for 30 minutes per day.
Do you live somewhere hot? If the idea of walking outside in the heat sounds a little more stressful than relaxing, any exercise anywhere will do! Even spending 30 minutes cleaning your floors is a way to get your body moving, which increases your dopamine levels. So, no matter where or how you prefer to exercise, make sure you’re getting your body moving this summer!
R&R
Additionally, get plenty of rest this summer. The late nights and early mornings during the school year can weigh on your body, so it’s essential you take the time to recharge during the summer. Give yourself permission to sleep in, go to bed early, and rest up. You deserve it!
Hydrate
Finally, water intake is vital, and the truth is most of us aren’t drinking enough. Want an easy way to be sure you’re hydrating enough? Take your weight in pounds and divide it by two. This is the minimum number of ounces you should be drinking per day. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, divide that number by 2. It would be best to drink 100 ounces of water per day. It’s your turn to do the math. Fill in this simple equation and get to drinking!
Weight ÷ 2 = # of ounces per day.
Summer Self Care: Spiritual Health
Some of us consider ourselves spiritual, while others don’t. I consider myself a spiritual person, but there are several ways you can work on our spiritual health this summer, no matter what you believe. Let’s take a look.
A New Bible Study
I like to attend a new bible study or go to a church conference. These things help me focus on my spiritual health by learning new things, interacting with like-minded people, and prioritizing my spiritual health. I find it freeing and healing.
Meditate or Pray
Make time to pray and meditate each day. Pray by giving thanks for the people, opportunities, and situations in your life. Meditate on scripture or positive affirmations to help improve your attitude and mood. It’ll make a difference when you’re interacting with other people. They’ll notice your mood.
Uplifting music
Additionally, we all enjoy listening to music in the car, and something about cranking up the tunes with your windows down during summer is therapeutic. It’s vital that the music playing through your speakers is uplifting. In the summertime, we need to fill our spirits with love and positivity as we heal from stress and prepare ourselves for a new school year.
Summer Self Care: Emotional Health
As teachers, our emotional health during the school year often can suffer due to the pressure of standards and obligations. That’s why it’s essential to remedy that during the summer. Here are some stress-free ways to do that:
Summer Self Care is Time Spent with Loved Ones
One thing teachers don’t get to do during the school year is spend time with friends and family. Sadly, sometimes once school ends, we tend to want to be alone instead of talking to others. We shut everything off and want to close people out. We can’t keep doing that!
Instead, we need to spend time with the people we don’t get to see during the school year. We need to fill our cups with the love and friendship we get from others. Find time to be with the people who know you best outside of being a teacher.
Unplug
I challenge you to unplug for 24 hours. Turn off your phone, turn off your laptop, and don’t even turn on the TV. I’m talking full pioneer mode. Channel your inner Laura Ingalls and step away from the electronics. See what beauty you can find outside of a screen.
Find a hobby
Consider trying a new hobby! Summer is the perfect time to take up a new hobby or spend time doing an old one that fell by the wayside during the school year. Need new ideas? Try crafting or taking a hike! Hiking is my hobby because it allows me to get outside, decompress, and exercise all at once.
Summer Self Care: Professional Growth
I know, I know. It’s summertime. Who wants to talk about academic and professional growth? Here’s the thing, while we don’t want to overdo it, it’s important that we do some things during our summer break to change the things we didn’t like about the previous year. Here are some important ones:
Professional Books and Teacher Conferences
As teachers, we must continue furthering our learning even during the summer. I recommend attending a conference or reading a professional book. I enjoy attending conferences because networking with other teachers is always fun! If you choose the book, read just one. After that, read books that are purely entertaining for you.
Prep something for your classroom
Try to prep at least one thing for your classroom. This will make you feel successful and prepared for the school year. It also gives you one less thing you need to worry about once school does begin!
What worked and what didn’t work?
As teachers, we must reflect on our school year. What worked? What didn’t work? For the things that worked, we want to keep doing those things! We need to develop a solution to implement to get it to work for the things that didn’t. Going ahead and thinking through your wins and challenges can help you set yourself up for success in the next school year.
Looking for some ideas for dealing with back-to-school stress? Read this blog post for tips and ideas.
I hope you enjoyed these tips to help you decompress after a busy school year. Want to hold yourself accountable for renewing your mental, spiritual, emotional, and professional health this summer? Download my free Teacher Bucket List here! Put it on your fridge or your bathroom mirror and keep track of how you’re allowing yourself rejuvenation this summer. Let’s start next school year having had a restful, recharged summer.
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