JessicaSummer break allows teachers to recharge and rejuvenate after a long school year. However, it can also be a time to catch up on professional development and prepare for the upcoming year. Finding a balance between relaxation and productivity can be challenging, but these 5 tips can help you create a successful teacher summer routine.
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Set Goals and Prioritize Tasks in Your Teacher Summer Routine
One of the best ways to balance relaxation and productivity during the summer break is to set goals and prioritize tasks. Start by identifying what you want life to look like during the summer break and beyond, whether completing a course, organizing your classroom for fall, spending more time with your kids, or simply taking time for self-care.
Once you have your priorities in mind, break them into smaller, manageable tasks and prioritize them based on their importance. Finally, put it all on a calendar to see when things are busy in one place.
At the start of each week, take 15 minutes with your calendar and make a plan for your week. Decide on ONE thing to focus on, set realistic goals, and create your to-do list.
This will help you stay focused on making regular progress toward what you want to get done during your time off, let you know when you have less on your list so you can relax and enjoy your time, and will help you feel better when you have days that you aren’t able to do the things you set out to or unexpected things come up.
Create a Teacher Summer Routine that Works for You and Stick to It
One of the most important tips for balancing relaxation and productivity during the summer break is to create and stick to a routine. Yes, most teachers have routines during the school year because the days are highly structured.
But creating routines for summer that help you find joy in things you do will help you stay on track with your goals and ensure that you are making progress toward achieving them. It is also the best time to set up new routines for exercise, healthy eating, and self-improvement to carry over into the school year!
Create a plan for each day by setting aside specific times for work and relaxation, and include breaks and time for self-care. Consider blocking your time and choosing 3-5 tasks to accomplish during each block. For example, a morning block may include getting ready, reading a book, eating breakfast, and walking. The afternoon block may be working on school or adventuring with your kids. And your evening block may be going to the gym and spending time with loved ones.
Find routines that work for you and use a planner or digital calendar to block off your schedule, keep track of it, and hold yourself accountable for sticking to it. Remember, the key to a successful teacher summer routine is finding the right balance between work and play.
Incorporate Self-Care and Relaxation in your Teacher Summer Routine
Prioritizing self-care and relaxation in your teacher’s summer routine is essential. As you build your teacher summer routine schedule in time each week for activities that you enjoy!
Whether you like reading, yoga, hiking, crafting, gardening, or spending time with loved ones. Schedule time for these activities and treat them as non-negotiable parts of your day.
Remember, taking care of yourself is essential for maintaining your mental and physical health and will ultimately help you be more productive in the long run.
As a Bonus, Go Ahead and Learn Something New
As teachers, we already wear many hats, but sometimes doing the same routine things week in and week out becomes stale. And we lose interest or, worse yet, get bored. With less structure, this can easily happen.
That’s why summer break is the perfect time to learn something new or pursue a hobby that you’ve been putting off during the school year. This can be anything from taking a cooking class, learning a new language, or starting a garden.
Not only will this help you relax and recharge, but it can also provide a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. Plus, you can incorporate your new skills or hobbies into your teaching in the future if you want!
Connect with Other Teachers and Share Ideas.
Summer break is a great time to connect with other teachers and share ideas. Attend a conference or workshop, join a teacher Facebook group, or even meet with colleagues for coffee.
Not only will this help you stay connected to the education community, but it can also provide inspiration and new ideas for your teaching. Plus, it’s always helpful to have a support system of fellow teachers who understand the unique challenges and rewards of the profession.
Looking for More Ideas to Create Your Teacher Summer Routine?
5 Tips for Any Teacher on Summer Break (blog)
How to make a (realistic) plan for summer that will leave you feeling rejuvenated (podcast)
Brilliant Ways Teachers Make the Most of their Summer Break (blog)
My Summer Schedule as a Teacher | How I Spend My Time (video)
Creating a teacher summer routine is essential as you transition from ‘teacher mode’ to ‘summer mode.’ By creating a routine that helps you relax with pockets of productivity each week, you’ll enjoy your entire summer and be ready for school without the beginning of the year panic. If you are in the middle of the transition, read this blog post on how to transition to the start of summer time effortlessly and grab the 5 Teacher Time Management Secrets to Leave Work at Work.
