Once you finish a school year, it’s a good idea to take some time to just rest and decompress. (I refer to it as “sloth week.”)
But then, because we’re teachers and we love to plan, it’s a good idea to:
1. Plan for your summer (if you haven’t done that already) and
2. Plan how you can improve as a teacher next year.
Here are some tips for planning your summer! (Be sure to subscribe to see the next post about planning for improvement next year.)
Planning Your Summer
I know, I know. You might be thinking, “Why do I need to plan my summer? I spend a lot of time planning during the school year. I want summer to be more spontaneous and free-form.”
I get it. One of the joys of summer is being less tied to the clock.
But here’s the thing: summer hours are precious. And you no doubt have things that you want to do over the summer.
To keep those precious hours from slipping away and leaving you frustrated for not getting to all the fun things you wanted to do, it’s helpful to have a plan.
The main idea is to plan so that your summer is a balance of relaxation, connecting with people, and accomplishing tasks.
Some people like to use their calendar or planner for this planning. I like to use a notebook or journal like this one.
I put dates at the top of each page (example: June 10-16). Then I can use the page for listing the tasks or activities described below.
Brainstorm first
Before planning each week, make these lists.
1 – Identify how you want to feel by the end of the summer. More connected to family members or friends? More relaxed? Productive because you got some nagging tasks done? Healthier? Do you want to feel a bit more financially secure because you earned extra money over the summer?
2 – List what you need to do to achieve those feelings. Who do you want to spend more time with, and what do you want to do with them? What routines would help you be healthier? What tasks would help you feel more productive? What can you do to earn extra money?
If you have kids, consider what you need or want to do for them. Maybe you would like them to attend a church’s summer program or a day camp offered by your local Parks & Recreation department or YMCA.
(If you’re looking for some fun ideas to do with kids, grab your free list here!)
Set up a structure for your summer days with kids. It can be flexible, but set up a daily routine that includes chore times and some kind of learning time.
Plan your summer weeks
Now start using your calendar, planner, or journal for planning specific activities for each week.
3 – Identify any specific dates on your calendar that are already scheduled. Examples might be camps for your kids, family vacations, or appointments.
Now, working around those dates, when is a good time for you to connect with people you want to catch up with over the summer?
Another thing to think about is what you might need to do to prepare for those events. A family vacation will require laundry and packing to be done (both before and after the trip). Block out time for those tasks.
4 – List the exact tasks you want to do that would help you feel more organized or productive. Then, review your calendar and identify specific times when you can work on those tasks.
5 – List activities you want to do this summer. Do you want to read more books? Find time for a hobby that you enjoy? Sit by the pool and relax? Make sure to add those activities to your calendar so you can make sure you find time for them.
Here’s a list of fun summer activities if you need some ideas!
6 – Finally, I don’t need to tell you that summer is a time for prioritizing your self-care and rejuvenation, especially after a challenging school year.
Here are some favorite self-care tips to incorporate, as best you can, during the summer.
*Get enough rest. Naps totally count!
*Eat right. Cut down on processed food and try to eat more fruits and vegetables.
*Quiet, mindful time to pray, meditate, journal, or all three.
*Connect with people you care about.
*Read for pleasure.
*Unplug. Be mindful about how much news you consume, be mindful about doom-scrolling social media, and try to wake up without an alarm when you can.
*Spend time outside. Fresh air and sunshine heal just about everything!
*Exercise daily.
*Try some creative hobby or home improvement project.
Even if you’re reading this post in July or August, it’s never too late to plan for the rest of your precious summer days!
To recap:
1 – identify what is most important for you to do and feel by the end of the summer
2 – list the activities and tasks that you want or need to do, along with activities and tasks that you want to do. (If you have kids, make sure you plan activities that both your kids and you will enjoy!)
3 – block out the time for specific events (like camps or vacations) and prep time for those events
4 – plan for time to work on the tasks you want to accomplish
5 – plug in the activities that you want to do throughout the summer
6 – plan for the self-care activities you want to incorporate in your days.
Here’s hoping you have a restful, rejuvenating summer! You deserve it.
All of my content is intended to save teachers time and energy. My goal is to make good teaching sustainable while having a life outside of teaching. Let me know how I can help YOU with this quick form!