Summer Rejuvenation for Teachers

We need summer rejuvenation more than ever this year.

This school year – rather, the past 15 months – have been surreal. We went from teaching in our classrooms in March of 2020 to suddenly learning how to use Zoom or Google Meet and transitioning all of our teaching and assignments to an online format. Even for those of us who went back to our school buildings this year, there were the challenges of learning to navigate teaching our in-person students while also engaging our students who remained remote. Not to mention managing all the health and safety protocols. If you’re a parent navigating all of this while also doing your day job, what you accomplished was near impossible.

I say all of this, not because you didn’t live it yourself, but to remind you: we did something entirely unexpected and monumental over those 15 months and we need to recognize our accomplishments.

So celebrate yourself and all that you did in whatever way works for you! Enjoy a celebration dinner out (now that more places are opening up) or have friends over for drinks or a meal. Make a list in your journal of all the amazing things you did (even if they were far from perfect). Buy yourself some favorite flowers or something new to wear. Enjoy a manicure, pedicure, haircut, or massage. Whatever makes you feel celebrated, go do that.

Then it’s time for some summer rejuvenation and self-care. Remember that self-care simply means taking actions to improve and sustain your own health.

Here are 12 tips:

1 – get some rest. I recently read a great book called The Power of When by Michael Breus. In this book, he provides a quick and easy quiz to discover your “chronotype”. You might be a Dolphin, a Lion, a Bear, or a Wolf. Once you know your particular chronotype, you can use the tips in his book to determine your particular best times to do just about anything, based on your biology and hormones. The book is particularly helpful for helping you determine your best sleep schedule. Getting the rest you need (at the times when you need it) will make a big difference in helping you feel rested, refreshed, and productive.

2 – eat right. This isn’t about any particular “diet.” This is about eating the foods that work for you, following an eating plan and lifestyle that is best for your body.

3 – meditate, pray, and/or write in a journal. Take some quiet time where you can calm all the thoughts swirling through your mind and get in touch with what you really need and what God has to say to you.

4 – plan your summer! I know, I know – you’re sick of planning. This kind of planning is fun though. Read my post about planning your summer and start making a big brain dump list of all the things that will bring you joy (and make you feel productive) this summer.

5 – spend time catching up with friends or family, especially with those you don’t see as often during the school year.

6 – read something every day. Whatever you want. Nothing for school (unless that’s what you really want to read). Here are some books in my beach bag to read this summer:
~The Sound of Glass by Karen White (She is a great writer, but this is one of my favorite titles of hers. I’m going to reread it this summer because I love the character of Loralee.)
~Giddy Up, Eunice – Because Women Need Each Other by Sophie Hudson (Sophie has written several great books, but this is another one that I want to reread.)
~Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand (Summer just wouldn’t be summer without an Elin Hilderbrand book. My other favorites from summers past are The Blue Bistro, The Island, Silver Girl, Beautiful Day, and The Perfect Couple.
~The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave (Another favorite Laura Dave novel is Eight Hundred Grapes.)
~Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
~The Social Graces by Renee Rosen (Another favorite Renee Rosen novel is Park Avenue Summer.)
~The Island House by Nancy Thayer (Nancy Thayer, like Elin Hilderbrand, sets her novels on Nantucket. I’ve read a lot of her books but missed this one so I’m going to read it this summer.)
~The Lost & Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
~The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal by Bryn Turnbull
~Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster

Now, before you get intimidated by my list — there is no way I will read all of these books this summer! I just stash them away in my beach bag so I will have choices when I get some downtime to read!

7 – unplug as much as you can. Try to go to bed at a reasonable time (whatever that means for you), wake up without an alarm, limit watching the news, and cut down on social media.

8 – spend some time outside every day. Take a walk, go hiking, go to a local park, explore a state park, visit the mountains, or visit the beach. Even in the heat, find some part of nature to enjoy every day.

9 – get some form of exercise every day. Take a walk or jog, do some yoga poses, ride a bike, play tennis, go to Cross Fit, go to a barre class, try streaming a workout on Beachbody on Demand. Just move your body in some way every day.

As you find some types of exercise that you enjoy, think about how you can make this a regular practice during the school year as well. I get up super early and exercise before school because that works for me. It might work better for you to get some exercise right after school or in the early evening. Try to find a routine that you can continue into the school year.

10 – try some kind of artsy hobby or spend time doing a craft. There are lots of things to try, even if you don’t consider yourself to be an artsy person! Try some calligraphy or hand lettering, try some origami, take up knitting or crocheting. Play a musical instrument. Or learn how to do some kind of home improvement project! Interested in starting a teacher blog? Read THIS POST from CEO Teacher Kayse Morris about how to get started!

11 – schedule any doctor or dental visits you may have postponed due to COVID. It’s a good time to get those out of the way and make sure you are on a healthy path.

12 – get some fresh air and sunshine to get more vitamin D in your system. According to Healthline.com, vitamin D helps fight disease, reduces depression, and boosts weight loss.

Enjoy some summer rejuvenation – you deserve it!