Self-Care Strategies for Teachers to Truly Reset This Summer

It’s almost summer… and you’re likely beyond exhausted. As a teacher, you deal with more in a day than many people deal with in a month. Plus the emotional toll of teaching can be incredibly draining. When summer comes, use it as a chance to fully rest and recharge and explore some summer self-care for teachers.

Of course, this can be easier said than done! Between caring for your own children, working a summer job, preparing for a new school year or working on a side hustle, there are a lot of things that can get in the way of a summer reset.

But we need to prioritize self-care for teachers. Whether you are a classroom teacher or an educator who has moved beyond the classroom, use these suggestions to help you truly rest this summer. 

4 Tips for Better Summer Self-Care for Teachers

When you need deep, rejuvenating rest, self-care strategies for teachers need to go beyond massages or meditation. Even a great vacation is not always enough to truly reset. 

So what makes for a truly restful summer break for teachers? Try focusing on these self-care ideas.

Calm Your Nervous System

Whether you cuddle under a weighted blanket or spend hours staring at the ocean, find ways to calm your body and let go of the tension you’ve been holding. Do what feels good to your body. For some of us, that’s running. For others, that’s lying in the sun. 

Find a way to move through, process, and let go of the physical stress you’ve accumulated over the school year. Listening to your body and doing what feels right is the ultimate form of summer self-care for teachers. 

Give Yourself Processing Time

The school year can be a constant stream of activities and stress. When we’re so “on'' all the time, it can be hard to process what is actually happening. Today, educators face everything from shrinking school budgets and increasing demands to debates about the pandemic and the risk of gun violence. So there is likely a lot to unpack after the school year.

As you relax into the slower pace of summer, give yourself time to feel all of your feelings. Whether you need to grieve or celebrate, don’t hold back. Whatever feelings you are experiencing, don’t fight them. 

Sometimes journaling, talking about your experience, or just allowing yourself time to reflect can help you to make sense of the myriad emotions you likely felt this school year. By focusing on releasing the physical, mental, and emotional weight of the school year, you can find your way forward and get an actual summer reset.

Tune into What You Want 

During the school year, we’re constantly attending to other people’s needs. So much so that we can become removed from our desires. Not this summer! Now that you’ve put some work into processing the school year, you can really get clear on what you want. 

Some of the best summer self-care for teachers includes thinking hard about what your future holds. What feels like the best next step to you? Do you want to rest and relax? Do you want to make progress towards your goals? Are you ready to leave the classroom? Whatever you want is okay. But to get clear on what you want, you have to tune out other voices and influences. Instead, tune into— and trust— your inner voice. 

Set the Pace You Need 

Now that you’ve gotten clear on what you want, set some goals. A great summer break for teachers doesn’t have to mean completely disconnecting from your education career.

Consider what exactly is realistic for you to achieve this summer. As you make goals, think about the pace you’d like your summer to have. Want to accomplish a lot? Set goals and take action towards them. Feel like you just need to relax and reset? Adopt a snail’s pace.

There are no wrong answers when it comes to summer self-care for teachers. Listen to yourself, build in time to recover, and design a path forward that works for you. 

Ready to Explore Options Beyond the Classroom? 

If you’re feeling like your time in the classroom has come— or is coming— to an end, use your summer to find options for working beyond the classroom. 

Our Beyond the Classroom course was designed to help you do just that! Through the course, you’ll learn exactly where to find and land jobs while being part of a supportive community of innovative educators. 

Whatever you decide to do this summer, prioritize YOU. You deserve to create a future that you’re excited about, rest, and have a joyful summer.