How to Have the Best Teacher Summer

Do you remember the past summers since you became a teacher? Did you start reading more, spending more time with your loved ones, picking up new hobbies? Or did you let that time slip by and before you knew it fall was upon you once again?

We have so many goals for ourselves throughout the school year that we say we’ll save for summer - but then we never actually hold ourselves accountable to them.

It might sound a little backwards but you need to hold yourself accountable to rest. You need to commit to your hobbies and visiting your loved ones.

Some of the most common goals I see teachers have for their summers are:

• Reading more

• Organizing their homes

• Spending more time with their loved ones

• Having more times for hobbies

• Trying new recipes and cooking more

• Organizing their personal life with doctors’ appointments, finances, and such

Even though most of these might be considered leisure activities, you still have to make sure you do what brings you joy. And most importantly, you need to mesh those things into your daily life beyond summer.

It’s so easy to say - but how do you really have the best, most productive teacher summer?

Join a Community

There are so many different types of communities to help keep you responsible. Maybe you join a book club to help you commit to reading more.

What do I recommend? An online teacher community! Who better to help you stay accountable while completely understanding your situation? Fellow teachers. Together, you can share your goals, learn new ideas, and form lasting relationships with other people just like you.

Teacher Summer Reboot is back and better than ever. This year, we’ve created a unique space for teachers to connect with other teachers online. You’ll join live meetups, take part in challenges, and chat in message boards. You’ll share recipes, join a book club, organize your house and your health, and so much more - together.

By joining a community, you’re much more likely to stay committed and even take your goals into the next school year.

Take a Class

If there’s a new hobby you’re interested in trying out, take a class in it! Learning what it is you want to try or get better in or just enjoy doing makes you much more likely to keep doing it all summer long and into the school year.

You might be thinking classes like this are pricey - and those expensive ones are definitely out there- but there are low-cost to free options available. I would recommend checking in with your library’s events. My library offers courses in crocheting, cooking, yoga, gardening, and so much more - all for free! They’ll even provide most of the materials.

Make a Plan

The key to having the best, most productive teacher summer is creating a plan for your goals that you can realistically meet and maintain. Even better if you can keep this plan going even during the school year. You’ll feel so much more relaxed and less likely to burn out if you’re committing to what you love outside of work.

You might schedule on Tuesdays you try a new recipe and Thursdays you set aside time for your favorite hobbies. Find a flow that works for you, while keeping in mind how you can carry it into the busy school year.