Winter break is a time for teachers to recharge and relax. It’s important to take some time for yourself so that you can come back refreshed and ready to start the new semester. No, this is not a post about how self-care will magically fix all your problems, but it is a good reminder that sometimes you have to set aside your stress and take care of you! Here are some ideas of things you can do to recharge during winter break.
Put School Aside (for a little while)
If you didn’t have a chance to plan the first week of January before winter break, don’t worry! Take some time off first to regroup, then schedule a time to plan. Putting it on your schedule will allow you to not think about it until you are ready. This will help you enjoy your break and come back feeling rested and ready to tackle the second half of the school year.
Visit Family and Friends
One of the best ways to recharge is by spending time with people you care about. The school year can get so busy that we unintentionally ignore our family and friends. Call (or more likely text) them to plan a coffee date or get together for a movie night or a fun game night! You can catch up on what has been going on in their lives and forget about your stressful job for a little while. Spending time with those you care about can help you relax, laugh, and enjoy life.
Do Something Fun
Winter break is the perfect time to do something you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t had the time for. Take some time to do something that you enjoy outside of teaching. This can be anything from reading a good book to going on a hike. Maybe there’s a place you’ve been wanting to visit or a hobby you’ve been wanting to try. Whatever it is, make sure to do something fun over winter break so that you come back feeling excited and recharged!
Get Outside
Being outside can be incredibly calming, so take some time to enjoy nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Take your dog for a walk or go to the park with your kids. Getting outside is a great opportunity to take in the beauty of your surroundings and just relax. Check out the opportunities in your neighborhood!
Clean Your House
This may not sound like fun but it’s definitely satisfying. Getting your house clean and organized will help you feel more relaxed when you’re at home. Plus, it’ll be one less thing you have to worry about when school starts back up again. I like to take the first Saturday off and clean everything, it just sets the break off on a good note!
Winter break is a great opportunity for teachers to recharge and relax. It’s important to take some time off before the new semester in order to come back feeling refreshed, energized, or just plain ol’ relaxed! So go ahead – do something you’ve been thinking about doing all year long: spend quality one-on-one moments with yourself! Whatever it may be that makes up your winter break plans make sure they include taking a break from teaching!
Looking for more ideas? I’m discussing this in today’s podcast episode, Winter Break: Rest, Recharge, Regroup. Listen now!
Feel Free to share your ideas about how you reset over Winter Break in the Secondary ELA Facebook group.
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