Search Institute

Hello everyone. Below is an article that I guest wrote for a wonderful website, Teachhub.com. Visit the site and poke around. It’s really well done.

The article I wrote is titled Top 12 Ways to Be Your Summer Self All Year Round. Here it is:

With summer ending and a new school year beginning, the change of pace and lifestyle can be pretty jarring. However, with some mindfulness and personal commitment, you don’t have to say goodbye to summer entirely just because school has started.

1. Stayin’ Fit & Lovin’ It

Summer is often the time teachers get back into a working out routine. You had the time to do it, the days were beautiful, and you weren’t squeezing a run or walk or swim onto your never-ending to-do list. Chances are, it felt pretty good and gave you energy.

Now that school has started, finding the time is hard and exercising can be the first thing to go. Don’t let go of feeling good and doing good for your health!

Schedule a class right after work or plan to walk with a friend after the kids go to bed. Find a partner. Go for department meeting walks! Make it happen!

2. Book It

It’s wonderful to sit outside with a good book and devour some literature for pleasure. But once school starts, that time might get eaten away. Don’t let it. Finding time to read for pleasure will give your brain that wonderful escape it needs to stay fresh.

Get in a chapter before bed, while you’re at the gym (kill two birds!) or on your commute. Better yet: start a book club with colleagues. You’ll build camaraderie while you read!

3. Don’t Rush Dinner

Who needs fast food through the drive through when you’ve got all summer to grill? Keep it up. It takes a little more planning, but a good home cooked meal consistently throughout the year slows you and your family down, is healthier, and gives you a chance to unwind after a busy day.

To save time and energy, try making and freezing meals ahead of time or putting something in the crockpot. That’ll be far less daunting at 5pm than the grocery store and a non-pre-heated oven.

4. Don’t Abandon the Great Outdoors

Even for those of you who live in fluctuating weather patterns like I do (I live in Minnesota), fresh air keeps you sharp and gives you energy. Try to work it into your workday.

Go for a walk during part of your planning hour. Take your classes outside on warm days. And don’t forget to breathe!

5. Stay a Student

Whether it was a trip to a museum or reading some interesting book, summers are a great time for you play the part of a student and do some wonderful learning. That doesn’t need to stop when the school year starts.

Embracing unfamiliar topics and student research projects lets you learn alongside your students. Share your newfound interests with them and colleagues. Just don’t stop learning!

6. Schedule Family Time

Just because you might not be up at the lake or sitting around the backyard doesn’t mean you can’t slow down and relax with your family. Sometimes it takes work to not work. Work hard at creating space and time with your family so that you can rejuvenate with those you love the most.

Creating a fun, weekly family ritual can ensure that you’ll keep it up! It Try giving it a clever moniker like “Windy City Wheel Watchers” (that is code for watching Wheel of Fortune as a fam to TeachHUB’s Emily).

7. Don’t Forget Your Friends

When the school year starts, your friends give a wave and a half-hearted “See you in June!” as if you’re a bear approaching hibernation. Nonsense! Keep etching out time to hang out with your friends and try not to only talk about work.

Plan a book club, work out dates or other fun activities that don’t add more stress to your life (aka don’t host). If you coach, invite friends to your games or to get together on your off days.

8. Make Travel Plans

Okay. So maybe you can’t go to the Grand Canyon or France, but quick weekend get-aways are important throughout the school year.

Leave your laptop, phone, lesson books, and grading behind and just get away. Or have a “staycation” at home. Just make sure your Blackberry is turned off.

9. Get Plenty of Sleep

There might be dust collected on your alarm button after summer. So yes, you’re probably going to be getting up earlier than you were in July.

That just means you’re going to have to get to bed earlier. Commit to it. You know you’re your best when you’ve had enough sleep. That shouldn’t be seasonal!

10. Explore New Hobbies

Summer might be your time for knitting or woodworking or gardening. These activities bring you pleasure, focus, relaxation, and escape.

These are the things you need more of during the school year. Double and triple dip with other summer-self goals by trying new workouts, sports and hobbies with friends and family!

11. Reflect on Your Teaching

During the summer, you have time to think about your work, your life, your students, and the BIG questions that might surround you. Don’t let the intensity and chaos of a school year take away your time to reflect about your life as a teacher.

Pause often. Remain mindful of yourself. Even post reminders at the beginning of each quarterly/monthly or weekly calendar.

12. Keep Your New School Year’s Resolutions

Chances are, you started this new year with goals and hopes that came from your summer reflection and learning.

Set a timeline of achievable goals to meet throughout the school year. Check in on your personal progress towards these goals often. Little by little, you’ll be the teacher you want to be without making radically unrealistic, stress-inducing changes!

Summer may end when that first bell rings, but you don’t need to abandon your summer self! How are you keeping your summer self alive this school year? Share in the comments section!