Summer You - The Best You

Summer is an excellent time for reflection and rejuvenation. And we all know how much educators need this! As helpful as it is to recharge during this time, the effects of summer can only carry us so far into the very busy school year. We like to think that in education we get two opportunities for a reset - New Years Day and the start of a new school year. We encourage you to use this time to both reflect on the habits you hope to maintain during the school year, and think how you can incorporate what you are doing for yourself and your family now, during these lazy days of summer. This is, of course, easy to say and hard to do!

Many of you may be thinking “Well sure, I can do this now, but there is simply no way I can find the time to take care of myself once the full and frantic school year begins. Educators are excellent at serving others and putting our own needs last. We want to gently remind you that while this is common, it is also a perfect recipe for burnout and a whole host of other health conditions. Did you know that in a 2022 Gallup poll, 44% of K-12 educators reported feeling always or often burned out, making education the occupation with the most burnout? As upsetting as those statistics are, we know that when we make the time to tend to our own well-being, we are so much happier, healthier, and more effective. In turn, we are better able to serve our students, respond with more patience and care, and show up as our best selves. Erika and Tiffany often say that they are the best version of themselves during the summer. Wouldn’t it be great if we could hold onto the summer version of us throughout the year, and share that with our students, colleagues, and families?

Okay, so how can we leverage this restart with the beginning of the school year? First, think about those habits that you know are good for you, but often fall by the wayside when things get busy. Maybe it's that daily walk, meal prep for the week, getting enough sleep, a mindfulness practice, regular exercise, reading a good book, or sinking into a favorite hobby. Now, think intentionally about how this might look during the school year. What times of day are least likely to be interrupted? For Erika, this is the magical morning hours of 5:30 - 7:00 a.m. Her family is still asleep, no one is going to text or email, and it provides the kind of quiet she needs to work on the practices that are critical to her. Plus, she starts each day with a win before she even leaves for work!

Do future you a favor and set aside some time this summer to determine your important routines, identify a time that will work best for you, and then commit to doing it! It’s helpful to remember that since we aren’t perfect, it’s unlikely that we will be able to follow our ideal schedule 100% of the time. It’s good to anticipate this now and make a plan for it ahead of time. Consider all of the possible disruptions to your consistency and establish some counter measures to ensure you don’t get derailed. Think about ways you can hold yourself accountable to your habits. You might want to use a journal or planner to track your activity, or share your plan with an accountability buddy who is willing to remind you to stay on track. Tiffany finds that using apps for exercise, practicing Spanish, and eating healthy are quite helpful in both tracking habits and keeping her motivated.

We hope you are able to spend this summer truly recharging. As educators, the emotionality of our work is undeniable. When we tend to our own well-being, we are more effective and better equipped to build a culture of connection in our schools. You owe it to yourself, your family, and your students to identify how you can maintain the habits that fill your cup throughout the school year. So think about what fills you up, make a plan, and commit to it! You, and everyone around you, will be better for it.