- Whatever you want.
Okay, I know this is a really simple tip – but I think it is so important. I’ve seen countless posts on Instagram, pins on Pinterest, and blog posts all outlining things like the “3 things you must do”, telling you that you have to do certain things to prepare yourself for the coming year. I’ve also seen people advocate for doing absolutely nothing in the summer in order to relax and recharge.
There is so much noise in the online teacher space about what you should be doing.
I think it comes down to this – listen to your body, and tap into your wants, needs, and interests. There is no set list of things that you need to do to be prepared for the following school year.
- If there are things you want to work on over the summer because you know it’ll save you time and stress during the school year, go for it!
- If there are projects you want to work on over the summer because you like to stay busy and have things to do, or because you just simply enjoy doing them, go for it!
- If you need to just relax and recharge all summer, go for it!
- If you need to take a summer job or teach summer school for a little more money or income, go for it!
Also, keep in mind that what you’ve done in previous years doesn’t have to be what you do every year. Some summers, I have had great opportunities come up for extra income that I decided were too good to pass up. This summer, I plan on disconnecting, relaxing, and recharging.
Ignore all the noise, opinions, and to-do lists from other teachers. Tap into your own intuition to decide what’s right for you this summer!
