While I know you’re already privy to this information, it is still worth writing just in case a non-educator stumbles upon this blog entry: teachers work over the summer.  During the summer we plan for the following year, work on curriculum, and/or have second (or third or fourth) jobs.  However, the difference in schedule allows for greater flexibility and gives us (a little) more time to take care of ourselves and do activities we enjoy outside of or related to our profession.

For a lighter post than usual (don’t worry, I have many posts forthcoming with actual pedagogical value!) here are my suggestions for a summer recharge:

1. Drink your coffee hot.  We’ve all been there: you make a cup of coffee in the faculty room and then a student asks you a question or a colleague grabs you in the hallway to talk about your plans and all of a sudden you have what we call “teacher iced coffee.”  That lukewarm drink isn’t super satisfying.  During the summer take the time to drink your coffee hot- or if you prefer have ACTUAL iced coffee on a hot day.
2. Take a personal day (or two).  And I don’t mean a personal day so you can go to the dentist or make a doctor’s appointment or drive your kid to their soccer tournament.  By personal day I mean a day just for you.  If you can’t manage a day, take an hour after your kids go to bed or during your lunch at your other job to do something you really like.  Do you love crosswords?  Sit by yourself and do them.  Do you have the opportunity to get to the beach?  Dig your toes into the sand!  Love reading?  Take time to read something that YOU want to read, not something that you feel obligated to read.  Seriously, have fun.  The more fun and happy you are, the better you’ll be able to serve your students.  Let yourself think about, well, yourself just for a little while.
3. Go to the bathroom whenever nature calls.  You know why.  Need I explain?  Your bladder will love you, though you may have to retrain it come September.
4. Take your time when you eat lunch.  We all have those days where we have to practically inhale our midday meal in order to get to our classes on time.  You know, those days when you know you’ve consumed food but didn’t actually taste it?  Take time this summer to savor the tastes that go into your mouth.  Chances are you’re eating something that you actually like rather than that frozen dinner you threw into your lunch box or whatever unidentifiable food the cafeteria cooked up.  Eat your favorite meals.  Take bites.  Chew.  Swallow.  (I gave instructions just in case you forgot how to actually eat like a human being.)
5. Let it go.  Maybe you had a super challenging school year.  No matter what it was that made your life difficult during the school year, the summertime is a great time to make like Elsa and let. it. go.  I know that there are some situations that are hard to get over but don’t let it ruin your summer or subsequent school years.  You might want to write down your feelings and then rip up the paper.  Maybe you’d like to scream about it from a mountain top.  Whatever technique makes you happy, do it.  Key words: makes you happy.  A happy teacher is a good teacher, plus, it feels good!
6. Binge on your favorite TV show or book series.  Why not?  You can plan your time differently over the summer and deadlines are very different.  Might I suggest “Reign”?  My husband likes “Man in the High Castle.”  A friend I met in Edinburgh last week was recommending “Outlander.”  Maybe you want to watch all of the Avengers movies in order.  Go for it.  The time is yours.
7. Go outside.  Put on that SPF 30+ and get yourself outside.  Go for a walk or a hike.  Sit in a chair with that book you decided you want to read for yourself.  Plant a garden.  Heck- look at everyone’s fancy pants Instagram photos and snap a couple of you doing absolutely nothing outside.  Get your vitamin D and sunshine on your face.  It feels good!
8. Connect with people you’ve been missing.  See your teacher BFF outside of school.  Play a board game with someone (today I played Scrabble!).  Grab lunch with a friend who isn’t a teacher.  Reconnect with your college roommate.  Anything goes here- just get in touch.  Now that you’re out from underneath that pile of teacher paperwork for a while, be sure to reconnect with people you love while you’re up breathing that precious, precious air.

Now that you have my recommendations for recharging your teacher batteries, what do you think belongs on the list that I forgot?