Let’s just say it: you made it through the school year, and that alone is heroic. You wrangled chaos, managed deadlines, diffused conflict, powered through testing season, and (somehow) still taught actual content. Now it’s summer, and your brain might be having a hard time shifting gears.
If you’re someone who struggles to fully relax in the summer (hi, we see you), here are a few ways to unwind without that pesky teacher guilt creeping in.
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1. Redefine “Productivity”
Rest is productive. Rewatching old sitcoms? Rest. Taking a mid-morning walk with iced coffee in hand? Rest. Not responding to a single school-related email until August 1st? Rest. You don’t have to earn rest by being hyper-productive in other areas. It’s already earned.
2. Unplug From Teacher Instagram (Temporarily)
Yes, even us. We love teacher content as much as anyone, but the summer spiral of “I should be prepping my classroom right now” is real. Mute the accounts if you need to. Or give yourself a rule: scroll guilt-free for 15 minutes, then log off and go touch some grass.
3. Pick a Hobby With No Endgame
Try something you’re not trying to monetize, grade, or turn into a side hustle. Paint-by-number kits, Lego builds, learning guitar chords, or even playing through video games you missed during the year. The only goal? Enjoying yourself.
4. Plan One Thing a Week—Max
Teachers often swing between over-planning and complete “what day is it?” chaos. Try the middle ground. Put one fun thing on the calendar each week (beach day, bookstore trip, brunch), and leave the rest open. You’ll have things to look forward to without feeling overbooked.
5. Trust That You’ll Flip the Switch When It’s Time
The teacher part of your brain never really shuts off, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in planning mode 24/7. Trust that when August rolls around, you’ll be ready. You always are.
Bonus Tip: Do Tiny Things for Future You—Only If It Feels Good
Maybe it does bring you joy to print out some fresh classroom labels or prep the first few vocab words of the year. If that kind of thing scratches your “future me will thank me” itch, go for it. If not? Skip it. No gold stars are handed out for laminating in July.
(And hey, if vocab is your thing… we might know a daily word routine that makes planning a breeze—just saying.)
TL;DR: You Don’t Need to Justify Rest
You are not a better teacher because you spent your summer prepping. You’re a better teacher when you’re rested, recharged, and maybe a little sun-kissed. Permission to relax: granted.
Want more tips and relatable content from real teachers? Come hang out with us on Instagram @topfloorteachers! No pressure, no guilt, just real talk.
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