At the time of writing, it is a half term; a break long enough to begin to unwind a little but not so long that the time needs planning to any depth and detail, unless of course that is your preference. Many teachers use half term breaks as a chance to do a little catch-up work at a pace more conducive to wellbeing, and of course, some relaxation gets done too.
Yet the summer holidays pose a different sort of challenge. It is not uncommon for teachers to find the long break unsettling. Living by the rhythm of a term, however demanding that is, gives structure to the day, and knowing precisely what you are likely to be doing almost down to the minute each and every day, can bring some comfort. But when the long summer break hits, that structure falls away and it can be hard to maintain equilibrium. Free, unstructured time can consequently be challenging for some, and the temptation to replace the frenetic activity of term time with something equally hectic during the holiday naturally exists, meaning there is a real risk that rest, recuperation and relaxation is never prioritised.
For this reason, whether you recognize yourself in this description or not, it is worth spending some time in the run up to the break thinking about what you really want to get out of the time. Whether you live alone or in a busy family, these suggestions may help you get the most out of your summertime:
Plan
Long stretches of free time can be daunting, so aim to plan roughly how the time will be used. This will help you to make the most of your time away from school and ensure that precious leisure time doesn’t get overwhelmed with work. If you want to do some work in the holiday, that’s fine, but make sure you stick to strong boundaries.
Treat yourself
Book something, buy something, go somewhere, or do something just for you. It doesn’t have to cost anything, but it does need to feel like a treat or reward for hard work done. Marking the end of the academic year in this way can help you to pause, reflect and acknowledge the break before the pace picks up again.
Five ways
Aim to commit to following the Five Ways to Wellbeing during the holiday. This may help to embed habits that could be useful once the pressures of the new term begin. By way of a reminder, the Five Ways are: connect with other people, be physically active, learn new skills, give to others, pay attention to the present moment.
Observe
The summer holidays can be a time when personal issues that you simply did not have time to fully address during the academic year rise up for your undivided attention now that you have more bandwidth. Observe when this happens. Know that you can deal with whatever this may be and that there is support out there for you if needed (see below). You may want to use the holidays to take the opportunity to talk to someone about any concerns you have or issues you are dealing with. Education Support offers free 24/7 counselling: 08000 562 561
Challenge yourself
The long summer break is a great opportunity to learn something new. It doesn’t have to be work related – in fact it’s best if it isn’t! Master a new culinary skill, take up a new sport, take on a long-distance walk or trail, pick up a long-forgotten hobby... whatever inspires you and will lift you out of your day-to-day life is worth trying out. Fresh skills and hobbies can be a lifeline once the new term begins.
Pay it forward…
to yourself! While I would never say you should work in the holiday to get ahead, you might want to think about what will support you through the Autumn term. Book in some events to look forward to; do some batch cooking for the freezer so that you can have a nutritious meal even when you are amid a hectic term; ring-fence some pure relaxation time. Make sure you are looking after future you.
Here and now
Never forget that however you are feeling, bringing yourself back to the present moment and breathing mindfully can help you to feel balanced and calm.
Reconnect
Are there friends and family who are taking second place to your work commitments? Would you like to change that? Book in some meetups so that you can reconnect and rebuild relationships.
Perhaps most importantly, don’t ever feel the pressure to make every day of the holiday into a spectacular extravaganza. Simply “being” can be incredibly restorative; pottering through daily life at a soothing pace can be change enough.
Finally, try a gratitude journal. Simply writing down three things that you are grateful for each evening can be enough to boost your mental health, even if just a little. This could become a supportive habit to take with you into the new term.
Whichever way you spend your summer break, may it be restorative and refreshing!
Find out more…
- 5 Ways to Wellbeing with Nature | Finding Nature
- 5 ways to connect to nature to help our wellbeing | WWF
- 5 ways to wellbeing through gardening - Thrive
- 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Education Support, supporting teachers and education staff
- The Long Distance Walkers Association (ldwa.org.uk)
About the author
Elizabeth Holmes
After graduating with a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Reading, Elizabeth Holmes completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education, University of London. She then taught humanities and social sciences in schools in London, Oxfordshire and West Sussex, where she ran the history department in a challenging comprehensive. Elizabeth specialises in education but also writes on many other issues and themes. As well as her regular blogs for Eteach and FEjobs, her books have been published by a variety of publishers and translated around the world. Elizabeth has also taught on education courses in HE and presented at national and international conferences.
