Time to Refuel

Educators, this is just a reminder that It’s called summer break for a reason.  Your work August through May is draining, which takes a toll on your physical, emotional and mental health.  You might not be consciously aware of this now because when your brain and body are still in “go” mode, moving full steam ahead, you don’t always realize what’s happening underneath your hood. 

I speak from experience.  When I was younger, like many, I worked round-the-clock checking off my to-do list.  I regularly ignored that little voice in my head, telling me to step away from work.  “I’ll take a break after this one task is complete,” I told myself.  Unfortunately, the task list rarely ended. 

Ah, but things are different now that I’m getting older.  Instead of a little voice in my head telling me to rest, it’s my body that’s doing all the talking.  Though most of what I’m dealing with is normal aging, the message for me is clear: If we don’t give ourselves time to rest and heal, one way or another, our bodies will start to break down. 

Teachers, you have spent an entire year filling your students’ tanks.  Now it’s time to replenish your own.  Give yourself permission to step away from the nonstop-runaway-train-work-schedule you’ve been keeping and rest.  You don’t need to move straight from the closing of this school year into the opening of the next. 

I’m getting better at compartmentalizing my work and hope to carve out whole weeks of off time over the summer.  I just need to keep reminding myself that if I want to be at my best when back-to-school time rolls around, I must recharge now.  I hope you can do the same.