10 Ways to Reboot this Summer

REFLECT ON THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR.

• For some, transitioning into summer when you have no set schedule or tasks can be challenging. During the break, it can be difficult to fill the void of teaching, having a set schedule, or constantly working. Reflecting on the past school year is a great way to slow down your teaching gears, and smoothly transition into a relaxing summer.

• When reflecting, think of 3 challenges you encountered in your classroom and ways that you can solve those problems. Identify different methods to improve your class and teaching experience. This is also the perfect time to plan lessons and make any changes to your curriculum. Once you tackle your classroom challenges, take your mind off work, so you can relax and enjoy the rest of your summer, guilt-free and ready to recharge!

CONNECT WITH FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES THAT INSPIRE YOU. 

• Plan a time to get together with other like-minded educators or professionals. Powerful synergy can result from spending time with others who are also passionate about education! Oh, and by the way, when I say plan a time to get together, don’t say “we should get together sometime...” because you know that means there’s about an 8% chance it will actually happen. Instead, get out your calendars, choose a few dates, and commit to making one of those dates happen!

SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY.

• Family often goes unintentionally neglected during the craziness of the school year, especially this school year. Spend EXTRA time this summer with those who matter most to you. And enjoy every single moment! 

• Check out this awesome website for inexpensive family time ideas: 25 Cheap Family Fun Ideas: Epic Entertainment on a Budget | LoveToKnow

TRAVEL. 

• Traveling to new places and seeing new sights can be refreshing for many. A change of scenery gives you the experience of being a tourist in unknown surroundings and provides a thrilling and exciting feeling that disrupts the monotonous structure of everyday life. Additionally, separating yourself from the professional world is an excellent opportunity to get to know yourself better, and try new things for yourself and with loved ones. 

For those who feel that travelling is outside their budget, a staycation is also an amazing way to relax and recharge. Go to your local zoo, go bowling, visit a national park—the possibilities are endless! Here are 25 Awesome Staycation Ideas.

SET GOALS FOR YOURSELF. 

• To combat the inherent, unstructured nature of summer, set a few goals for yourself in order to have a fulfilling experience. For example, you can aim to try something new, like wood carving, eating foreign cuisine, or going paintballing with friends . You can even tap into your creative side and start a new hobby, or try activities that you never got around to doing. 

• Make sure to pick a manageable number of activities to devote your time and energy to. It’s impossible to do everything over the summer, so don’t spread yourself too thin!

GET LOST IN A GOOD BOOK. 

• Everyone knows that students can experience summer slide or summer learning loss when school isn’t in session, but even educators can experience summer slide at times! 

• Reading books keeps your mind sharp and active during the summer, and helps you mentally prepare for the upcoming school year. Summer break is the perfect time to read books for pleasure or read anything that you’ve always wanted to read, but never had the time to. 

Now’s your chance to spend time with that book that’s been sitting in your Barnes & Noble or Amazon shopping cart. Check out the link for some great 2021 Summer reads - Best Books to Read Summer 2021

VOLUNTEER! 

• If you’re itching to do something over the summer to fill the void of the school year, then volunteering is an excellent option. 

• Volunteering is a great way to connect with the community, network, and work with organizations to help those in need. It’s a fun and self-fulfilling experience that leaves you with the sense of feeling accomplished and full of energy!

LEARN SOMETHING NEW. 

• From motorcycle repair to modern dance, painting to paella, summer and downtime at home are great opportunities to learn something new. 

• Fortunately, if you can’t get to a class, many of them are available online. When educators become learners, it reminds us how it feels to wrestle with the unknown, to fail, to persevere, and to have the feeling of success. Come fall, you will be a more empathetic educator if you can keep these learning and growing experiences in mind.

STUDY YOUR MONEY.

• Among the many lessons the corona- virus pandemic has taught us is that you never know when uncertainty will hit, turning lives upside down, and creating a financial crisis that could cripple pocketbooks for the long haul. When times get tough, educators certainly feel the pinch. Now is a good time to study your money. Here are some areas to explore:

Stick to a budget: 

• The key to managing debt and using your purchasing power to your advantage is to create a household budget and stick to it. A budget will show your spending patterns and alert you if you’re spending more than you’re earning. If you find your budget is full of red flags, there are several ways to get it under control. 

• First, prioritize your bills from big to small. List your debts, and pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first. When that one is zeroed out, take the same dollars and pay the next debt on the list, until you’ve cleared the debt decks. Or, do the opposite. Financial guru Dave Ramsey suggests the snowball method: Pay off the smallest debt first for some positive reinforce- ment, then apply those payments plus any extra cash to the next biggest debt. 

• Repeat this process with the next biggest debt on the list. This allows you to snowball available cash for payments as you work your way up to your largest debt. 

  • I have personally used this method over the last 4 years. It has changed mine and my family’s lives for the best! See video about Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps for a quick introduction into financial freedom!

• You can also negotiate with creditors. Call creditors and ask for lower interest rates or see if they will take less than the full balance in exchange for a quicker balance payoff.

PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. 

• As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself for what’s to come. Gently ease into the school year by buying supplies, organizing your papers, and setting schedules and calendar dates for an easy start to the year. 

• This is also the time to reorient yourself, and do your best to plan proactively. Make a plan for how to deal with challenges you may encounter, such as intense stress, changes in schedules, and unknowns. That way, you’ll be prepared to tackle any problems when the time comes. No matter what you do over the summer, it’s important to come back into the school year feeling recharged, refreshed, and ready to start the NEW year off right!