Switching gears into summertime

If you are like me, the mental shift from the school year to summer is sudden. Moving from thinking about 10 different things every few minutes, managing 20 - 30+ children all day long, differentiating lessons etc., to having very little structured time can be challenging. Especially if you enjoy or even thrive on the hustle and bustle of the school year.

Of course you are also most likely relieved and happy that it is summer, but the transition can be rocky.

What can ease that transition? Here are some tips that could help. Commit to trying one new idea here. Remember, perfect is the enemy of the good. So, it is better to try an idea in a limited way than not try at all.

  • Anticipate that the transition will have bumps. If you don't expect to feel giddy and care-free during summer immediately once the students are gone, you are going to be happier.
  • Connect with friends. If you think of someone, text them or call them. Don't think about it - just text or call and say you were thinking of them. It is easy to let relationships slide during the school year and not take priority. You can fix that right now. 
  • Take a break. Really take a break. Choose to not do any school work or planning for at least a week. If you have flashes of insight, sure - write them down on a piece of paper. Then, let them go. Tell yourself, if it really a good idea, it will come back again. 
  • If possible, do something symbolic as a start of your summer. It could be buying some summer plants, getting a massage, having a summer pedicure. Do something that says to yourself, now is a different time. 
  • If possible, go away for the weekend. You don't have to spend a lot of money. Car camping will do just fine, or visiting a friend in another city. But, work to change your physical surroundings. This will help you transition emotionally and mentally. 
  • Give yourself permission to relax. 
  • Let go! Try to release expectations that this summer you'll magically be different and you are going to accomplish 50 different things that you were procrastinating on during the school year. 
  • If you need structure - you could give a theme to each week or each few weeks. For example, you could have a nature theme one week - where you explore nature. You could have a music theme one week where you go to concerts in the park etc. Many people find themes are much more flexible than to do lists.
  • Try out a new self-care activity. Could you try a different form of exercise? Try something else to take care of yourself. Summer is a wonderful time to experiment.
  • Enjoy without pressuring yourself. Time is the most precious gift you have. You do not know how much time you have left at any given moment. What is on your bucket list? What can you do this summer? Are you spending your time in a way that is in alignment with your values? If the answer is yes, no matter what you are doing, you are doing the right thing. 

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