Teacher self-care is not just a luxury–it’s a necessity! This post lists 12 fun things for teachers to do in the summer that will help them kick off a long-term lifestyle or self-care routine. Trust me, teachers; you are going to want to read about these summer experiences for teachers!
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How can you effectively take care of so many other people when you won’t take care of yourself?
This is the million-dollar question that smacked me in the head several years ago when I almost hit my breaking point as a teacher.
As you may know from my bio, I started teaching during a time when my personal life was a complete disaster.
Something needed to change quickly, or I wasn’t going to make it!
This represents so many wonderful teachers who give and give but don’t stop to take care of themselves.
Although many of us still work full-time during the summer, we should still take time to rest, recharge, and invest in ourselves.
What do teachers do during the summer?
Sadly, many teachers spend their summers working second jobs or planning for the next school year. This is not sustainable, and teachers, now more than ever, need to put themselves first. The best way for teachers to do this is by putting themselves first.
Later in this post, I will discuss some great summer teacher experiences that you can do throughout the summer, but for now, I want to talk about how teachers can try to improve their mental health this summer.
Your Mental Health IS IMPORTANT!
As teachers, we often prioritize the well-being of our students above our own. However, it’s crucial to recognize that our mental health deserves equal attention and care. Especially during the summer break, we have an opportunity to focus on our own well-being and recharge.
By engaging in mindful activities, nurturing relationships, pursuing personal passions, embracing self-care rituals, cultivating a supportive network, and reflecting on our teaching journey, we can improve our mental health and enter the new school year with renewed energy and resilience.
Remember, prioritizing your mental health is not selfish but essential for your overall well-being and effectiveness as an educator. So, let’s make this summer a time of self-care and personal growth, creating a community of teachers who prioritize their mental health.
Check out this blog post all about bringing Mindfullness To Your Classroom!
Things for Teachers To Do in the Summer
This list of summer teacher experiences is a great starting point, no matter where you are in your teaching journey.
1–Free and Frugal Travel for Teachers
There are SO many wonderful grants and travel programs that offer fully paid trips for teachers.
Many of these trips offer engaging and educational components that allow teachers to have fresh experiences to take back to the classroom with them.
Here are two resources to help you find out more about free travel for teachers:
2–Personal Summer Reading Challenge
Every summer, I intentionally recharge by catching up on some good reading…but NOT teacher or education books! At least not for the beginning of the summer.
I love Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited Program for reading books. I only pay $9.99 a month and I get access to thousands of e-books plus my favorite magazines on any device.
Try your first month of reading only the things you LOVE for free with this referral code! #Amazon affiliate link
There is nothing better than reading a book that is not meant for kids!
Some of my current favorite books are:
3–Become a Beauty / Mystery Box Subscriber
I thought beauty and mystery boxes were either a scam or too much of a luxury expense. Neither one of those assumptions is true!
Subscribing to get beauty or mystery boxes does not cost a lot of money; in fact, some of them start at only $12.
Plus, it’s a wonderful teacher experience to start in the summer. I love the anticipation and surprise when I get my new box. It piques your curiosity and gives you a chance to try new things that you may not have tried before!
4–Get a Massage at a Local Spa
Oh my goodness! I can go on for days about this lovely experience. Other than sleeping in late, I deeply enjoy going to get a spa massage.
I find the BEST spa deals through Groupon! You will be amazed at the deals you can get there for massages (plus a bunch of other cool summer experiences)! You may even find some awesome deals for you and a friend for a mani/pedi date! 💅
Read More…35 Ways to Make & Save Money as a Teacher
5–Rack Up On Teacher Discounts
Eating at new restaurants or trying new products is all about savoring a different experience!
And it’s one of my favorite ways to hit the reset button in the summer.
If you want a massive list of places that offer teacher discounts, check out these resources: (no affiliate links)
- Coupon Follow Teacher Discount Guide
- A List of Teacher Discounts, Secrets, & Deals
- Teacher Discount Reminder–Chrome Extension
You may also want to check out this blog post with more teacher appreciation deals from major companies!
6–Get Your Money In Order
While you are enjoying your discounts, you might as well get your finances organized.
Why in the world would I recommend this is a great summer experience? Because we all feel SO much better when our home and financial lives are at peace!
Stressing out about money ruins your summer, which blocks you from having a great start to a new school year.
Trust me, this tip is worth it. Use your summer to begin the journey of mastering your money!
7–Teach a Creativity or Hobby Class
Stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby invite anyone whose interested to teach a craft or creative hobby they enjoy.
Mine is painting! It relaxes me so much. So I love sharing the experience with others.
Plus it takes my mind off work-related issues. I can just share two things I deeply enjoy: teaching and painting!
8–Sign Up for a New Hobby
If you don’t have any creative outlets or hobbies you enjoy, a great summer experience includes starting a new one!
There are countless hobbies out there, so there’s bound to be one you will love. Facebook, Craiglists, your local newspaper, even YouTube are excellent sources to find a new hobby class.
9–Attend a Teacher Conference
Participating in professional development presents so many opportunities for growth and connection with other teachers.
Each time I attend a teacher conference as a summer experience, I feel motivated and excited about starting a new school year.
You get a chance to add more tools to your “teaching tool belt,” plus network with other amazing teachers!
And I ALWAYS make time to hang out to just have fun with other teachers! The relationships formed often last well beyond the conference.
10–Get Active
Being physically active is not only beneficial for your physical health, but it also plays a significant role in improving your mental well-being.
This summer, make it a priority to stay active and incorporate exercise into your routine. Whether you prefer hitting the gym, taking a yoga class, going on a hike, trying out summer sports like swimming or cycling, or simply engaging in regular walks, find an activity that resonates with you.
Not only will staying active help you stay fit and energized, but it will also reduce stress, boost your mood, and enhance your overall mental clarity.
So put on those sneakers, embrace the summer sunshine, and make physical activity a joyful part of your self-care routine!
11–No Device Day
In a world filled with constant digital distractions, carving out time to unplug and disconnect from our devices is essential for our mental well-being.
Consider dedicating an entire day to a “No Device Day” this summer. Use this technology-free day as an opportunity to fully engage with the present moment and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
Instead of staring at a device all day, you could:
- Plan a picnic in the park
- Embark on a scenic hike
- Immerse yourself in a captivating book
- Express your creativity through painting or drawing
- Spend quality time with loved ones without the interruptions of screens
Embracing a device-free day allows you to recharge, reconnect with yourself and the world around you, and find solace in the beauty of the offline experiences that truly nourish your soul.
12–Rest & Reflect
Sometimes the best experiences involve doing absolutely nothing! Sitting still and thinking deeply seems to be a lost art these days.
Life moves so fast. Social media keeps most people glued to a device.
One of the best ways to reward yourself this summer is to pull away from all that noise and just reflect!
Now that you have some fun things for teachers to do in the summer, you should start planning your best teacher summer yet! I hope you have the BEST summer – YOU DESERVE IT! 🤩
What is your go-to teacher summer experience? Share it in the comments below!
Tanya, I love this post! I especially like #6. It’s always a great idea to keep our finances in order. Summer is the perfect time to review those financial documents and such. The reading challenge reminds me that I need to get on it with all of those juicy books laying in wait on my bookshelf. Most are half-finished as I start reading something else! 🙂
Thanks so much Missi! You are awesome. 🙂
All these options sound wonderful!
Thanks Teresa!