Summer Holidays for Teachers... Finding the Sweet Spot

I always promise myself I won't wish my life away, and yet I confess, there is always a bit of a countdown as we head towards the end of the academic year and prepare for the summer break. The long awaited chance to rest, relax and reconnect. I am privileged to work in Education and really enjoy it. It also affords me the same holidays as my child, so there are no child-care/supervision head-aches to manage.

For me the summer has several phases - I wonder if I'm the only one???

PHASE I - STILL WIRED

Also affectionately known as the "drive everyone crazy" phase. I am on holidays but still hyped up and thinking about work a lot. My body clock is still waking early and there are usually a few last minute tasks to finish/sort. I roar around the place being productive (aka annoyingly intense) interspersed between long naps because I'm actually exhausted. Sometimes I am lucky enough to travel during the summer, so this energy is put to good use packing, navigating post-Covid (are we allowed to say that yet?) travel and it's copious paperwork, lost luggage and cancelled flights.

PHASE II - CHANNELLING YOUR INNER SLOTH

Eventually this manic energy wears out and I realize I have 4 weeks stretched ahead of me. I begin to read books again. Concentrate on whole movies and take up a few random and usually short lived crafty hobbies. I bake and play board games, socialise and stay up late. I catch up with long lost family and friends and go on adventures. My body clock often completely flips and you'll find me sleeping in until after 9am and heading to bed around midnight. If this phase happens to coincide with lying next to a beach or pool - all the better. Luckily as a sports enthusiast it also usually coincides with Wimbledon, the Commonwealth or Olympics Games, the Super Rugby Season and a Grand Prix or two.

PHASE III - THE SWEET SPOT

After a week or two, the novelty of being a complete sloth starts to wear off and I begin to have creative ideas for next year. I yearn to plan cool lessons and shop for stationery (super dorky I know) I write articles for my LinkedIn profile (sorry, not sorry) and surf EduTwitter for innovative ideas. My favorite find this week has been using a cauliflower to teach brain anatomy! I still rest and socialise and bake and indulge in card games but I also get excited about the year ahead. I try to eat healthy and try out new exercise regimes.

PHASE IV - SUNDAYITIS

With several days or a week until the start of term, an extended version of "Sundayitis" invariably hits. I realize the alarm needs to revert to 5:15am, Miss 12 needs new school shoes (again), we all need haircuts and I line up for a C-19 booster shot. In short, life comes roaring back into focus. This culminates on the night before school goes back, where I rarely sleep well. Tossing and turning, running to do lists through my head at 3am.

PHASE V - BACK AT IT

Luckily I love my current role and work in a fantastic school, so it's actually great to be back. I am rested and ready to meet my new classes and begin new projects. By lunchtime on the first day I am loving being back chatting with colleagues.