How education staff can have a self-care summer

Knowing how to switch off over summer is no mean feat for education staff – here’s how to prioritise your wellbeing, set boundaries, and return to the academic year as your best self

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Education Support

Self-care may not be the easiest thing for education staff to practice. Schools and colleges can be challenging environments to work in at times, and during term time, your focus will be on your pupils and your to-do list.

That’s why the summer break can be the best time to develop good self-care habits, so that when term starts again, you may have techniques you can turn to in stressful times.

Self-care has become a buzzword in recent years, but self-care doesn’t just mean things like exercise and mindfulness. It can also mean prioritising your own wellbeing, setting clear boundaries and saying no.

Along with Education Support, children’s mental health charity Anna Freud have shared their advice on how to best practice self-care this summer.

Prioritise rest

The pace and demands of working in a school or college can make it difficult to prioritise relaxation – but allowing yourself time to rest is important for both your physical and mental health.

‘Allowing’ is the operative word here. It is very easy to feel guilty for relaxing, especially when you have so many other things that need to be done. But when you rest, you’re not only reducing stress, you’re also giving yourself the chance to be more engaged in things that do require your attention.

Think of the end of the academic year like the end of a race. After completing a marathon, runners will take time to let themselves recover and rest. By doing so, they are ensuring that they will be replenished and ready for the next race – and runners know that rest is just as important as active training.

Replenish yourself

This will vary for different people. You might recharge your batteries by spending time alone reading or walking in nature. Or you might find that seeing friends and family re-energises you. Pick a mix of things that make you feel relaxed and recharged.

Make a wellbeing action plan

Plan what you’re going to do to look after your wellbeing during the summer and try your hardest to stick to it. It may help to write down some of the things that help you to refer back to.

Do things that make you feel like ‘you’

Teachers are incredibly passionate about what they do, but being a teacher is not your entire identity. Spend time doing the things you love outside of work. It might be a hobby, seeing or chatting with friends and family, or making a meal.

Remember that you are a person beyond your job. Engaging in our passions and making time for loved ones can energise us and help prevent burnout.

Reviewing boundaries

Working in a school or college means that you’re caring and conscientious, and you want to help and support those around you. But without boundaries, your caring nature can easily lead to feeling overwhelmed and overworked.

The average teacher is physically present at school or college for around eight to nine hours daily and can then spend several more hours at home planning and marking. Without clear boundaries and the ability to say no, this can easily become unsustainable.

If you’ve felt your boundaries slipping during the term time, the summer holidays can provide a good opportunity to re-establish your personal limits and firm up boundaries.

Saying ‘no’ can be a vital act of self-care. It can help make space for the things that are important to you – but it’s not always easy.

Try these simple tips:

Set time during the holidays when you will work and when you won’t

For some teachers, doing absolutely no work in the summer may not be practical and may cause you more stress. You may need to support your students when exam results come out in August, for example.

It’s different for everyone. Some teachers work the first week tying up loose sends or the last week preparing for the start of term. If you’re someone who prefers to do some work during the summer, think carefully about when the best time for you would be. Remember though, the priority is to carve out time when you can completely switch off from the job.

Use automated responses

Send automated responses to parents and colleagues when you’re not available to remind them of your office hours. You can still make it clear that you will be available during an emergency. This can build trust and connection, while also establishing clear boundaries.

Remove email apps from your phone

This is one of the best ways to ensure that you have some downtime and that you don’t feel the excessive pressure to respond to every message immediately.

Build healthy habits for the academic year

It’s very common to start a new academic year with many aspirational habits that you’re determined to keep to, only to find that you’ve lost track a few weeks in. This is completely normal and nothing to feel guilty about.

By establishing healthy habits throughout the summer holidays, they’re more likely to become embedded patterns of behaviour that you find easier to stick to once term behind.

You don’t need to be too ambitious. Even the smallest things can make a significant difference to your overall wellbeing. Try these three simple things:

What are your wellbeing non-negotiables?

Consider what wellbeing actions you will do no matter what and make a note of them. These actions should keep you balance and help you feel good. It could be regular exercise, time to enjoy a hobby or a simple routine that helps you organise your time. Share these with your colleagues, friends and family so it becomes widely understood that you keep this routine.

Start your day well

Starting your day on the right note can make a big difference. Use this summer to try and find something that you can easily do each morning that helps you get in the right mindset for the rest of your day.

Do a weekly wellbeing check-in

Ask yourself how you’re feeling mentally and physically. Are you looking after your wellbeing in terms of exercise, nutrition and sleep? How are your thoughts making you feel? Recognise emotions and accept that experiencing a range of emotions is okay. We’re all human and our emotions are valid.