3 Ways to Stay Sharp This Summer as an Educator

In May, most educators would tell you that they can't wait for summer break. Once it arrives, many choose to travel a lot, rest, recover, read, spend time with family, take up a hobby they enjoy, etc. For others, they work to stay busy or add other income. Hopefully, it is a time to recharge and refresh before the next school year arrives. It is no secret that the past two years in education have been some of the hardest and longest. I am sure this summer is feeling pretty sweet to many this year! 

For the past eleven years, I have had a love/hate relationship with summer. The time off and vacations are wonderful, but the idle time not producing at a job gets to me towards the middle and end of it. I find it hard to have the same discipline that I have during the school year due to being out of my routine and working off a different schedule. I am sure that if you are an educator, you can somewhat relate if you aren't working full time during the summer. So, the question then begs itself, how do we relax yet stay sharp at the same time? Here are three things I am doing this summer that have really helped deal with the change in routine that keep me sharp

1. Each night before bed, I create a daily plan for the next day. I write down the things I am going to accomplish and the times I am going to do them. Things that I like to schedule are exercise, meditation, reading, prayer, activities with my kids, and writing/reading. When we write down our plan for the day before, we are more likely to stick to it and it gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment for each day. I even got a part-time job this summer helping my neighbor cut lawns 1-2 days a week which has been really good for me to keep busy. 

2. I have been trying to find 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week to challenge my brain in some way. Examples are playing chess, Tetris, Wordscapes, trivia, and completing puzzles that I bought a book for. Our brains need stimulated in challenging ways and these help me think and stay sharp throughout the week. 

3. Rediscover a passion/hobby that is relaxing to you. I like finding things on Facebook Marketplace for cheap and fixing them up. Some examples of things I have bought and fixed as a desk, lamp, nightstand, and chair. I also am getting back into writing both for the blog and weird joke ideas I have. Lastly, poetry helps me think and relax. 

I encourage you to use the remaining time left of the summer to get in shape for what the year will bring. Kids need and deserve our best. It is up to us how we take care of ourselves both mentally and physically. Have another tip for educators to stay sharp this summer? Please comment below!