Do you need permission to switch off? Is rest your summer job as a teacher or leader?

Teacher burnout spikes every September. But what if this summer, we did things differently?

Have you ever told yourself that you are going to spend the first couple of weeks of the holidays writing policies or lesson plans and replying to ‘just one more’ email?

 By the time you try to rest, you are already on countdown to September?

Recently, I staggered to the end of the July term, became ill on day 1 of the holidays with flu and started the holidays on day 7. 

What if I suggest to you that resting is part of your professional development?

Professional athletes train and rest INTENTIONALLY. What might this look like for you?

Brene Brown says “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”

In my experience, we have to be intentional with our rest. Otherwise, that behaviour policy modification, the inset preparation or the day 1 displays will take over our life.

Step 1~ Lighten your cognitive load: this means taking school emails off your phone, hiding your school laptop, agreeing with yourself that you won’t do any preparation until a certain date in later August. 

Step 2~ Remind yourself of your priorities: can I remind you of the story of my youngest child? We used to watch a bit of TV most evenings before they went off to bed. I’d sit next to them while I did my school emails, thinking this was lovely time together. One day, my laptop broke so I sat there watching together. “Finally mum,” they said, “You’re giving me your attention!”

All of that time I thought I’d been supporting them, giving them quality time and attention. Not according to them! What a wake-up call that was to me. My kids are absolutely my priority and had I been prioritising them? Probably not most of the time. 

Step 3~ How do you rest best? Sure, more sleep is a really important place to start, but so is laughter, play, being outdoors (and not in front of a screen), exercise, being with lovely people for starters. Some of the most successful people have been found to rest by finding more extreme ways to switch their brain off such as rock climbing, horse riding and super-long walks.

Step 4~ This is my favourite step because it brings healing to my soul. It reminds me of how far I’ve come and the impact I have it’s journaling. Research demonstrates the benefits as reducing stress and anxiety and bringing energy and hope. I see so many benefits that I designed a journal for school staff, and some of the weeks I created specifically to help teachers and leaders to unwind and reset, as it isn’t as easy as it sounds. 

I’ve been in positions where I’ve gone into school through the holidays to clear out playground sheds, to shred piles of 20-year-old papers or set up a sensory room. I did it because I’m passionate about making the school run better for the staff and pupils. However, in doing this, I often put my own children second and certainly didn’t consider the impact on myself.

I’m not saying don’t go in. I’m suggesting you are intentional in setting boundaries around your time and your priorities.

Would you add extra steps?