One of the main benefits of teaching is our summer! When people say “oh you’re so lucky you’re a teacher – you have the WHOLE summer off!” Ummmmm sure! We get summers because, we as teachers, desperately need this time to recharge!
As you start to gear up for the school year ahead, I hope you remember the easy-breezy feeling of summer!
I’m sharing a few ideas that help me stay sane during the school year!
Related: End of the Year Activities for 1st Graders – Final Day
Exercise!
Get up and move! You don’t need to be a marathon runner or a Zumba junkie to get the benefits of exercise. As I’ve mentioned, I’m a morning person, so I hit the gym before I head to school. Somedays I Spin, take a barre class or even just walk on the treadmill to catch up with a friend. I love having my workout done, so that when the bell rings, I can head home and take a nap 🙂
But do what works for you – a walk after school with a coworker, a class in the evening – whatever! Just get up and move! You’ll have more energy and feel so much better {as you take down that bag of Doritos – oh wait, is that just me?}
Drink!
I’ve read many articles stating the benefits of enjoying a glass of wine now and again! At the end of a long day, it’s okay to relax with an adult beverage 🙂 My favorite are these adult juice boxes from Sofia Coppola!
Leave Your Classroom!
We could spend 8 hours after school in our classrooms {and still have piles of stuff to take home or waiting for us tomorrow!} A few months ago, I shared 5 Mistakes I Made My First Year. One of my biggest mistakes is that I didn’t leave my classroom before the evening news!
Do yourself a favor – LEAVE YOUR CLASSROOM. Decide on a time that you’re comfortable leaving – a time that you can get a little work done, but also a time that is still light outside and you can have a life outside those four walls of your classroom!
Go Out With Friends!
Never underestimate the power of friends! They can pull you out of a funk, make you laugh till you want to pee your pants, or be a sounding board when you just need to vent about a hard day, a frustrating moment with your partner or naughty student! Bonus: you can often have an adult beverage AND hangout with friends! Win/Win!
Read a Book!
The best way for me to escape a less-than-perfect day is to engross myself in someone else’s life – with a book! I absolutely love to read and I make it a priority. I read most nights before bed, and often when I’m working out {a two-fer from the list of ways to stay sane!}
Check out my list of suggested reading!
Buy Stuff on TpT!
Do you ever wonder how you lesson planned without Teachers Pay Teachers? When I started 13 years ago, I did not have all of this knowledge at my fingertips! It’s amazing what is out there! Do yourself a favor – don’t reinvent the wheel! Just head on over and type in whatever you’re looking for – you are guaranteed to discover an amazing resource to make your life easier {and maybe even a few you didn’t even realize you needed}!
Meal Plan!
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it ten times – I am not a fan of cooking! So, to take the sting out of it a bit, I try to plan ahead as much as I can! At the beginning of each week, I whip out my Meal Planner to write down what we’ll eat for the week.
Sign up below to grab the Meal Planner freebie!
Need a few suggestions for dinner? Check out 5 Quick & Easy Dinners! Looking to mix up your {boring} lunch routine? Check out these Easy & Delicious Teacher Lunches!
How do you stay sane? I’d love to hear it!
Slainte!
