Recharge Your Batteries this Holiday Season

Ready or not, the holidays are upon us. December calendars fill up quickly with events and to-do lists. It’s a fun time, but it is unquestionably exhausting. And you’re still working through all of it. It is time to recharge your batteries this holiday season.

No doubt, teachers tend to be workaholics. You probably find it difficult to stop working at a decent hour.  Maybe you struggle to push work-related stresses away both physically and mentally. Your work days spill into your evenings, and your work weeks blur into your weekends throughout the school year.

As you careen wildly towards winter break, don’t forget that one purpose of it is to catch your breath and recharge your batteries this holiday season, so you can walk into January feeling calm, energized, and ready to take on the new year.

woman on bus with headphones smiling at her phone. She is working to recharge your batteries this holiday season

So how can you keep the stress of the semester from creeping into your winter break? We’ve got some ideas to consider:

    1. Plan ahead. While you may not be great at putting work down, you are an absolute ninja at planning. If you can get even just day one of January planned out before you exit in December, you won’t have that task nagging at the back of your mind throughout the break. Aim for the first week if possible!

    2. Schedule your personal time. Use those same solid planning skills to assure you get to do the things you want to do. What’s important to you this season? Driving through a light show? Movie night with your partner? Cookie decorating with your nieces and nephews? Dinner and drinks with old friends? Mark it on your calendar and protect it.

    3. Multitask. You are the master of maximizing your time, so think about how you can do that over the break by combining things you have to do with things you want to do. Taking a road trip? If possible, ask someone else to drive. Use the time to read a book or take a snooze. If you’re the one driving, catch up on your favorite podcast or listen to an audiobook. Either way, the car can also be a fun time to reconnect with your loved ones by playing games. It may be a little old-fashioned, but that’s part of the charm. 
white image with black square boxes. A green pen write check mark in each box. Mark to do list items off your list this holiday season
picture of orange paper with the middle ripped open with words "let it go" underneath.

4. Find joy in the chaos. The season can certainly feel hectic, but take some time to intentionally find cherishable moments amidst the madness. December can be visually stunning and filled with opportunities to make memories. Look around you, breathe deeply, and take some mental snapshots of the beauty you might otherwise miss.

5. Let things go. It’s ok to say no. If your plate is simply too full, you can politely decline. Most people will nod with empathy when you mutter something about the holidays keeping you busy. And remember - you can also say “No” to yourself, too! If getting holiday cards ready, printed, addressed, and out the door stresses you out, let ’em go!

6. Schedule your work time. If you do need to work–or choose to do so to get ahead–block it off with a firm start and stop time on given days. But consider removing work email from your phone over the break. Lock your laptop in a closet when you’re not working. Try to keep work and personal time clearly separate.

 

And hey - don’t feel bad if you want to work. Some teachers absolutely gobble up this time to reflect on their classrooms and enjoy an increase in productivity while they aren’t bombarded with daily tasks and needs. Cozying up on the couch with your laptop by the fireplace isn’t such a bad place to work. Plus, it’s incredibly satisfying to knock some things out to keep January's to-do lists from piling up. So, if you so desire, allow yourself to organize lessons, map out a unit, round up fresh ideas for the new year, or update materials you’ll be using soon. 

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