Many people who are not in the education sector believe that teachers enjoy a full six week’s holiday along with their pupils. In reality, a bulk of the six week holidays is taken up with lesson plans, paperwork and organisation.
As a teacher, you no doubt put your students and your career above all else, but there are jobs to do for teachers in the holidays that make sure you take care of yourself. The list is long and can range from sorting out your money matters to starting back at the gym!
Here are 5 teacher jobs to do in the holidays that should not be overlooked. They will help give you peace of mind throughout the year and may even reap big rewards.
Find Inspiration
As a teacher you understand that the way children engage is constantly evolving. Even though you’re enjoying time off you can still find inspiration that will help relieve any boredom for you during the next year of teaching. See how people interact as you relax, visiting attractions, on holiday or even browsing through social media, and discover easier ways to keep your students, and yourself, engaged.
Book Me Time
When term starts, the stress of lessons, meetings and inspections can take its toll, and your mental and physical health often takes a back seat. Make sure you book lots of me time, from massages to silent hours in the garden reading a book. You need to indulge yourself before you can indulge your pupils.
Fulfil a Wish
As term begins earlier and earlier its difficult to see any New Year’s resolutions to fruition at the start of the year. With a few weeks of free time you can now overhaul your life. Whether you wanted to start eating healthier, to give up smoking or to begin a new exercise regime, now is the time to do it.
Explore More
A trip to a new town can broaden the mind, while a trip abroad can broaden your horizons. See how others live, learn and work while enjoying some much needed rest. Visit those places you didn’t have time to explore while on a school trip or tick some items off your bucket list.
Organise Less
Your home is your castle, it’s your retreat from the world after a busy, manic day. Take some time to ensure it’s your lap of luxury and somewhere you look forward to returning to. You may also want to organise your own paperwork, such as your self assessment tax return, as you could be entitled to a teacher’s tax rebate worth hundreds.
Above all, the time off you do have is yours to enjoy. It’s time to look after yourself and to reward yourself for all of your hard work. This will ensure you start the new term, refreshed and ready for action.
