Teachers, we SEE you. We see the exhaustion as you upload your last online lesson. We see the tears fall as you logoff your last call with students. We see the overwhelm as you look at your once organized “home classroom”. Guess what? We see and feel ALL of that too. This year rocked schools to the core and instead of feeling the familiar tingles of excitement and the urges to already plan ideas for next year, teachers are left with an empty, bucket dipped feeling. 

Are you feeling this so far? If so, here is the ticket to get back to that “I can’t wait to plan, decorate, organize, I feel like a first year teacher, buy all the flair pens” feeling.  

Ready for this? SELF CARE. 

Below are some self care activities to help cure that distance learning exhaustion. Try one, try them all. The only goal is that this helps in some way! 

Make a summer bucket list. 

Bucket lists give us something to look forward to! Bucket lists do NOT need to be filled with big ticket items. Plant a garden, take that extra long hike, camp in the woods, try a Pinterest recipe, see a waterfall, camp under the stars…the possibilities are endless! 

Have kids? Involve them in the creation of the summer bucket list. 

Journal!

Writing down your thoughts is an excellent way to decompress. It can be a blank journal to jot down thoughts and ideas OR invest in a prompted, self care journal, like THIS one created specifically for us drained teachers.

A Moment for Teachers: Self Care For Busy Teachers

Find your tribe! 

This has been a challenging time for everyone! Teachers were forced to reinvent their career overnight and they were social distancing while doing it. That gets lonely! Lucky for us, we have a Facebook tribe—Lucky 2nd Grade Teachers— full of AMAZING teachers across the globe, who are feeling it all too. Join us in our group and connect, collaborate, and decompress! 

Read the books!

If you are a reader, this is YOUR summer! Many a student has been told that reading is a free vacation, now is your time to practice what you preach. Here are the top picks from our Lucky 2nd Grade Teachers Facebook group:

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Educated by Tara Westover

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

A longer list of our tried and true summer reading favorites in this post. There are SO many more books we could recommend but a sure bet is to check in with your local library, download a reading app, shop online or simply dig through your book collection at home. Crack that book open and let the relaxation begin. 

Get into Nature! 

This might not be for everyone! However, study after study has proven nature’s calming effect on our mental health! Whether it is a hike, camping trip, a backyard bonfire, or simply sitting outside it is sure to boost your mood quickly. PLUS, taking that nature walk counts as exercise and we know that can be an immediate mood boost.

There are many other ways to ditch the distance learning blues! Find what works for you! Find YOUR calm! Have an idea to share? Head over to our Facebook group and share the love! Creating a summer bucket list? Be sure to share that with us too! You might just inspire others! 

Always remember, together we are better!