Ahh, the school holidays. After a term of non-stop lesson planning, yard duties, emotional bandwidth stretching, and more briefings than a NASA team, the break has arrived and it’s yours to claim.
So, let’s get one thing straight before we dive in. You don’t need to be ‘productive’ during the holidays. You don’t need to winter clean your entire house. You don’t need to reorganise the garage or master a sourdough recipe. I mean, if you actually do want to do those things, great! I’ve got a great recipe for broccoli bread I can share with you (yes, you read that right). But, if you want to sit and binge watch your favourite ’90’s sitcom and alternate with episodes of Bluey for emotional support, then that’s cool, too.
These short but well-earned weeks are sacred. Here’s how you can savour them, replenish your wellbeing, and maybe even have some fun.
Drop the Guilt
Of course, part of your brain is reading this thinking ‘absolutely not, if I don’t prepare now, I will be behind’. Here’s the deal: you’ve poured your time and energy into so many students who needed your presence, patience, organisation, and your heart. It makes sense that you’re tired. The break is here to restore you, not to make you spend every spare minute preparing for next term.
Give yourself permission to sleep in, or stay up late, say no, or lean into slow mornings. ‘Teacher tired’ is real but shouldn’t become a permanent part of your personality.
Reconnect
It’s very common to put everything on pause during the term: friendships, family time, even the hobbies that used to light you up before the marking pile buried them alive.
Take a breath. Look around. Think about something or someone that you’ve missed.
Maybe it’s a long brunch with someone you know outside of school. Maybe it’s the mid-morning coffee walks with your dog. Maybe you’ve got a half-written novel that’s lost somewhere in the archives of your Notes app.
The goal isn’t to make yourself busy. It is to become more present. These are the moments that will lift you up.
Get Outside
I know, it’s the middle of winter. I have a puffer jacket on inside while at my desk while I write this. But, we know how it goes. Week one equals freedom! Week two? You may not have left the couch and you’ve forgotten what day it is.
Just to be clear, there’s no shame here! In fact, if you were paying attention, I actually recommended that you do binge watch TV (it’s good for something. Maybe not your physical health, but something). If I know one thing for sure, it’s that small doses of nature can work wonders for your mental health. A walk through a nearby park, a solo hike day, a road trip with a playlist that reminds you of summer holidays when you were a kid. There’s something restorative about taking in some fresh air without a bell ringing in the distance.
Set One Tiny, Meaningful Intention
This isn’t about overhauling your life. Instead, choose one gentle goal for the holidays that is just about you. And no, it’s not selfish. So don’t worry about that.
You could try something like:
- Making that broccoli bread I mentioned earlier
- Go screen-free for an afternoon and read a book (Kindle’s are allowed but real books are preferred)
- Visit a local market or museum that you haven’t made time for
- Spend a full day doing nothing on purpose, and enjoying it
Intentions do and should look different to everyone. Find something you really want to do, and just do it.
Practise Saying ‘That Can Wait’
Trust me, the emails in your inbox aren’t going anywhere. Yes, you could be laminating things right now, but unless laminating genuinely brings you joy, consider giving yourself (and your laminator) some space.
Boundaries seem like a radical act of self-care, but they shouldn’t be. You can love your students and still love your time off. You can be passionate about education and still not want to touch a single worksheet until the Sunday before you go back to school.
Create Experiences, Not Just To-Do Lists
The most restorative holidays are often the ones where we feel something again.
So, instead of running errands non-stop, think about the experiences you want to create for yourself. These are the things that will fill you up, and not just because it will look great on your Instagram, but because they make you happy.
If you’re Feeling Flat, That’s Normal Too
Not all holidays are blissful, and that’s okay. Maybe this term was brutal. Maybe you’re carrying more than anyone else knows. Maybe you thought the break would be magic but you’re a bit lonely or restless. Remember, that doesn’t make you ungrateful or lazy. It makes you human.
If things feel heavy, don’t forget that you can reach out to a friend, a colleague, or a professional. There’s no shame in needing support. Teachers are some of the strongest people out there, but strength also means knowing when to rest and when to ask for help.
Day in and day out you show up for your students with grace, creativity, and courage. This break is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
So, our dear teachers, take this time and make it yours, because when Term 3 rolls around, your students won’t remember how many resources you prepared, but they will definitely feel the difference in the classroom when their teacher comes back rested and whole. Plus, you deserve nothing less.