Written by Amber Nickels, LISW-S, CTP-C
ESC Mental Health Specialist
Ahh, summertime! Just reading or hearing the word evokes the warm sensations of sun, fun, and relaxation. For educators, it is a much-needed and anticipated respite from the confines of the daily bell—not to mention the responsibility of meeting students' and stakeholders’ needs. Simultaneously, the end of the school year can often be bittersweet. It signals a time of reflection on accomplishments big and small as well as the time to say goodbye to those students who have been an integral part of our lives for the last year. Along with the process of letting go of those relationships, there are often feelings of apprehension regarding the new school year kicking off in August. We tend to wonder what new adventures, rewards, and challenges await us and what we can do to prepare for them.
However, just as when we are flying on an airplane, it is important to put on our own oxygen masks before assisting other passengers. The summer recess provides educators with time to figuratively don our masks and literally breathe easy before we return to a new batch of students waiting for us in August. As we prepare our beach bags and lather on our sunscreen, it is worth thinking about some of the other benefits Summer provides:
Sleep: Most educators get fewer than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Studies have shown that many can only get six-and-a-half to eight hours, which can result in chronic sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep makes us vulnerable to a whole host of physical and emotional ailments. Summer is a good time to rethink habits, brush up on our sleep hygiene and embrace those missing Zzzzs.
Play: The benefits of recess do not just extend to our students! Each of us is rewarded when we play. Though this looks different depending on our interests, play means having fun; it leads to a release of our endorphins, allowing us to be in the moment. Play does not have to involve physical exertion: sometimes it takes the form of daydreaming and letting our minds wander, which increases our creativity and problem-solving skills. That’s right: playing in the summer leads to better educating in the fall.
Connect: We know that our students do their best when they can connect on a meaningful emotional level with others. Educators are no different in this respect. Summer is the ideal time to reach out to the family and friends we do not get enough time with during the school year. Take advantage of longer days with shorter to-do lists—linger at lunch with a friend or on a walk with a neighbor. Enjoy standing in the presence of those relationships you treasure most.
Learn: Getting away for a valuable and necessary learning opportunity can be very difficult during the school year. That is why many professional development opportunities are offered in the summer, so you can focus on learning and improving your craft. Try thinking outside the professional development box—you may want to learn a new skill, language or information about a subject that fascinates you. Not only does learning help increase our self-confidence and self-efficacy, but it also gives us stories to share with our students in the fall.
Schedule: In the summer, schedules can be disrupted or shifted due to travel plans and our high expectations of what we should accomplish in our time away from school. However, schedules also help us to balance our expectations with the reality of what time is available to us in the summer. Practicing discernment when we say yes to something (i.e., I really want to do this, as opposed to I should do it or I am expected to do it) and keeping a regular-but-flexible daily schedule allows us to more readily to adapt to demands of our school schedule come August.
Go Outside: And—if possible—without your devices. Take a walk. Feel the warm breeze. Listen to the chirping of the birds and the chattering of the squirrels as they race up and down the trees. Numerous research studies have shown that being out in nature provides benefits to our mental health and well-being. After months of being cooped up inside, stepping out into nature is a balm for our frazzled and overtaxed nervous systems. Nature eases the pressure on our stress-response system and helps with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
As you complete your end-of-the-year checklist, remember to celebrate all of your amazing accomplishments from this last school year. Not only did you help prepare another class of students for the world, but you also initiated them into the world of learning and provided them with an environment of belonging and connection. Now, it is time for a well-deserved break to relax, refresh, and re-energize. Put that oxygen mask on and just breathe. August will be here soon enough.
Amber Nickels (she/her) has been a Mental Health Specialist with the ESC in the school setting for three decades. In that role, she has provided counseling and support services for students in kindergarten through grade 12 and their families. Most recently, her role includes providing support for educators in the area of mental health and wellness. In addition, her areas of specialty include mental health concerns and supports in the school settings, special education services and mental health, wellness and self-care, social-emotional development of the gifted and twice exceptional student, crisis prevention and response, and trauma-informed care in the school setting.