With paperwork to complete, grades to put in, classrooms to pack up, and goodbye hugs and well-wishes to give, the end of the year is often extremely labor-intensive and mentally taxing on teachers. We hear you, and want you to know that you are not alone!
While it feels like the end is near yet so far, this is the most important time to take proper care of yourself to ensure a smooth transition out of the school year and into the summer for both yourself and your students.
Pause and Reflect
Take a moment to reflect and process on the year that has passed and ask yourself:
Taking the time to reflect and check-in with ourselves is incredibly important when such big changes are happening. Journaling, walking and talking with a friend, or reaching out and connecting with a therapist at this time of year can be beneficial to help with processing this transition. It gives your body a natural way of closure to allow for something new to begin.
Embracing Therapy as a Reset
Teachers give their time, energy, patience, and guidance to students all year long. This is the time for you to focus on your needs, and a great way to do that is by connecting with a therapist who can provide the support, validation, and space that may have been neglected during the school year.
Over summer break, consider booking a few sessions:
It is a common misconception that you need to be going through a life crisis or have a mental health diagnosis to need therapy, but that could not be farther from the truth. Therapy allows you to connect with someone who can help help you process and transition out of the school year. There is no A+ for doing it all alone, and seeking out help can allow you to destress and enjoy your summer while bettering yourself for the next school year.
Related Resource: Therapy For Teachers
Celebrate the Little Things
Even if the year wasn’t perfect (spoiler: it never is), you showed up every single day. You planned. You adapted. You cared deeply for the academic success and overall well-being of your students. You made a difference each day that you showed up for them, and it should be celebrated!
Give yourself a pat on the back for even the things that seemed small:
At the bottom line, your students needed you and you showed up for them time and time again in ways that will never show up on a performance review. Now, it is time for you to be there for yourself and celebrate
Let Your Nervous System Catch Up
According to RAND Corporation, 73% of teachers experience job-related stress compared to 35% of working adults. This stress keeps your nervous system in “go” mode, and you have likely been running on caffeine, adrenaline, and sheer willpower for the past 10 months. Just because summer arrives, it does not cause an automatic shut off of your nervous system, it needs time to slowly settle down.
Signs your nervous system is still in survival mode:
Here’s what you can do to support this softer landing:
Therapy can be a supportive and powerful place to regulate your nervous system, reconnect with who you are without the “teacher” label, and explore what healing and self-care can look like.
Reconnect With Your “Why”
Once your body has the opportunity to reconnect with itself and become more regulated, you will find yourself becoming more motivated and curious. This is the perfect time to explore your “why”, because sometimes our greatest joys and passions re-emerge when we give them space.
Ways to explore your “why”
Sometimes, during this reconnection we notice that our “why” is changing- and that is okay too. People are meant to change our minds and build upon what we know because that is what makes us human. With that being said, this is an important step to take during the summer so you are entering a new school year with direction, spirit, and clear goals.
Allow Yourself a Summer That Heals, Not Just a Break
So many teachers enter summer with the mindset of needing a few weeks off to “bounce back”, but that is far from the truth. We are humans, not machines, and we should focus on moving forward not bouncing back.
Let me say it again. You are a whole human. Not a machine. Not a robot. You should treat the summer as a means of building yourself up and moving forward with intention, care, and support.
Here’s your hall pass for break:
You have spent the entire year concerned about the wellness of children when they needed you most. Now, it is your turn to focus on you and giving yourself a chance to breathe when you need it most.
Therapists in Tampa Are Here For You
At Gulf Grove Therapy, we provide counseling for anxiety, depression, life transitions, perfectionism, and more. But we also work with people who are simply ready to understand themselves more fully and begin the path to self care and exploration.
Whether you feel like you are in desperate need of help or are simply curious, therapy can support you.
Final Thoughts: Honoring Your Work and Your Worth
You have one of the world’s most important jobs. You help prepare young minds to be successful in all they do by providing support, guidance, and patience as they grow. Now, it’s time for you to allow the same for yourself. This summer, let yourself receive all of the healing opportunities you have available.
Being well is beneficial to your teaching, but it is so much more than that. You are more than an educator. You are a person deserving of joy, wellness, and peace.
Reach out today to schedule a free consultation.
Gulf Grove Therapy
Inclusive counseling in Tampa, Florida
Supporting your mental health, one step at a time.
In Crisis? Get Help Now
If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Additional support resources:
You are not alone—help is available 24/7.
