Whether on a year-round or traditional academic schedule, you’re ready for winter break when it rolls around. Not only are the days shorter and colder, but you’ve given your all to students, parents, and administrators for months. Now it’s finally time to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate. Here are some ways to recharge over winter break.
6 Winter Break Relaxation & Refresh Tips for Teachers
Winter break offers some amazing opportunities to renew your spirit — and your artistic creativity.
1. Find the Beauty Around You
There’s nothing like nature to center your soul. Make it a point to get outdoors over break and consciously find the beauty in your local winter scape. From the symmetrical yet always unique snowflake and the rainbow refractions of an icicle to the rosy hues of a winter sunset in the desert and the way the light streams through a barren branch, natural beauty is all around you. Quietly observing and appreciating what you see is a wonderful way to ground your busy teacher self. Consider bringing a camera to capture inspiration for future projects — for yourself or your students.
2. Attend an Art Show
With kids home from school and parents on vacation, many art societies choose to schedule their annual shows in the winter. Walking your favorite gallery with no time constraints, browsing your local art society’s winter show, and even checking out a holiday craft fair are all great ways to inspire the artist within.
3. Spend Time with Family
You leave early and often come home too tired to appreciate family time. Winter break is a great time to regroup with loved ones. Sip cocoa and read stories together or side by side. Put together a puzzle. Take a nature walk. Sit around the fire and share stories from your childhood. Sketch or paint someone you love (these projects make great gifts, too). There’s nothing like together time with family to remind you of what’s most important.
4. Spend Time on Your Personal Projects
You’ve given your creativity to students every day. Now it’s time to give it back to yourself. Set aside some time each day to work on a personal project. If you’re feeling pressured, consider joining the #100DayProject movement and spend just a few minutes in your personal studio tinkering, experimenting, sketching, or jotting down ideas. If you’re feeling inspired, get in there and get going on the project you’ve wanted to start for months.
5. Reflect on the Previous Semester
Reflecting on the successes of last semester is another positive way to refresh your spirit. Think back to the very first projects you did with your students. Then, remember the very last one. Revel in the progress your students have made. Remember the students who surprised you with talent, perseverance, or enthusiasm. If you keep a semester portfolio or folder of digital images of student work, open it up and take a walk down memory lane. You’ll be surprised and delighted with what you see and energized to get back to it.
6. Get Organized
Once you’ve spent some time centering and refreshing yourself, you might consider taking some time to get organized. Purging unnecessary items can calm the soul, and sorting through your work bag, desk drawers, and supply closet will have the same effect. Starting the new year neat and tidy is a great way to extend the soothing effects of winter break into the next semester.
More Winter Break Tips for Teachers
Looking for more inspiration and motivation to take some time for yourself this winter break? Check out the other posts in our Teacher Life category and find ideas to soothe your busy mind over the short break between semesters.
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