Whether you’re on a year-round or traditional schedule, by the time winter break rolls around, you’re ready. Not only are the days shorter and colder, but you’ve given your all to your art students, parents, and admin for months and now it’s finally your turn to relax, refresh, and rejuvenate.
6 Winter Break Relaxation & Refresh Tips for Teachers
Winter break offers some amazing opportunities to renew your spirit – and your artistic creativity.
1. Finding the Beauty Around You
There’s nothing like nature to center your soul, and a little bit of exercise never hurt, either. Make a point of getting outdoors this break and consciously finding 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, there is natural beauty all around you. Quietly observing and appreciating what you see is a wonderful way to ground your busy art teacher self. Consider bringing a camera along to capture inspiration for future projects – for yourself or your students.
2. Attending 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, even checking out a holiday craft fair are all great ways to inspire the artist within.
3. Spending Time with Family
You leave early and often come home too tired to truly appreciate family time, but 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 truly important.
4. Spending Time on Your Personal Art Projects
You’ve given your creativity to your students every day. Now it’s time to give it back to yourself. Set aside some time each day to work on a personal art 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. Reflecting on the Last 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 their talent or 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 likely be surprised and delighted with what you see and energized to get back to it.
6. Getting Organized
Once you’ve spent some time centering and refreshing yourself, you might consider spending some time getting organized. Purging is proven to calm your soul (think about pregnancy “nesting”) and sorting through your work bag, desk drawers, and art supply closet will have the same affect. 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 the Teacher Life category and find ideas to soothe your busy mind over the short break between semesters.
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