How school staff can make the most of summer holidays

Aside from the sleep, eat, repeat cycle that many teachers find themselves in during the summer holidays, people who work in a school can find it difficult to make the most out of their summer holidays and take some time to unwind. At Engage, we’re here to help you make the most out of this long break, as we understand how important it is to feel refreshed physically and mentally when you return for the next academic year.

Go on holiday

The UK has dozens of bucket-list destinations. Whether you’re a continental city-hopping tourist, or want to chuck on your wellies and go exploring, there are no shortage of options for you (and your family) to take this summer holiday.

Spend quality time with friends and family

You’ll often be too tired during term-time to catch up with your friends in the evenings or even at weekends, and time with your family can be reduced to an hour or less every night before you fall asleep on the sofa. Spending time with those close to you can help you feel like you made the most out of your summer holidays more than if you spend time browsing the internet or absent-mindedly watching TV, and will also have a better impact on your mental health!

Remember your passions

Whatever your role is in a school, the hustle and bustle of school life can make you feel like you have lost some of the other parts of yourself that aren’t related to working in an educational institution. Use this break to revisit your passions outside of teaching, or try something new altogether. Don’t feel guilty for putting effort into endeavours that aren’t teaching related, having other interests and taking part in other activities will go a long way towards preventing teacher burnout.

So if you want to reignite your love of playing football, or fancy picking up a new cooking book and trying your hand at a new dish, use your summer break to dedicate some time to your other passions.

Prioritise your wellbeing

For many teachers, switching off completely during the summer holidays can feel easier said than done. After a busy academic year, it can be tempting to spend the break checking emails, planning lessons or thinking ahead to September. While a small amount of preparation may help you feel organised, it’s important to give yourself permission to step away from work too! Consider setting boundaries, turning off email notifications or setting aside a specific day towards the end of the break to start thinking about the new term.

Taking a genuine break from work can help reduce stress, prevent burnout and allow you to return to school feeling refreshed and motivated.

Speak to Education Support

If you find you’re struggling during the holidays, our partners at the Education Support Partnership are on hand throughout the holidays to assist. From short-term financial aid to counselling, advice, or just a friendly chat, the ESP employee assistance programme was created to help teachers when they need it. (Just call them at 08000 856 148.)

If you’re a teacher with Engage, you can benefit from the full Employee Assistance Programme, which includes up to six sessions of face-to-face telephone counselling, access to online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), financial and legal information, and more.

You can find out more on the Education Support Partnership’s website. If you’d like more information on how we support our teachers throughout their career, check out the Employee Assistance Programme and all our other benefits.