8 Tips For Teachers to Avoid the After-the-Holiday-Break Return-to-Work Blues

Teachers, did you count down the days to Thanksgiving Break? Was your next thought: “And then, there are only 15 more school days until Winter Break!” Follow these eight teacher tips to avoid the after-the-holiday return-to-work blues, and enjoy the best winter holidays ever.

If you’re like me the idea of having roughly fifteen days off in the middle of the school year is exhilarating!  So much can be done in fifteen days, all of the things that I’ve been putting off “until break”—the house, clean out the fridge, shopping, wrap presents, plan holiday meals, clean the garage, doctor appointment, dentist appointment, planning for the second semester, catch up all grading, post grades—oh wait!… I need a list!

First of all, let me begin by saying that teachers don’t get ridiculously excited about winter break because we hate teaching. We are, for the most part, dedicated professionals who love being in the classroom with our students. But on the practical side, we need breaks! We need breaks from our sixty to seventy hour weeks that buzz by at warp speed in a whirl of teaching, coaching, planning, grading, bus duty, faculty meetings, department meetings, parent conferences, getting our own children to practice and home for dinner, homework, and bed.

For years, I found myself moving from the work whirlwind to the holiday-break whirlwind that consisted of an unrealistic list of things-to-do that never seemed to get done. Cue music for the blues. Each year I was setting myself up for the return-to-work blues and not even realizing it. Several years ago, I took the time to assess the situation, and came up with some steps that I could take to avoid those teacher blues, and set myself up for a successful return to work! The following are my teacher tips to avoid the After-the-Holiday-Break Return-to-Work Blues. I hope they will be helpful for you also.

8 Teacher Tips to Avoid the After-the-Holiday-Break Return-to-Work Blues

1. Don’t Make Lists!  Yep, I said it. As a dedicated list maker myself, this step was difficult for me, but I can’t tell you how much of a difference it has made for me the past several years. As you can tell from the paragraph above, my lists tend to be overly enthusiastic. Before you stress over being listless, let’s look at ways that can make this possible.

2. Be Prepared for Your Return Before You Leave. Beginning on December 1^st, start planning for your departure for winter break. Have at least a week of lessons planned completely! This means all copies made, materials gathered and organized, you get it—ready so that you just need to walk in and start the lesson.

3. Have 1^st semester grading complete and grades posted before you leave for break. I have worked at several different schools, and some have grades due on return from break, but the school I’m at now requires all semester grades due before you leave for break. At first, I was panicked! I had always used my break to catch up on grading. But, it was the best thing that ever happened to me! I now use the exam week to get all grading completed and the first week back lessons ready to go. And, then the most unusual thing happens! I leave school with just my purse! I felt naked in the absence of mounds of school work to do over the break—not sure of what to do with myself, but it was the most liberating feeling once I got used to it.

4. Don’t Go to School During the Break! Don’t do it! Remember, you don’t need to!

5. Don’t Count Down the Days Live in the present! Enjoy each day! No lists, no school work, just enjoy your holidays. The relaxing and de-stressing is so worth it, and you will return to work refreshed and ready to go—no return to work blues. As a matter of fact, you will probably be ready to get back.

6. Enjoy Family and Friends! But, be sure to carve out some alone time. Use this time to read, take a long bath, listen to soothing music—anything quiet without thinking about school!

7. Celebrate the New Year! Take the time to set non-school related personal goals. Try doing this with your spouse or family. Let them know that you care about your family growth more than your career growth.

8. 1^st Day Back Lesson: Now that you don’t have the return-to-school blues, remember that many students will, so go lightly on the first day back lesson. My high school students are usually quiet and tired from all of the staying up late nights. I spend some time telling them how great it is to see them again, quickly review where we’ve been in our studies last semester, where we left off, and what lies ahead. Then I have ready some type of small group project that will get them communicating again, and thinking.

Let me know how these work for you!

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Beth