Hello Summer.

Five ways music teachers can relax and refresh this summer break.

First things first - We did it! We made it through literally the weirdest school year since fidget spinners came out. We all deserve a pat on the back! And a cookie...a big one.

Now comes the most important part of a teacher's year - Summer Break. This is the most important time of the year because it is your time to recover from burnout. You can get your mindset back where it needs to be to give the kids your best in the fall.

What can you do to ensure your mind gets the reset it needs over the next few weeks? Here are five things I plan to do to forget how annoying teaching can be:

1. Get Bored.

This is the most important task on my to-do list. Take time to be bored this summer. Letting yourself get bored gets your brain motivated to explore creative opportunities. Don't believe me? Science backs me up!

My usual pattern for the first days of summer is this: wake up, clean house until I don't want to anymore, watch old reruns of TV, get some sun, nap anytime I want, revisit favorite books, and then go to bed. Repeat. A brilliantly creative idea will strike sometime between 3 and 10 days of boredom. I always hope it holds off until I get the whole house organized.

After that, I let the new ideas give me energy! If the creative spirit leaves me, I go back to my boredom routine. It works for me every time!

Make family and friends a priority. Develop bonds. Make memories. Create the connections that sustain you throughout the school year.

2. Latch on to Loved Ones

The great thing about summer break is that I get to be in my family's face 24/7. I am a mega-extrovert living with some serious introverts. It is my joy in life to subject them to my wackiness all. day. long. Friends, too! My vaccine is in effect, and I am ready to make their lives LOUD. Make family and friends a priority. Develop bonds. Make memories. Create the connections that sustain you throughout the school year.

Seriously. Develop bonds. Make memories. Create the connections that sustain you throughout the school year.

3. Be Musical

Obvious, right? Make music alone or with your family. Make music in a group of friends or a group of strangers. Make live music or duet with someone on TikTok. Howl along with your dog. Anything!

Make the kind of music that fills your soul! It does not have to be formal to be fun, and it does not have to be simple to give your brain a break. Choose what works for you and make some noise.

Don't just make music - listen to music others have made! Find a new genre to explore. Take a deep dive into pop songs with podcasts like Song Exploder or Strong Songs. Get in touch with classical composers on the Sticky Notes podcast.

Figure out if your brain needs the comfort of old musical favorites or the challenge of something new and push play!

4. Set Goals and Priorities.

It's time to practice some self-care. Self-care is not just about eating healthy and exercising! Yes, summer is an awesome time to build an exercise routine, start eating healthier, and catch up on all the doctor visits you've been putting off so that you did not have to write sub plans. But be sure to invest in your mental health as well as your physical health.

Think about the upcoming school year. What are your goals for your emotional health? What do you need to make those happen? Start developing the healthy habits you need to stay grounded and clear-headed when the teacher life takes its toll. I'll be working on clearly defining how much time I will spend on work, what is worth spending time on, and practicing saying, "no," when asked to do something that is going to endanger my emotional well-being.

There are things we cannot control, but there are plenty of things we can. Identify those things and set yourself up for success!

5. Plan Ahead.

Yes, I waited until the last minute to put in planning. Planning over the summer is a necessity for me. There is too much going on in the school year for me to show up completely empty-handed.

I try to choose “harder” tasks early, and dedicate my time to them. Usually those are programs, scope and sequence, collaborations with other teachers, and after-school groups. I like to take it easy and work a little bit over a long time.

Get Busy Relaxing

However you decide to spend your summer weeks, be sure it gives you what you need! Give your brain and spirit a chance to get stronger before we head back for our first day. And if you need a little more than what I listed here to help you relax, remember that there is always that old fidget spinner!