The Joy of Doing Nothing: Rest Tips for Teachers Who Struggle to Switch Off

The school summer break has arrived. The alarm is off, the classroom door is closed and, technically, you are free to relax. Yet for many teachers, the mind does not stop simply because the term has ended. After months of early mornings, constant decisions and evenings spent planning, marking or mentally replaying the day, it is understandable that switching off can take time.

Teachers are used to being needed. During term time, there is always another question to answer, problem to solve or task to complete, so the sudden quiet of the summer holidays can feel unfamiliar rather than restful. You may even feel guilty for sitting still when there are jobs you could be doing. However, rest is not wasted time, or something you have to earn by reaching the end of an impossible to-do list. It is a necessary part of recovering from a demanding school year and preparing yourself for the one ahead.

Rest Does Not Have to Be Productive

Let’s be honest: teachers are very good at turning rest into another task. A quiet morning can quickly become an opportunity to sort resources, while a rainy afternoon can turn into several hours spent redesigning classroom displays or browsing ideas for the new term. Even activities that begin as relaxation can become goals to achieve, such as finishing a certain number of books, completing a home project or planning a perfectly organised first term. Before you know it, the summer break has become a slightly more comfortable version of work.

Real rest does not need to produce anything. Sitting in the garden, watching a favourite programme, meeting a friend or drinking a cup of tea without doing anything else can all be valuable forms of rest. The important thing is to allow yourself time that is not measured by output. Rest still counts when there is nothing visible to show for it.

Try a “Not Today” List

School-related thoughts often appear when you are finally trying to relax. You might suddenly remember that you need new reading records, rewards for the new term or labels for a classroom display. When that happens, it can feel easier to deal with the task immediately than risk forgetting it.

Instead of acting on every thought, try creating a “not today” list. This gives you somewhere to record the task without allowing it to take over your day.

Writing the thought down reassures your brain that it has not been forgotten. It also creates a useful pause between remembering a task and deciding whether it genuinely needs your attention. Some jobs may need to be completed later in the summer, while others may feel far less urgent when you look at them again.

Create a Small No-School Zone

Completely avoiding every thought or conversation about school throughout the summer break is unrealistic. Teaching is an important part of your life, and ideas have a habit of appearing at unexpected moments. You might see something in a shop that would be perfect for a display or think of a useful activity while out for a walk. The aim is not to force yourself to forget about school entirely, but to create boundaries that prevent it from filling every available space.

Choose one part of your day and make it a no-school zone. This could be your morning coffee, an evening walk, a family meal or the final hour before bed. A small, realistic boundary is often easier to maintain than a complete ban.

Let Yourself Be Bored

Teachers spend most of the year surrounded by noise, questions, deadlines and constant decision-making. When the summer holidays finally bring quieter days, that lack of stimulation can feel uncomfortable.

Try not to rush away from boredom. Quiet gives your mind time to slow down and recover from the constant demands of term time. It can take a while before you begin to feel rested, especially if you have spent months running on adrenaline and determination. By allowing yourself periods with no plan and no expectation, you create space for your energy and creativity to return naturally rather than trying to force them.

You spend the school year encouraging pupils to pause, regulate their emotions and try again after difficult days. This summer, offer yourself the same patience. You are already doing a great job, and taking time to rest does not make you less committed. Rest is not a reward for finishing everything; it is part of being ready to begin again.