Tip #2- Hooray for the Holidays!

Remember how excited you were as a kid when you knew it was that last day of school, just before the holidays? And you couldn't wait to hang out with your friends, relax, forget about homework and maybe even sleep in? Well, what we may not have realized at the time is that our teachers were just as excited (if not more excited) to take a vacation as well.

Perhaps, like me, you assumed your teachers slept at the school, because which teachers actually had a life outside their classroom anyway, right? But now that we have been placed on the other side of the picture,..whoah, does our perception change!

Most likely, you are on holidays right now- whether it's just for a few days over Christmas, a week through to New Years, or a few weeks for those lucky teachers out there.

My advice to you? Enjoy them. Enjoy your holidays. It is your turn to hang out with friends, relax, forget about giving homework or worrying about a student. And don't feel guilty about sleeping in. Maybe your body needs it.

I know, I know. Some of you have left-over projects to mark, new planning to complete, and you want to get a head start on your teaching to-do's for the New Year. But the reality? That list could go on for ever, if you let it.

I know some of you might have kids of your own to take care of and other personal responsibilities to tend to. And you might be thinking, "You don't understand. I have so many things to get done over the holidays."

I may not be in the same position as you, but trust me, I remember all too well that pull to use my holiday time to get caught up and run all those errands I couldn't during the school year. And often I would find new ones to do too. But, by the time the holidays were over, I felt frazzled, exhausted, unrested and couldn't believe it was already time to go back.

Holidays are for stopping, for breathing, for playing and for rejuvenating. Whether you do this on your own or with your kids or family and friends, ... take advantage of the time you've been given for it.

I wish I had more people who reminded me of the importance of this while I was teaching. more people who showed me how to do this. But I know now why I didn't- because it truly is not an easy thing to do, especially for teachers. We always have new ideas pop into our heads, and when you think about it, the work of a teacher doesn't really end. A lesson could always be improved- it could be more creative, it could include more visuals, it could be better organized.

Sometimes, I would return after the holidays feeling like I never really got one, while my students would come back to class so energetic and enthusiastic. They actually rested, played, and refreshed their minds by taking the break. And that in turn often allowed them to learn and absorb more once they returned.

Who says it can only work for students? We would be wise to follow their example.

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How can you make use of this tip?

Ask yourself if you are actually using this time off as a holiday. If there is marking, planning and assignments that you really need to get done over the break, and you are absolutely sure that there is no other time for you to complete this, then get it done. But don't spend your whole vacation doing it. Designate a specific amount of time out of your holidays to simply have fun and step away from your teaching tasks, at least temporarily. Whether it be a few hours, a few days, or a week, the break will help relax and inspire you, and this in turn will help you to inspire your students when class is back in session.

One way to make sure you do not get consumed by "teacher talk" over the holidays is to hang out with non-teacher friends. And get any of your friends (whether teachers or not) to catch you if you spend too much time discussing teaching issues, or mulling over a student's progress. Some advice is good and maybe there are some things you need to get off your chest. But make it brief. There's always time for more of that when you return to class. For now, you're on holidays! Celebrate however you choose!

" If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate, Just one day out of life, It would be, It would be so nice."- Madonna