Resist the Rush.
July doesn’t have to be the month of “Sunday Scaries.” But for a lot of teachers, that’s exactly what it becomes.
The month hits and suddenly, almost without realizing it, the countdown begins. You start making lists. You start thinking about PD, your students, your classroom. And the anxiety starts creeping back in, slowly at first. Subtle. But it’s there, quietly pulling you back into that fight, flight, or freeze response.
You don’t have to fall back into old patterns. This is where you interrupt that. This is where you resist.
Give yourself a deadline. Pick a date, July 20th, July 30th, whatever feels right for you, and decide that is when school gets your attention. Everything before that date is protected. That time belongs to you. You rest. You do things that bring you joy. You be a human, not just a teacher.
Because here’s the truth: the way you spend this time matters. Resting now is preparation. It’s proactive. You being rested is you at your best on the first day of school. And in the third week. And in the sixth week when the newness has worn off and you still have to show up.
The lists will be there. The laminating will need to be done eventually. The classroom will be there when you get back. It is not going anywhere.
So for now, resist the rush. Rest.