What's on Your Teacher Summer Bucket List?

It’s July! That means that we can confidently say that most of us are well into summer break (unless you’re teaching summer school or ESY, in which case, we send our best wishes). Summer can be an incredible time to recharge, but it can also feel simultaneously overwhelming and underwhelming. Personally, I always go into the extended break with grand plans to get tons of projects done around the house, catch up with loved ones, read dozens of books, go on adventures…ALL of the things. And then late August rolls around, and I realize I’ve accomplished 2 out of the 500 things and feel stressed and disappointed. Maybe that’s just a “me” problem? But something tells me that my fellow teachers will understand the feeling.

I don’t have the perfect answer to the problem of summer overwhelm (or underwhelm), but I do have a trick to try out…a summer bucket list! Something short, sweet, and totally attainable, so that you can get what you need out of summer without creating even more chaos. Read on for 3 categories to include in your summer bucket list!

A Practical Priority

Let’s get the (potentially) boring stuff out of the way first. I’m sure we all have a laundry list of tedious “adulting” tasks that we’ve pushed off into the summer months. For your summer bucket list, choose one (and ONLY one) of those tasks and make it your absolute must-do. If you end up feeling inspired and getting more done over break, that’s great! But don’t set yourself up for a struggle with a mile-long to-do list. Choose one, commit to it, and celebrate when you get it done!

If you’re an overachiever and have already tackled every practical priority you can think of, here’s a list of ideas! And also…teach me your ways.

Clean out your closet
Organize your files (physical or digital)
Detail your car
Price compare insurance options
Schedule annual medical appointments

Whichever task you choose, pat yourself on the back for making time to get the unexciting but necessary stuff done.

A Familiar Favorite

Okay, let’s get to the good stuff. Time to add a familiar fave to your summer bucket list! For this category, choose something tried-and-true that you know recharges your soul. For me, that’s reading a good book, baking a batch of much-loved chocolate chip cookies, or rewatching Gilmore Girls. But again, let’s narrow our focus to one must-do favorite. Remember, the point of this summer bucket list is to avoid overwhelm, and even our favorite things can feel like chores if we put too many expectations on ourselves.

Feeling stuck? Here are some possibilities!

Visit your favorite restaurant
Buy yourself a bouquet
Play a board game you love
Spend time with an old friend
Take yourself on a relaxing drive

Sometimes, going back to basics and doing what we know works for us is the best reset.

An Adventurous Addition

Now that we’ve gotten practicalities out of the way and enjoyed a reliable recharge, it’s time to explore something new! In this third and final category, choose something you’ve never done before and make it happen over the summer. This could mean trying a new hobby, visiting somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, or even just listening to an unfamiliar artist on Spotify. The point isn’t to totally reinvent the wheel here—we’re just looking to add a splash of novelty.

If you need some ideas, here’s what I came up with during my personal brainstorm!

Go to newly-opened restaurant
Visit the library in the next town over
Read a book from a genre I don’t usually go for
Try a new craft
Check out a local museum

This is the place on your list to get creative, so enjoy the brainstorm sesh and find something that excites you!

Whatever your summer bucket list looks like, we hope you find moments to play, rest, and reconnect with what matters most to you. You give so much during the school year—this season is for you.

Have something on your summer bucket list you’re excited about? We’d love to hear about it! Send us a message at hello@survivinginsecondary.com.