4 Week Summer Plan For Burned Out Teachers

4 Week Plan For Burned Out Teachers' to spend this summer!

Taking a full month in summer to reset after 27 years of teaching—especially while burned out—is not just a luxury, it’s essential. The goal here shouldn’t be productivity or even professional development (unless that re-energizes you). It’s about recovery, reconnection with yourself, and realignment with what matters most.

WEEK 1: DETOX & DECOMPRESS (Let Yourself Stop)

Goal: Give your nervous system and mind a break. Stop doing, stop fixing, stop thinking about school.

Ideas:

• Digital detox (especially from anything school-related): no email, no teaching blogs, no lesson planning.

• Slow mornings: coffee/tea outside, journal without purpose, do nothing.

• Walk every day, ideally somewhere green—parks, trails, woods. Move your body gently.

• Sleep in. Nap. No alarms unless necessary.

• Avoid people who drain you. This week is yours.

• Eat nourishing food, drink lots of water.

If you’re struggling with stillness, listen to something gentle like ambient music, nature sounds, or podcasts about creativity or well-being.

WEEK 2: REIGNITE YOURSELF (Find Sparks Again)

Goal: Reconnect with what makes you feel alive, not what makes you useful.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What did I love doing before I became a teacher?

• What would I do if I had zero obligations for one month?

• What am I curious about right now?

Ideas:

• Pick one new thing you’ve never tried: pottery, paddle boarding, solo hiking, gardening, archery, salsa dancing.

• Read fiction or poetry—something unrelated to education.

• Take a solo day trip: nature reserve, museum, small town you’ve never visited.

• Create something: sketch, cook something fancy, build, write stories, take photos.

• Journal freely: not about school—about dreams, memories, your ideal day, or random thoughts.

You don’t need to be good at any of it. You’re not performing—you’re playing.

WEEK 3: REBUILD ON YOUR OWN TERMS

Goal: Reflect gently. Begin thinking about what kind of life (and teaching practice, if any) you want to return to.

Ideas:

• Write a “No More” list: what are you no longer willing to tolerate in your teaching or life?

• Write a “Yes Please” list: what must be present in your life or classroom from now on?

• Journal on:

  • What did I love about teaching when I began?

  • Can I see a way back to loving it—or do I need to pivot?

• Think about boundaries. What went wrong in the last few years? What can you say no to next year?

• If you want: Begin exploring other career paths gently, without pressure.

WEEK 4: CHOOSE WHAT’S NEXT (Don’t Rush It)

Goal: Start shifting from rest to readiness—but only if you feel a spark. If you don’t, that’s data.

If feeling recharged:

• Lightly start dreaming about next year—only the parts you’re excited about.

• Maybe brainstorm one new unit, decorate one notebook, shop for supplies—but only if fun.

• Reconnect with ONE trusted colleague. Share honestly.

Final Words:

You’ve given 27 years to a profoundly demanding profession. It’s okay to feel burnt out. You don’t owe the system your soul. Use this month to remind yourself: You are a human being, not just a teacher~