1 00:00:00,870 --> 00:00:05,940 Heidi: This is episode 268 of Teacher Approved. 2 00:00:05,940 --> 00:00:08,970 You're listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping 3 00:00:08,970 --> 00:00:12,750 educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I'm 4 00:00:12,750 --> 00:00:13,470 Heidi. 5 00:00:13,470 --> 00:00:16,650 Emily: And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story 6 00:00:16,650 --> 00:00:18,900 Window, where we give research-based and 7 00:00:18,900 --> 00:00:21,990 teacher-approved strategies that make teaching less stressful and 8 00:00:21,990 --> 00:00:25,455 more effective. You can check out the show notes and resources 9 00:00:25,455 --> 00:00:28,335 from each episode at secondstorywindow.net. 10 00:00:28,335 --> 00:00:31,215 Heidi: We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to 11 00:00:31,215 --> 00:00:36,045 the show. 12 00:00:36,045 --> 00:00:39,435 Emily: Hey there, thanks for joining us today. In today's 13 00:00:39,435 --> 00:00:42,945 episode, we're making the case for adding a little whimsy to 14 00:00:42,945 --> 00:00:46,005 your summer, plus we've got a teacher-approved tip for putting 15 00:00:46,050 --> 00:00:48,300 together an analog basket. 16 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:50,970 Heidi: But let's start with a try it tomorrow, where we share 17 00:00:50,970 --> 00:00:54,300 a quick one that you can try right away. Emily, what is our 18 00:00:54,300 --> 00:00:56,010 suggestion for this week? 19 00:00:56,010 --> 00:01:00,690 Emily: This week, pick one tiny treat to indulge in. So maybe 20 00:01:00,690 --> 00:01:04,290 it's buying yourself a bouquet of flowers at the grocery store, 21 00:01:04,290 --> 00:01:08,250 or picking up the fancy iced coffee from the place that you 22 00:01:08,250 --> 00:01:10,785 only let yourself go to sometimes, because it's, you 23 00:01:10,785 --> 00:01:15,465 know, too expensive. Or you know, just getting a new candle, 24 00:01:15,465 --> 00:01:18,615 anything like that. It doesn't have to be big, just claim one 25 00:01:18,615 --> 00:01:21,015 small fancy thing, just for you. 26 00:01:21,195 --> 00:01:26,145 Heidi: I love this. So much of life seems to run on autopilot. 27 00:01:26,145 --> 00:01:28,995 We get through the day, there's the children to wrangle, we put 28 00:01:28,995 --> 00:01:32,595 dinner on the table, we collapse. There's just not a lot 29 00:01:32,595 --> 00:01:36,810 of space for enjoying things or noticing things. 30 00:01:36,810 --> 00:01:40,950 Emily: Yeah, and a tiny indulgence is a reminder that, 31 00:01:40,950 --> 00:01:45,120 you know, those small moments are where life happens, so it's 32 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:49,110 not just the big trips or the milestone events, but, you know, 33 00:01:49,110 --> 00:01:51,990 the random Tuesday afternoon when you light a candle and sip 34 00:01:51,990 --> 00:01:54,630 your coffee for 10 minutes. Those moments make up a lot more 35 00:01:54,630 --> 00:01:56,100 of your life than the big things. 36 00:01:56,505 --> 00:01:59,385 Heidi: Well, if you like ideas like this one, would you take a 37 00:01:59,385 --> 00:02:01,965 second and give us a five star rating and review in your 38 00:02:01,965 --> 00:02:05,205 podcast player? It is a small thing that makes a big 39 00:02:05,205 --> 00:02:08,205 difference for us, and it helps new listeners find us. So we 40 00:02:08,205 --> 00:02:09,945 really, really do appreciate everyone. 41 00:02:09,945 --> 00:02:14,175 Emily: Yeah, we do. Okay, let's start with a trip down memory 42 00:02:14,175 --> 00:02:19,500 lane. If someone asked, what did you do last summer, could you 43 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:24,630 remember? Not in like a, we went to the beach, but like 44 00:02:24,630 --> 00:02:28,140 specifically, what did you do last summer. 45 00:02:28,140 --> 00:02:30,930 Heidi: And I think for a lot of teachers the answers may be kind 46 00:02:30,930 --> 00:02:34,530 of a shrug. You know you had time off, you know you were 47 00:02:34,530 --> 00:02:37,860 definitely grateful for that, but most of the summer blurred 48 00:02:37,860 --> 00:02:40,980 into, we did some stuff, and then it was August. 49 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,680 Emily: Yeah, and that's what we are talking about today, not how 50 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:47,950 to rest more, although we are big fans of rest, but how to 51 00:02:47,950 --> 00:02:50,860 make a summer that you'll remember, and we're doing that 52 00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:54,190 by making the case for a little summer whimsy. 53 00:02:54,460 --> 00:02:57,370 Heidi: And it does feel a bit whimsical to dedicate a whole 54 00:02:57,370 --> 00:02:58,750 episode to whimsy. 55 00:02:58,780 --> 00:03:04,195 Emily: It does, we're so whimsy. But that might be like verging 56 00:03:04,195 --> 00:03:09,625 into whimsy inception territory. Yeah, and none of us have the 57 00:03:09,625 --> 00:03:12,775 brain power to unravel inception at the moment. 58 00:03:12,775 --> 00:03:16,585 Heidi: No, we're not doing that. So, instead, let's start with 59 00:03:16,585 --> 00:03:19,765 something that we have been circling around all summer. 60 00:03:19,765 --> 00:03:22,345 We've talked a lot about recovery, especially in those 61 00:03:22,345 --> 00:03:26,260 first weeks of break. And back in episode 262 we made the case 62 00:03:26,260 --> 00:03:29,920 that recovery is more than just crashing on the couch. 63 00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:33,790 Emily: And to be clear, we are fully encouraging you to crash 64 00:03:33,790 --> 00:03:37,180 out on the couch, like do that as much as you need to. But 65 00:03:37,180 --> 00:03:40,300 often when we talk about teacher recovery, we're talking about 66 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:44,470 taking things away, everyone wants less stress, less 67 00:03:44,470 --> 00:03:47,590 pressure, and fewer responsibilities. 68 00:03:47,590 --> 00:03:52,975 Heidi: If you remember our 4R recovery framework, all of those 69 00:03:52,975 --> 00:03:57,115 taking away things lives under that first R, relax, and that, 70 00:03:57,115 --> 00:04:00,565 of course, is important. But if your whole summer is only 71 00:04:00,565 --> 00:04:04,375 focused on relaxing, you're missing three fourths of your 72 00:04:04,375 --> 00:04:09,205 recovery plan. The other R's - refresh, refocus, and recharge - 73 00:04:09,205 --> 00:04:12,205 are all about thoughtfully adding things that enrich your 74 00:04:12,205 --> 00:04:12,715 life. 75 00:04:13,255 --> 00:04:16,600 Emily: So, think of summer recovery like a garden bed. You 76 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,900 can pull all the weeds, you can clear it out, you can get the 77 00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:23,740 soil all ready, even though that doesn't sound relaxing, that's 78 00:04:23,740 --> 00:04:26,920 essentially the work of relaxing. You're getting 79 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,130 everything out of the way, so you can be still. 80 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,080 Heidi: And I am told that that's an important step in gardening. 81 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,560 Emily: Yeah, we established last week on an outing that we do not 82 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,380 have green thumbs. We were trying to get into some 83 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:45,570 gardening, and, it didn't, it didn't go well, listeners. 84 00:04:45,570 --> 00:04:48,510 Heidi: I did manage to kill the one little sprout that I got to 85 00:04:48,510 --> 00:04:50,790 show up, but it's fine. It's fine. 86 00:04:50,790 --> 00:04:53,505 Emily: My basil plant is already looking pretty droopy. I need to 87 00:04:53,595 --> 00:04:56,925 re-pot it, but I haven't, ugh, see, we don't know anything 88 00:04:56,925 --> 00:04:59,055 about gardening. We're making this analogy up. 89 00:04:59,475 --> 00:05:03,345 Heidi: So if it's wrong, don't tell us. But tying that back 90 00:05:03,345 --> 00:05:06,435 into recovery, you have to clear the path a little bit, clear the 91 00:05:06,435 --> 00:05:09,915 bed, but nothing's going to grow if you never plant the seeds. 92 00:05:09,915 --> 00:05:12,945 Emily: That that I do know is true, that's definitely true. 93 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:18,330 Heidi: Yeah, that's kindergarten level on that one. But after 94 00:05:18,330 --> 00:05:21,660 relaxing, we got those three other R's, and we're not going 95 00:05:21,660 --> 00:05:24,450 to go into all of them today. You can go back to episode 262 96 00:05:24,510 --> 00:05:27,750 if you want the breakdown, but what all of those R's have in 97 00:05:27,750 --> 00:05:32,130 common is that they're about reconnecting with who you are 98 00:05:32,130 --> 00:05:33,810 when you're not being a teacher. 99 00:05:33,810 --> 00:05:36,705 Emily: For some teachers, this comes pretty naturally, but for 100 00:05:36,705 --> 00:05:39,555 a lot of us, even the thought of having to answer, what do you do 101 00:05:39,555 --> 00:05:41,775 for fun, just makes you panic. 102 00:05:41,775 --> 00:05:46,605 Heidi: Oh, 100%. Emily and I used to spend our summers 103 00:05:46,605 --> 00:05:49,605 bouncing back and forth between our classrooms, working on big 104 00:05:49,605 --> 00:05:50,715 projects. 105 00:05:50,715 --> 00:05:53,565 Emily: I mean, we would take on like massive curriculum 106 00:05:53,565 --> 00:05:56,835 overhauls, like writing something from scratch, like 107 00:05:56,835 --> 00:05:59,910 that was, and we loved every minute of it. That's the crazy 108 00:05:59,910 --> 00:06:05,550 part, but I don't know that we got any of this recovery done. 109 00:06:05,550 --> 00:06:09,810 Heidi: No, it was fun, but I also kind of have to admit that 110 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:16,560 there was like a darker layer to it for me. Staying busy gave me 111 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,430 this feeling of accomplishment, without ever having to stop and 112 00:06:20,430 --> 00:06:24,315 consider what I actually want for my life, and am I moving 113 00:06:24,315 --> 00:06:28,305 toward that. So, even after Emily moved away, my summers 114 00:06:28,305 --> 00:06:32,715 were still just full of that same level of work. Busyness was 115 00:06:32,715 --> 00:06:35,805 so much easier than having to sit with those questions, and 116 00:06:35,805 --> 00:06:38,745 maybe having to overhaul my life as a result. 117 00:06:38,745 --> 00:06:42,735 Emily: Right. I think a lot of teachers will see themselves in 118 00:06:42,735 --> 00:06:46,290 that description. When you've drifted from your sense of self, 119 00:06:46,290 --> 00:06:50,850 the idea of finding your way back kind of feels overwhelming. 120 00:06:50,850 --> 00:06:53,250 Heidi: Yeah, it's a bit like jumping from a plane with no 121 00:06:53,250 --> 00:06:58,350 parachute. So, here is why we are dedicating today to whimsy. 122 00:06:58,350 --> 00:07:02,310 It's because it's such a low pressure place to start. There's 123 00:07:02,310 --> 00:07:04,860 no soul searching. You don't have to figure out what's 124 00:07:04,860 --> 00:07:08,505 missing from your life. You just have to open the door to a 125 00:07:08,505 --> 00:07:10,125 little bit of playfulness. 126 00:07:10,125 --> 00:07:14,025 Emily: And our teacher-approved definition of whimsy, who cares 127 00:07:14,025 --> 00:07:15,795 what Merriam Webster says. 128 00:07:15,795 --> 00:07:17,745 Heidi: Well, we care a little bit, because we do like their 129 00:07:17,745 --> 00:07:18,375 account. 130 00:07:18,375 --> 00:07:20,925 Emily: It's true, they have a very good account on social 131 00:07:20,925 --> 00:07:24,435 media, they're very funny, but our definition of whimsy is 132 00:07:24,435 --> 00:07:28,515 deliberately making room for delight, curiosity, surprise, 133 00:07:28,515 --> 00:07:32,610 and playfulness. So, on the surface, it probably sounds very 134 00:07:32,610 --> 00:07:36,180 frivolous, but it's an important part of recovery. Whimsy 135 00:07:36,180 --> 00:07:38,940 reconnects you with yourself, and it helps you get the most 136 00:07:38,940 --> 00:07:41,880 out of your summer in a way that fills your tank back up instead 137 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:42,900 of draining it. 138 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:44,820 Heidi: But don't worry, we're not getting into the heavy 139 00:07:44,820 --> 00:07:47,610 stuff. We're not going to suggest that you throw a 140 00:07:47,610 --> 00:07:50,670 Bridgerton style tea party for 30 of your friends. 141 00:07:50,670 --> 00:07:55,305 Emily: Although if you are, way to go. I bet your group texts 142 00:07:55,305 --> 00:07:59,655 are lively. If you have 30 friends, that's amazing. But you 143 00:07:59,655 --> 00:08:03,225 don't need 30 friends or tea parties to feel whimsical. All 144 00:08:03,225 --> 00:08:07,365 it takes is something as simple as wearing llama earrings or 145 00:08:07,665 --> 00:08:11,925 talking to your cat in an accent. Whimsy meets you where 146 00:08:11,925 --> 00:08:14,175 you are with whatever energy you have to give. 147 00:08:14,690 --> 00:08:17,210 Heidi: So, to give a little example from my own life, Emily 148 00:08:17,210 --> 00:08:20,900 and I are both big fans of Gretchen Rubin and her podcast, 149 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:24,230 Happier. And every year she talks about how to design your 150 00:08:24,230 --> 00:08:27,770 summer so that it feels special and not just three months of 151 00:08:27,770 --> 00:08:31,760 sweating. So, a couple of years ago, I took Gretchen's idea, and 152 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:35,060 I did The Summer of Parks and Rec, because I had never seen 153 00:08:35,060 --> 00:08:36,500 that show all the way through. I'd only watched the first 154 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:40,475 season. So my to-do list was watching every episode and 155 00:08:40,475 --> 00:08:43,445 listening to the Parks and Rec podcast. It's pretty low, it's 156 00:08:43,445 --> 00:08:47,585 pretty low key, and I cannot say that that project made me a 157 00:08:47,585 --> 00:08:50,675 better person, but it definitely made me a happier one. 158 00:08:50,675 --> 00:08:54,245 And then another summer I did the summer of Audrey Hepburn, so 159 00:08:54,245 --> 00:08:57,515 I listened to her biography, and I watched all of her movies in 160 00:08:57,515 --> 00:08:59,765 order, not all of them, I couldn't find all of them on 161 00:08:59,765 --> 00:09:02,870 streaming, but all the ones I could. And I have these clear 162 00:09:02,870 --> 00:09:05,690 memories of that summer, like one afternoon where I treated 163 00:09:05,690 --> 00:09:08,960 myself to a fancy soda, because we get all the fancy sodas here, 164 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:13,310 and I was listening to this story unfold of young Audrey 165 00:09:13,310 --> 00:09:17,060 working with the Dutch resistance to take down Nazis. 166 00:09:17,060 --> 00:09:20,660 And like this moment was not anything special, but because 167 00:09:20,660 --> 00:09:24,185 summer's our busy season for work, and everything just has to 168 00:09:24,185 --> 00:09:26,915 be wedged in around my other responsibilities, having 169 00:09:26,915 --> 00:09:31,235 something lighthearted to focus on reminded me that life is 170 00:09:31,235 --> 00:09:33,395 about more than my to-do list. 171 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,060 Emily: Yeah, and I feel like for us, because now we serve 172 00:09:36,060 --> 00:09:40,680 teachers and summer is like go time for us, it's really easy to 173 00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:45,060 just like let the summer pass by, and so I do think adding in 174 00:09:45,060 --> 00:09:50,340 these rituals or moments of whimsy can really help you feel 175 00:09:50,340 --> 00:09:53,730 connected to your summer. A couple years ago, I think I 176 00:09:53,730 --> 00:09:55,980 talked about it here on the podcast when I came up with the 177 00:09:56,025 --> 00:09:59,655 idea, which is that I wanted to have the summer of movies. So I 178 00:09:59,655 --> 00:10:04,155 just had this realization that I love going to the movies, it's 179 00:10:04,155 --> 00:10:07,425 just this nice escape where you're fully locked into 180 00:10:07,425 --> 00:10:10,515 something and not being distracted and just enjoying a 181 00:10:10,515 --> 00:10:13,575 movie, and then you can get your little movie snacks and watch 182 00:10:13,575 --> 00:10:15,915 previews. I just, I just love it. 183 00:10:15,915 --> 00:10:19,005 It's even better now that all of the theaters around us have very 184 00:10:19,050 --> 00:10:23,610 nice recliner seats and things like that. But it was such a 185 00:10:23,610 --> 00:10:28,860 nice summer having this thing that I wanted to do feel more 186 00:10:28,860 --> 00:10:32,040 like something I should do, because I had set the intention 187 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:36,180 to do it, so then it did give me that thrill of, like, check, I'm 188 00:10:36,180 --> 00:10:40,290 checking things off of my list. But it is just easier to 189 00:10:40,290 --> 00:10:42,090 prioritize something when you name it. 190 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,665 Heidi: And I love how expansive this idea is. You can have the 191 00:10:46,665 --> 00:10:50,625 summer of anything, really, the summer of trying every ice cream 192 00:10:50,625 --> 00:10:53,925 parlor in town, or reading on the porch, or learning the names 193 00:10:53,925 --> 00:10:57,885 of the birds in your yard. We recently downloaded the Merlin 194 00:10:57,885 --> 00:11:01,215 app, so we are becoming experts. 195 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,570 Emily: I sent my youngest out with that to check on some birds 196 00:11:04,570 --> 00:11:08,320 that she was watching, and they flew away, so she didn't, she 197 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,530 didn't catch anything, but she tried doing some fake noises, 198 00:11:11,530 --> 00:11:14,740 thinking that she could trick it, and I have to tell you, the 199 00:11:14,740 --> 00:11:19,330 Merlin app is too smart, she could not trick it. 200 00:11:19,330 --> 00:11:25,675 Heidi: It's a wild Eloise. Now before you chalk all this up to 201 00:11:25,675 --> 00:11:28,945 just, you know, fluffy feel-good nonsense. There is some real 202 00:11:28,945 --> 00:11:32,575 psychology backing this up. Heavy emotions like stress 203 00:11:32,575 --> 00:11:35,995 narrow our attention. So, think about how we all feel in the 204 00:11:35,995 --> 00:11:39,655 middle of testing season. We are just zeroed in on the problems 205 00:11:39,655 --> 00:11:42,595 and tracking all the deadlines and all the things that need 206 00:11:42,595 --> 00:11:43,765 fixing. 207 00:11:43,765 --> 00:11:46,465 Emily: And that's useful when you're trying to survive a hard 208 00:11:46,465 --> 00:11:50,380 stretch, but it can wreak havoc on your mind and your body if 209 00:11:50,380 --> 00:11:53,530 you spend every day wound up like that. 210 00:11:53,530 --> 00:11:56,500 Heidi: Yeah, that's how we end up with brain fog and insomnia 211 00:11:56,500 --> 00:11:59,770 and digestive issues. 212 00:11:59,770 --> 00:12:02,500 Emily: And if it goes too long, we end up with problems like 213 00:12:02,500 --> 00:12:06,760 heart disease and autoimmune disorders. So it's really 214 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,580 important to learn to manage your stress. 215 00:12:09,580 --> 00:12:13,255 Heidi: And one way to do that is to lean into lighter feelings. 216 00:12:13,255 --> 00:12:17,335 Where stress and anxiety narrow our focus to whatever problem is 217 00:12:17,335 --> 00:12:21,625 right in front of us, delight and playfulness do the opposite; 218 00:12:21,625 --> 00:12:24,115 they help us see the possibilities again. 219 00:12:24,115 --> 00:12:26,785 Emily: And now we're going to use real research here. 220 00:12:26,785 --> 00:12:31,285 Researcher Barbara Fredrickson calls this broaden and build 221 00:12:31,285 --> 00:12:34,480 theory. So, the idea is that we counter the narrowness that 222 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:38,080 stress brings by opening up to emotions and behaviors that 223 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:42,040 broaden attention. So, over time, those broadened moments 224 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,820 help us build lasting relationships, skills, and 225 00:12:45,820 --> 00:12:47,560 coping strategies. 226 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:52,360 Heidi: Or in other words, whimsy is not just a TikTok trend, it's 227 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,480 part of how we heal and come out even stronger on the other side. 228 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,925 Emily: And I just think this is especially important for 229 00:12:57,925 --> 00:13:01,405 teachers all day long, you're scanning for who needs help, 230 00:13:01,405 --> 00:13:03,865 what's missing, what did I forget, what problem is about to 231 00:13:03,865 --> 00:13:08,935 become my problem. I mean, that is really the job, to be waiting 232 00:13:08,935 --> 00:13:11,095 for an issue all day long. 233 00:13:11,095 --> 00:13:14,515 Heidi: Yeah, that is the job, which is why teaching has a way 234 00:13:14,515 --> 00:13:18,535 of swallowing up huge parts of who you are. You become the 235 00:13:18,535 --> 00:13:21,580 planner, the organizer, the caretaker, the problem solver, 236 00:13:21,580 --> 00:13:24,490 and your world gets a little smaller without you even 237 00:13:24,490 --> 00:13:25,450 noticing. 238 00:13:25,450 --> 00:13:29,170 Emily: So, summer isn't only a break from the stress, it's also 239 00:13:29,170 --> 00:13:32,650 your chance to widen the lens again. So, you spent 10 months 240 00:13:32,650 --> 00:13:35,620 narrowing. Summer is when you get to broaden back out. 241 00:13:35,620 --> 00:13:37,990 Heidi: You know, we love reflection questions around 242 00:13:37,990 --> 00:13:41,470 here. So, let's take a minute to think about a couple things. 243 00:13:41,470 --> 00:13:45,625 First, what did you love before teaching took up so much of your 244 00:13:45,625 --> 00:13:50,725 attention? And second, what are you curious about right now? 245 00:13:50,725 --> 00:13:53,785 Emily: And this is the thing about those summer themes. The 246 00:13:53,785 --> 00:13:57,865 summer of Audrey Hepburn wasn't really about Audrey Hepburn, 247 00:13:57,865 --> 00:13:58,645 right, Heidi? 248 00:13:58,645 --> 00:14:02,935 Heidi: No, it really wasn't. It was about having a no stress 249 00:14:02,935 --> 00:14:06,670 reason to walk away from my computer sometimes. I just used 250 00:14:06,670 --> 00:14:10,720 Audrey and also Leslie Knope as my doorways. 251 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,450 Emily: Right. And my movie summer wasn't really about 252 00:14:13,450 --> 00:14:16,690 movies, it was about me realizing, like, oh, there's 253 00:14:16,690 --> 00:14:20,410 this thing that I actually really enjoy, and I'm never 254 00:14:20,410 --> 00:14:24,070 doing it, because I haven't made any space for it in my life. So 255 00:14:24,070 --> 00:14:26,350 now I need to make the space for it. 256 00:14:26,350 --> 00:14:29,470 Heidi: It's a chronic problem. When we were at the nursery the 257 00:14:29,470 --> 00:14:31,690 other day, I came home, and I can't tell you, like, I had so 258 00:14:31,690 --> 00:14:34,825 much guilt that we had gone to the nursery in the afternoon. 259 00:14:34,825 --> 00:14:37,285 Emily: I know, in the middle of a work day. 260 00:14:37,435 --> 00:14:40,375 Heidi: And I just was like, what? What is going on in my 261 00:14:40,375 --> 00:14:43,315 brain that I can't let this go? 262 00:14:43,375 --> 00:14:43,585 Emily: Uh huh. 263 00:14:43,585 --> 00:14:45,955 Heidi: We are just so conditioned to justify 264 00:14:45,955 --> 00:14:49,675 everything. We don't move unless it counts as exercise. We track 265 00:14:49,675 --> 00:14:53,095 the minutes that we're spending on our phones. We feel guilty if 266 00:14:53,095 --> 00:14:56,155 the books we read aren't serious enough. Everything has to earn 267 00:14:56,155 --> 00:14:56,725 its keep. 268 00:14:56,845 --> 00:15:02,770 Emily: But I have a secret for you, the. Rules are made up. You 269 00:15:02,770 --> 00:15:05,800 are a grown-up. You can do something just because it 270 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,820 interests you. It doesn't have to be productive, and it doesn't 271 00:15:09,820 --> 00:15:13,480 have to make you better. It can just be fun and silly and 272 00:15:13,810 --> 00:15:15,880 completely pointless if we want it to be. 273 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,965 Heidi: And that is what whimsy gives you. It creates room for 274 00:15:20,965 --> 00:15:24,355 experiences that don't have to justify themselves. And the 275 00:15:24,355 --> 00:15:28,135 funny thing is those things tend to end up being some of the most 276 00:15:28,135 --> 00:15:30,025 meaningful parts of life anyway. 277 00:15:30,025 --> 00:15:33,325 Emily: But the catch is that those moments almost never just 278 00:15:33,325 --> 00:15:36,745 happen on their own. So, if you want some place to start, use 279 00:15:36,745 --> 00:15:40,105 Gretchen Rubin's idea of giving your summer a theme. This year 280 00:15:40,105 --> 00:15:43,180 maybe you want the summer of state parks, or the summer of 281 00:15:43,180 --> 00:15:46,750 musicals, or the summer of library visits. 282 00:15:46,750 --> 00:15:48,820 Heidi: The nice thing about a theme is that it creates 283 00:15:48,820 --> 00:15:52,750 anticipation and a little bit of structure, but there's not too 284 00:15:52,750 --> 00:15:54,400 much extra work involved. 285 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,470 Emily: And that brings us right back to the question that we 286 00:15:56,470 --> 00:15:59,950 started with. Years from now, the summer of 2026 might not 287 00:15:59,950 --> 00:16:03,190 mean anything if you hear that, but you might remember, oh, that 288 00:16:03,190 --> 00:16:05,230 was my summer of wildflowers. 289 00:16:05,230 --> 00:16:09,775 Heidi: So, if you need a whimsical on-ramp, try naming 290 00:16:09,775 --> 00:16:13,435 your summer. But if you want to go a different route, why not 291 00:16:13,435 --> 00:16:17,005 try something we are calling a whimsy menu. So, here's the 292 00:16:17,005 --> 00:16:20,845 problem it solves: when we are tired, we default, and the 293 00:16:20,845 --> 00:16:23,095 default is almost always scrolling. 294 00:16:23,275 --> 00:16:27,715 Emily: Yes, so guilty every time. So, to combat that, let's 295 00:16:27,715 --> 00:16:30,760 make some decisions ahead of time. Find a moment when you 296 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,640 have a little energy and make a plan that you'll benefit from 297 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,030 later when you're feeling sluggish. It's, you know, the 298 00:16:37,030 --> 00:16:40,450 gift for your future self. We love to do it. So, start with a 299 00:16:40,450 --> 00:16:42,850 list of categories, and if you need some ideas, you could try 300 00:16:42,850 --> 00:16:47,410 creative, outdoor, social, silly, or curious. 301 00:16:47,420 --> 00:16:49,370 Heidi: And then think about some things you might want to do in 302 00:16:49,370 --> 00:16:53,330 each category. You will be more likely to follow through if you 303 00:16:53,330 --> 00:16:57,080 make the item specific. So, instead of writing "have fun," 304 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:01,580 write, "try three new homemade popscroll recipes," or instead 305 00:17:01,580 --> 00:17:05,000 of, "spend more time outside," put, "walk the trail behind the 306 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:08,300 library every Tuesday." That way you know if you have achieved 307 00:17:08,300 --> 00:17:09,470 your goal or not. 308 00:17:09,470 --> 00:17:12,635 Emily: And remember, this is not about chasing productivity, so 309 00:17:12,905 --> 00:17:15,695 please mix in some easy ones. 310 00:17:15,695 --> 00:17:18,455 Heidi: Or honestly, do all easy if that's more realistic for 311 00:17:18,455 --> 00:17:21,125 your season. No one's grading you. 312 00:17:21,275 --> 00:17:26,015 Emily: Yeah, this is a menu, not a contract. You are not failing 313 00:17:26,015 --> 00:17:28,295 your summer if you don't get to all of it. You're just giving 314 00:17:28,295 --> 00:17:31,085 yourself good options for the moment you'd otherwise reach for 315 00:17:31,085 --> 00:17:32,165 your phone. 316 00:17:32,165 --> 00:17:34,580 Heidi: And even though we are moving into July, there is still 317 00:17:34,580 --> 00:17:38,270 a lot of summer left. So, what do you want to get out of it? 318 00:17:38,270 --> 00:17:40,910 What would help you broaden your view? 319 00:17:40,910 --> 00:17:44,840 Emily: So try naming your summer. Follow a curiosity. My 320 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,600 friend just told me that she's super into sandhill cranes right 321 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:53,000 now. I was like, okay, I love it. And you know, watch the 322 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,610 movies, give yourself something to remember, and give yourself a 323 00:17:55,610 --> 00:17:59,075 chance to just be a person again before it's time to be a 324 00:17:59,075 --> 00:18:00,335 teacher. 325 00:18:00,335 --> 00:18:02,645 Heidi: And this is exactly the spirit behind something we've 326 00:18:02,645 --> 00:18:06,335 got coming up that we are so excited about, it's almost time 327 00:18:06,335 --> 00:18:09,005 for our annual teacher summer talk summit. 328 00:18:09,005 --> 00:18:13,295 Emily: And I'm so excited about this. This is something we do 329 00:18:13,295 --> 00:18:16,535 every summer, it's been a few years of doing this now, and 330 00:18:16,535 --> 00:18:20,030 what is really important to us, if we're going to ask teachers 331 00:18:20,030 --> 00:18:23,840 to come spend some of their personal time working on 332 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,600 professional development, then we're going to make sure you 333 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:31,550 have a really good time. So last year our theme was 90s theme, a 334 00:18:31,550 --> 00:18:35,630 90s summer theme, and oh, we went hard. Anyone who was at it 335 00:18:35,630 --> 00:18:40,850 knows we leaned all the way into the 90s. We had a snack food, 336 00:18:40,850 --> 00:18:44,795 90s snack food bracket that we voted on to figure out what was 337 00:18:44,795 --> 00:18:48,275 the best 90 snack, and we just had such a fun time. 338 00:18:48,275 --> 00:18:52,145 And so I knew we needed a different theme this year. I 339 00:18:52,145 --> 00:18:56,075 wasn't sure we could top it until I came up with summer camp 340 00:18:56,075 --> 00:19:00,455 theme, and not just any summer camp, like parent trap summer 341 00:19:00,455 --> 00:19:05,105 camp, like, very nostalgic, all the fun. We are going to have a 342 00:19:05,150 --> 00:19:08,510 total blast, and you'll get to get ready for back to school 343 00:19:08,510 --> 00:19:11,480 from the comfort of your own couch. And then, along the way, 344 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,050 you can earn merit badges. This is the part I'm so excited 345 00:19:15,050 --> 00:19:18,560 about. And then also the chance to win prizes while you're 346 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,810 learning, so it's win, win, win. 347 00:19:20,810 --> 00:19:24,170 Heidi: It's basically permission to make getting ready for fall 348 00:19:24,170 --> 00:19:27,590 feel a little more whimsy and a lot less like a chore. 349 00:19:27,590 --> 00:19:30,725 Emily: The summit is free, and the tickets open up on July 1. 350 00:19:30,845 --> 00:19:33,995 So, mark your calendar, and believe me, we will have all the 351 00:19:33,995 --> 00:19:36,965 details for you as we get closer. 352 00:19:36,965 --> 00:19:40,085 Now, for our teacher-approved tip of the week, where we share 353 00:19:40,085 --> 00:19:43,145 an actionable tip to help you elevate what matters and 354 00:19:43,145 --> 00:19:46,655 simplify the rest. This week's teacher-approved tip is make an 355 00:19:46,655 --> 00:19:50,435 analog bag. So, tell us about an analog bag, Heidi. 356 00:19:50,510 --> 00:19:53,840 Heidi: Well, if you are online a lot, like I am, this is 357 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,570 something you're probably familiar with, because it's kind 358 00:19:56,570 --> 00:19:57,650 of everywhere right now. 359 00:19:57,650 --> 00:19:59,540 Emily: It's the it thing, this summer. 360 00:19:59,540 --> 00:20:03,110 Heidi: That and whimsy, but I think everyone is latching onto 361 00:20:03,110 --> 00:20:06,620 it, because it makes so much sense. The idea is to just round 362 00:20:06,620 --> 00:20:08,630 up a bunch of stuff that you can do while you're relaxing, 363 00:20:08,630 --> 00:20:12,230 instead of scrolling your phone. So, in my analog bag, I have a 364 00:20:12,230 --> 00:20:15,725 couple of books, a needle punching project that I'm just 365 00:20:15,725 --> 00:20:19,025 learning how to do, some puzzle books that I got for my 366 00:20:19,025 --> 00:20:22,115 birthday, a sticker by number book, and then I also have this 367 00:20:22,115 --> 00:20:26,615 little word game tin called Cue List that our mom got us for 368 00:20:26,615 --> 00:20:27,245 Easter. 369 00:20:27,245 --> 00:20:28,325 Emily: Oh, yeah, yeah. 370 00:20:28,325 --> 00:20:30,965 Heidi: It's perfect because it's just a one-player game, and then 371 00:20:30,965 --> 00:20:33,665 you just need something to store it all in, so that it's as handy 372 00:20:33,665 --> 00:20:36,155 to reach for as your phone. Obviously, I have the perk of 373 00:20:36,155 --> 00:20:37,820 not having kids around, so I don't have to worry about kids 374 00:20:37,820 --> 00:20:42,950 getting into it. I'm using a felt diaper tote, but I've seen 375 00:20:42,950 --> 00:20:46,400 people use baskets or canvas bags, or even fun gardening 376 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:47,300 totes. 377 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:49,370 Emily: Yeah, and you just want to look for something that has a 378 00:20:49,370 --> 00:20:51,860 lot of little pockets, I think, because sometimes there's just 379 00:20:51,860 --> 00:20:54,470 little bits and pieces for some of the things you might want to 380 00:20:54,470 --> 00:20:55,280 add. 381 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,620 Heidi: So, I'll put a link in the show notes to the diaper 382 00:20:57,620 --> 00:21:00,275 tote I'm using. It's really nice, it's got little pockets on 383 00:21:00,275 --> 00:21:03,335 the side and big spaces in the middle, and then your challenge 384 00:21:03,335 --> 00:21:06,005 this week is to start rounding up stuff at your house, because 385 00:21:06,005 --> 00:21:08,945 I bet you've got more bits and pieces scattered all over that 386 00:21:08,945 --> 00:21:10,745 would work well for an analog bag. You probably don't even 387 00:21:10,745 --> 00:21:13,205 need to buy anything, but this is a good reason to use the 388 00:21:13,205 --> 00:21:16,505 stuff that you've always been meaning to get to. 389 00:21:16,505 --> 00:21:18,605 To wrap up the show, we are sharing what we're giving extra 390 00:21:18,605 --> 00:21:21,245 credit to this week. Emily, what gets your extra credit? 391 00:21:21,245 --> 00:21:23,750 Emily: Well, I wanted to think of something whimsy for the 392 00:21:23,750 --> 00:21:28,040 extra credit this week, so I am giving extra credit to myself 393 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:32,780 for this idea. No, I'm giving extra credit to rock exchanges. 394 00:21:32,780 --> 00:21:37,220 So I had the thought that out by my little free library in my 395 00:21:37,220 --> 00:21:40,910 yard, it would be perfect to have a little rock exchange 396 00:21:40,910 --> 00:21:43,760 there, so the kids in the neighborhood can decorate rocks, 397 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,415 and they can come drop them off, and they can grab one of the 398 00:21:46,415 --> 00:21:49,235 other ones and take it home, and then they can drop them off 399 00:21:49,235 --> 00:21:51,995 places where they want to, you know, you can just leave a cute 400 00:21:51,995 --> 00:21:54,725 rock in the park, or whatever. So I just thought it was such a 401 00:21:54,725 --> 00:21:59,525 fun little summery thing to do, and so my extra credit actually 402 00:21:59,525 --> 00:22:02,675 is going to the paint markers that I found that are supposed 403 00:22:02,675 --> 00:22:04,565 to be good for rocks. 404 00:22:04,565 --> 00:22:06,995 Heidi: That's such a fun idea. I don't have painted rocks, but 405 00:22:06,995 --> 00:22:09,080 I've got some random rocks that kids might like. 406 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,450 Emily: Oh, I do love your ladybug rocks. 407 00:22:11,780 --> 00:22:14,510 Heidi: Oh, that's a fun idea. Maybe I'll bring those over. 408 00:22:14,570 --> 00:22:18,380 They're just sad in my yard right now. I inherited someone's 409 00:22:18,380 --> 00:22:22,400 rock collection that got passed from, like, I think someone's 410 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,430 parents had collected, and it made its way to me. So, I got 411 00:22:25,430 --> 00:22:28,280 these like pretty rocks. I don't do it, but maybe the kids would 412 00:22:28,580 --> 00:22:29,810 want to decorate them. 413 00:22:29,810 --> 00:22:33,530 Emily: Yes, maybe that's a good idea. What are you giving extra 414 00:22:33,530 --> 00:22:34,190 credit to, Heidi? 415 00:22:34,190 --> 00:22:37,025 Heidi: Well, also in the theme of whimsy, I'm giving extra 416 00:22:37,025 --> 00:22:41,195 credit to plant magnets. Have you seen these, Emily? 417 00:22:41,195 --> 00:22:41,945 Emily: Yes. 418 00:22:41,945 --> 00:22:45,275 Heidi: They're so fun. They're just like little magnetic eyes 419 00:22:45,275 --> 00:22:48,665 or shapes that you can put on the leaves of your plants. So, 420 00:22:48,665 --> 00:22:51,425 I've got this big tall snake plant in the corner, the one 421 00:22:51,425 --> 00:22:54,815 plant I've managed to keep alive. So, I put all these 422 00:22:54,815 --> 00:22:59,150 little eyes on it, and it just makes me laugh. I love it. It's 423 00:22:59,150 --> 00:23:02,780 not very expensive, it doesn't take up any extra space, so I'll 424 00:23:02,780 --> 00:23:05,570 put a link in the show notes, but there's tons of brands out 425 00:23:05,570 --> 00:23:08,570 there. If you want something to make you smile, plant magnets 426 00:23:08,570 --> 00:23:09,350 are it. 427 00:23:09,350 --> 00:23:10,520 Emily: I love it. 428 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:13,190 Heidi: That is it for today's episode. Pick a theme for your 429 00:23:13,190 --> 00:23:16,760 summer, make yourself a whimsy menu, and give yourself a summer 430 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,250 worth remembering. 431 00:23:19,250 --> 00:23:23,075 We hope you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Approved. I'm Heidi. 432 00:23:23,105 --> 00:23:26,405 Emily: And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow 433 00:23:26,405 --> 00:23:28,925 or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss an 434 00:23:28,925 --> 00:23:29,435 episode. 435 00:23:29,525 --> 00:23:32,135 Heidi: You can connect with us and other teachers in the 436 00:23:32,135 --> 00:23:35,495 Teacher Approved Facebook group. We'll see you here next week. 437 00:23:35,525 --> 00:23:36,305 Bye for now. 438 00:23:36,305 --> 00:23:37,235 Emily: Bye.