1 00:00:00,990 --> 00:00:03,840 Heidi: This is episode 197 of Teacher Approved. 2 00:00:06,270 --> 00:00:09,210 You're listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping 3 00:00:09,210 --> 00:00:12,990 educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I'm 4 00:00:12,990 --> 00:00:13,530 Heidi. 5 00:00:13,740 --> 00:00:16,890 Emily: And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story 6 00:00:16,890 --> 00:00:19,860 Window, where we give research based and teacher approved 7 00:00:19,860 --> 00:00:22,470 strategies that make teaching less stressful and more 8 00:00:22,470 --> 00:00:25,890 effective. You can check out the show notes and resources from 9 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,780 each episode at secondstorywindow.net. 10 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,470 Heidi: We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to 11 00:00:31,470 --> 00:00:32,040 the show. 12 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:39,540 Emily: Hey there. Thanks for joining us today. In today's 13 00:00:39,540 --> 00:00:42,810 episode, we're diving into why recovery after the school year 14 00:00:42,810 --> 00:00:45,930 is essential, and sharing a teacher approved tip for 15 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:49,590 creating a summer bucket list that actually helps you recover. 16 00:00:50,340 --> 00:00:53,160 Heidi: Let's start with a try it tomorrow, where we share a quick 17 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:56,130 win that you can try right away. Emily, what do you have for us 18 00:00:56,130 --> 00:00:56,730 this week? 19 00:00:56,970 --> 00:00:59,580 Emily: This one's simple. Just write a sticky note that says, I 20 00:00:59,580 --> 00:01:02,010 will come back to this later, and then you stick it on your 21 00:01:02,010 --> 00:01:05,370 desk, your laptop, or even your teacher bag. It's your visual 22 00:01:05,370 --> 00:01:09,060 permission slip to pause. Not everything has to be handled 23 00:01:09,060 --> 00:01:09,720 right now. 24 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,530 Heidi: If you like this idea or anything else we share here on 25 00:01:13,530 --> 00:01:16,830 the podcast, would you take a second and give us a five star 26 00:01:16,830 --> 00:01:20,550 rating? Ratings and reviews are one way that new listeners find 27 00:01:20,550 --> 00:01:23,940 us. So every rating and review is a huge help to us. 28 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,490 Emily: It's true, we do a little happy dance every time we get a 29 00:01:26,490 --> 00:01:27,210 new review. 30 00:01:27,330 --> 00:01:28,020 Heidi: We do. 31 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,921 Emily: So this episode is coming to you in early June, which 32 00:01:30,070 --> 00:01:35,170 Heidi: And if you are anything like we were in our teaching 33 00:01:30,980 --> 00:01:34,455 means many of you are either done with school for the year, 34 00:01:34,514 --> 00:01:37,400 or you can see the finish line just ahead of you. 35 00:01:37,450 --> 00:01:43,060 days, you are probably experiencing a weird mix of 36 00:01:43,060 --> 00:01:46,480 emotions right now. There's relief that the year is ending, 37 00:01:46,540 --> 00:01:49,300 exhaustion for making it through, excitement for the 38 00:01:49,300 --> 00:01:51,730 summer, and maybe even a touch of guilt. 39 00:01:52,150 --> 00:01:54,970 Emily: Yeah, and unfortunately, that guilt can be loud. It can 40 00:01:54,970 --> 00:01:58,540 shout at you from lots of places. There might be guilt 41 00:01:58,570 --> 00:02:02,650 about being relieved that the school year is over, or guilt 42 00:02:02,650 --> 00:02:05,290 over what you could have done more for your kids during the 43 00:02:05,290 --> 00:02:08,950 year, and guilt that you had to put so much of your real life on 44 00:02:08,950 --> 00:02:10,600 hold to manage your teacher life. 45 00:02:11,260 --> 00:02:14,500 Heidi: And of course, we can't forget the summer guilt that you 46 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:16,840 should be filling your time with projects and plans and 47 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,720 professional development when really all you have the energy 48 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,120 for is moving from the bed to the couch. 49 00:02:22,510 --> 00:02:24,610 Emily: Yeah, there were plenty of summers where I would 50 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:29,140 painstakingly outline an epic color-coded to do list that was 51 00:02:29,170 --> 00:02:33,430 full of huge projects, like revamping the whole math walk, 52 00:02:33,430 --> 00:02:36,970 you know, or reading all the professional development books, 53 00:02:37,150 --> 00:02:39,220 redoing all of the bulletin boards. 54 00:02:39,490 --> 00:02:42,160 Heidi: All of the things all of the time. That is how we roll. 55 00:02:43,270 --> 00:02:45,280 And Emily, how many of those things actually got done? 56 00:02:45,700 --> 00:02:47,410 Emily: Well, you know, it depended on the summer, but 57 00:02:47,410 --> 00:02:52,930 never, all, never, all, my ideas were always too ambitious. But, 58 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:58,480 you know, my body had other plans, so I'd sleep in, plan to 59 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,910 get started later in the day after I watched a few episodes 60 00:03:00,910 --> 00:03:03,790 of the show I'm binging, you know, and then after a couple 61 00:03:03,790 --> 00:03:07,090 weeks, that guilt creeps in, and I would throw myself into my 62 00:03:07,090 --> 00:03:10,120 projects like I was being paid for it, which, let's not forget, 63 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,350 I was not and neither are you. And then I chomp on the first 64 00:03:14,350 --> 00:03:17,500 day of school, just totally exhausted and bummed out that I 65 00:03:17,530 --> 00:03:18,790 lost my whole summer. 66 00:03:19,270 --> 00:03:22,150 Heidi: Hmm, maybe that sounds familiar to you like it does to 67 00:03:22,150 --> 00:03:26,560 me. This is such a common experience for teachers. You go 68 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,210 from sprinting full speed to a complete stop, and then there's 69 00:03:31,210 --> 00:03:33,190 the deep spiral into panic mode. 70 00:03:33,580 --> 00:03:36,760 Emily: And that is totally not healthy, and it's just not 71 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:40,540 sustainable. Rest is protective and essential, but if you 72 00:03:40,540 --> 00:03:43,960 struggle to feel that way, maybe reframing how you think about 73 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:45,280 downtime would be useful. 74 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,210 Heidi: So to help with that reframing, we are revisiting the 75 00:03:48,210 --> 00:03:52,200 four R's of recovery that we talked about way back in episode 76 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:56,850 13 and in episode 65. But we are adding a fresh perspective, 77 00:03:57,210 --> 00:04:00,510 specifically focusing on why teacher recovery is not just 78 00:04:00,510 --> 00:04:04,050 nice, but necessary, and why the guilt that we feel about it is 79 00:04:04,050 --> 00:04:04,860 misplaced. 80 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:08,010 Emily: So let's just start there. Recovery is not 81 00:04:08,010 --> 00:04:12,720 indulgent. It is necessary. It's a fundamental human need. 82 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,530 Heidi: Exactly. You are not a machine, and when you push too 83 00:04:16,530 --> 00:04:19,770 hard for too long, your body and your brain start waving little 84 00:04:19,770 --> 00:04:23,640 red flags that might show up as headaches, brain fog, low moods 85 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:27,690 and that bone deep exhaustion that coffee cannot fix. 86 00:04:28,140 --> 00:04:31,590 Emily: Maybe you've noticed some of those flags. It takes actual 87 00:04:31,590 --> 00:04:35,460 intentional rest to manage them. Rest is how your nervous system 88 00:04:35,460 --> 00:04:39,360 resets, how your immune system rebuilds, and how your mind gets 89 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,020 a chance to sift through all of the noise. Ignoring recovery is 90 00:04:43,020 --> 00:04:46,680 what leads to burnout, and we don't want that for us or for 91 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:47,070 you. 92 00:04:47,850 --> 00:04:50,040 Heidi: If you're like a lot of teachers, you probably hold 93 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,890 yourself to pretty high standards, and when it comes to 94 00:04:52,890 --> 00:04:56,220 recovery, that might mean that you want to put limits on the 95 00:04:56,220 --> 00:05:00,120 amount of rest that you think you should require. But after 96 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,060 almost a decade of chronic illness, I am here to tell you 97 00:05:03,330 --> 00:05:06,960 that bodies, unfortunately, don't work that way. You need 98 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,190 exactly as much rest as your body wants, even if that doesn't 99 00:05:11,190 --> 00:05:12,270 fit into your schedule. 100 00:05:12,690 --> 00:05:15,240 Emily: Yeah, and the amount of recovery you need is directly 101 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:18,570 proportional to the amount of stress and demand that you've 102 00:05:18,570 --> 00:05:21,720 been under. Teaching is one of the most demanding professions 103 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:26,760 out there, and teachers make an average of 1500 educational 104 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:28,230 decisions per day. 105 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,670 Heidi: That is an enormous cognitive load, and that's just 106 00:05:32,670 --> 00:05:35,340 the instructional decisions. We're not counting all of the 107 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,190 interpersonal, organizational and emotional decisions that 108 00:05:38,190 --> 00:05:39,180 teachers face daily. 109 00:05:39,570 --> 00:05:42,420 Emily: And when June hits and you find yourself staring at the 110 00:05:42,420 --> 00:05:45,750 takeout menu like it's an algebra problem, or scrolling 111 00:05:45,750 --> 00:05:49,380 Netflix, unable to choose anything to watch, that is not 112 00:05:49,380 --> 00:05:53,340 laziness. That is just decision fatigue catching up with you. 113 00:05:54,570 --> 00:05:57,930 Heidi: I've been there. Decision fatigue is no joke, and feeling 114 00:05:57,930 --> 00:06:01,230 tired is not a moral failing. Your brain and body are sending 115 00:06:01,230 --> 00:06:05,430 you important signals and you need to listen, or your brain 116 00:06:05,430 --> 00:06:07,140 and body will make sure that you listen. 117 00:06:07,530 --> 00:06:09,810 Emily: Yeah, it's kind of like your check engine light coming 118 00:06:09,810 --> 00:06:12,420 on in your car, like you wouldn't ignore that, right? 119 00:06:13,410 --> 00:06:16,620 Heidi: It did take me three months to get my car registered 120 00:06:16,620 --> 00:06:20,460 this year. When I went to pick it up, they were out of the 121 00:06:20,460 --> 00:06:23,760 little stickers for the license plate because it'd been so long. 122 00:06:24,450 --> 00:06:26,310 Emily: So they didn't have the month that you needed. 123 00:06:27,570 --> 00:06:29,280 Heidi: I had to mail away for it. 124 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,420 Emily: Oh my gosh. Okay, guys, don't take car advice from 125 00:06:32,450 --> 00:06:37,340 Heidi. Just FYI. My service light turned on today in my car 126 00:06:37,340 --> 00:06:41,030 because I will almost need an oil change very soon, and I 127 00:06:41,030 --> 00:06:44,060 already was like, alright, this many miles left, then I need to 128 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:47,780 get it scheduled, because I am always on top of my car lights. 129 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:52,760 You can take car advice from me. But okay, moving on from that 130 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,820 analogy, our exhaustion is a warning signal we should pay 131 00:06:55,820 --> 00:06:59,570 attention to. Don't push through it or feel guilty about it or 132 00:06:59,630 --> 00:07:01,790 wait three months to deal with it like Heidi. 133 00:07:02,180 --> 00:07:03,470 Heidi: Mmm, feels a little pointed. 134 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:04,400 Emily: I'm sorry. 135 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,530 Heidi: So let's talk through the four R's of recovery. Relax, 136 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,120 refresh, refocus and recharge. Each one plays a unique role in 137 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:14,200 helping you recover. 138 00:07:14,630 --> 00:07:17,870 Emily: So starting with our first R, relaxing means engaging 139 00:07:17,870 --> 00:07:21,290 in activities that are fun, freeing, and make you smile or 140 00:07:21,290 --> 00:07:23,810 laugh. It's the art of doing something simply because it 141 00:07:23,810 --> 00:07:25,340 feels good, not because it checks a box. 142 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,630 Heidi: But there's also an important mindset component to 143 00:07:28,630 --> 00:07:31,870 recovery. It's about giving yourself permission to just be 144 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:33,610 without any productivity goals. 145 00:07:33,910 --> 00:07:37,060 Emily: That's the hardest part for teachers, isn't it? We're so 146 00:07:37,060 --> 00:07:40,030 used to measuring our worth by what we accomplish, I have to do 147 00:07:40,060 --> 00:07:43,030 a hostage negotiation with myself to feel like reading a 148 00:07:43,030 --> 00:07:46,360 novel during the day is actually okay and I'm not doing anything 149 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:46,780 wrong. 150 00:07:47,350 --> 00:07:50,350 Heidi: If it's hard for you to embrace relaxing, try reminding 151 00:07:50,350 --> 00:07:53,800 yourself that relaxation is a form of productivity. It just 152 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,500 looks a little different than grading math tests or vacuuming 153 00:07:56,500 --> 00:08:00,130 your living room. Relaxation is productively giving your brain 154 00:08:00,130 --> 00:08:02,410 the space to sort, heal, and restore. 155 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,220 Emily: Oh, I love that reframe, and it resonates with me, 156 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:08,520 because I have totally felt that guilt, like if I'm not actively 157 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:12,000 filling my summer with a huge list of tasks, then I'm somehow 158 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,880 falling behind or letting people down. But what if taking the 159 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,120 time for genuine relaxation is actually making you a better 160 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:18,600 teacher? 161 00:08:19,140 --> 00:08:22,100 Heidi: Yes, we can't keep pouring from an empty cup. So 162 00:08:22,100 --> 00:08:24,860 Emily, what are some practical ways that teachers can embrace 163 00:08:24,860 --> 00:08:26,240 relaxation without guilt? 164 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,410 Emily: Well, first, and I think this is the best way, is to 165 00:08:29,410 --> 00:08:33,490 schedule it. Put do nothing time on your calendar. Sometimes 166 00:08:33,490 --> 00:08:36,040 scheduling something can give you the permission that you need 167 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,010 to follow through. Another idea is to leave your plan book 168 00:08:39,010 --> 00:08:42,370 closed for at least a week, or maybe several weeks, if you can, 169 00:08:42,460 --> 00:08:45,670 after summer starts. Hide your teacher bag in the trunk of your 170 00:08:45,670 --> 00:08:49,570 car where it can't taunt you. And third, try this mantra, my 171 00:08:49,570 --> 00:08:51,910 worth is not measured by my productivity. 172 00:08:52,510 --> 00:08:55,240 Heidi: I love that. I am actually looking at a sticky 173 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,780 note on my computer right now that says productivity is about 174 00:08:58,780 --> 00:09:03,430 more than output. I need this reminder daily that checking 175 00:09:03,430 --> 00:09:06,130 things off a list might feel satisfying in the moment, but it 176 00:09:06,250 --> 00:09:10,240 isn't the true key to happiness, supposedly. I am not less 177 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,880 valuable when I'm scrolling Instagram or, you know, just 178 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,000 doing something for fun, I'm a human doing her best. And 179 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,400 honestly, that is more than enough. 180 00:09:18,610 --> 00:09:22,120 Emily: For sure. And I always think I'm a human being, not a 181 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:23,230 human doing. 182 00:09:23,470 --> 00:09:24,070 Heidi: Oh, there you go. 183 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,310 Heidi: Nope. That's too crazy. 184 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:27,570 Emily: That helps. If you also struggle with this, try making a 185 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:40,560 Emily: Or trying some new tea flavors, or organizing your 186 00:09:27,570 --> 00:09:30,930 summer slow list, a list of relaxing things to do, like 187 00:09:30,930 --> 00:09:35,070 watching a whole movie in one sitting, maybe even without your 188 00:09:35,070 --> 00:09:36,000 phone out. 189 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:43,200 photos, which is something I'm doing this summer, which I have 190 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,180 to say, it doesn't feel that slow. It feels kind of 191 00:09:45,180 --> 00:09:48,720 stressful, but it is a, it is a big fun project, and I'll be so 192 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,380 glad, it's a good, it's a good one. Nothing has to be finished 193 00:09:52,380 --> 00:09:55,200 or optimized, though. So if you don't get it done, it's okay, 194 00:09:55,230 --> 00:09:58,170 because this is about giving yourself permission to just slow 195 00:09:58,170 --> 00:09:59,100 down and be. 196 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,920 Heidi: Those are some great ideas. I'm kind of tempted to 197 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,640 start my own summer list now, especially if it has things like 198 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:08,880 afternoon reading breaks and episodes of The Great British 199 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:09,480 Bake Off. 200 00:10:10,290 --> 00:10:13,530 Emily: Our second type of recovery is to refresh. This is 201 00:10:13,530 --> 00:10:16,380 all about reconnecting with the parts of yourself that maybe got 202 00:10:16,380 --> 00:10:19,350 pushed to the side during the school year. It's the you that 203 00:10:19,350 --> 00:10:23,730 exists outside of lesson plans and grading and team meetings. 204 00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:27,690 Heidi: A refreshful recovery—is refreshful a word? I think it 205 00:10:27,690 --> 00:10:32,310 should be. A refreshful recovery might include hobbies, travel, 206 00:10:32,340 --> 00:10:35,190 long lunches with friends, spending time outside, playing 207 00:10:35,190 --> 00:10:38,340 video games, gardening, cooking, learning something new, calling 208 00:10:38,340 --> 00:10:41,610 up an old friend for a long catch up, or finally finishing 209 00:10:41,610 --> 00:10:44,070 that book that's been sitting on your nightstand since November. 210 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,040 Anything that helps you feel a little more centered fits the 211 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:47,400 bill. 212 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:50,820 Emily: Since the goal with refreshing is to feel more like 213 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:53,730 your true self, what's refreshing for one person can 214 00:10:53,730 --> 00:10:56,820 vary wildly from what's refreshing for someone else. So 215 00:10:56,820 --> 00:11:00,210 maybe for you, it's refreshing to write in a journal or binge 216 00:11:00,210 --> 00:11:03,900 watch a comfort show, guilt free, but someone else may need 217 00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:05,910 the excitement of diving into a new craft project. 218 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,190 Heidi: And don't feel like you have to put limits on what 219 00:11:08,190 --> 00:11:11,190 refreshing looks like. Even a walk around the block with your 220 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:13,950 dog or whipping up something new in the kitchen can be deeply 221 00:11:13,950 --> 00:11:14,700 refreshing. 222 00:11:15,300 --> 00:11:18,090 Emily: And if you're the type of person who finds joy in learning 223 00:11:18,090 --> 00:11:21,150 something new, maybe you should take a class just for fun with 224 00:11:21,420 --> 00:11:25,260 zero tests and definitely no grading. Whatever helps you feel 225 00:11:25,260 --> 00:11:27,990 a little more like yourself and a little more grounded, that is 226 00:11:27,990 --> 00:11:29,370 what refreshing is all about. 227 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,000 Heidi: If you're stumped for ideas about what feels 228 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,640 refreshing, try making a list of things you enjoyed before 229 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,850 becoming a teacher or a busy mom, and then commit to 230 00:11:37,850 --> 00:11:41,270 revisiting at least one of those things. That doesn't mean it has 231 00:11:41,270 --> 00:11:44,480 to be your whole personality. It can be as simple as subscribing 232 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:47,510 to accounts related to hiking and photography on social media. 233 00:11:47,870 --> 00:11:49,970 Emily: Yeah, even baby steps can move us forward. 234 00:11:50,900 --> 00:11:53,720 And that brings us to the third R in our recovery framework, 235 00:11:53,750 --> 00:11:55,280 refocus. 236 00:11:55,490 --> 00:11:58,670 Heidi: For a refocused recovery, we're talking about regrounding 237 00:11:58,700 --> 00:12:01,520 yourself in the rhythms that make your life feel manageable 238 00:12:01,820 --> 00:12:05,600 and meaningful and maybe even kind of lovely. It's not about 239 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,960 adding more to your to do list or reinventing your whole life. 240 00:12:09,230 --> 00:12:12,470 It's about gently tuning into what helps you feel functional 241 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:13,340 and centered. 242 00:12:13,970 --> 00:12:16,970 Emily: So try asking yourself, what keeps me fastened to my 243 00:12:16,970 --> 00:12:21,050 foundation? What habits or rituals make me feel most like 244 00:12:21,050 --> 00:12:24,740 myself, not just a teacher, a parent, a partner or the fixer 245 00:12:24,740 --> 00:12:28,460 of all the things, but you know, as like a whole breathing human 246 00:12:28,490 --> 00:12:29,000 person? 247 00:12:30,470 --> 00:12:33,080 Heidi: Start by listing out the routines and anchors that help 248 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:35,930 you stay afloat. That could be things like staying on top of 249 00:12:35,930 --> 00:12:38,660 the laundry so your Tuesday doesn't start with an underwear 250 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:42,500 crisis, or even getting back to a regular exercise habit, 251 00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:44,240 because your body feels better when you move. 252 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,030 Emily: That reminds me, I have laundry I need to go move. It's 253 00:12:47,030 --> 00:12:51,560 hard to stay on top of the laundry. Refocusing is all about 254 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,800 returning to your daily rituals with intention and not 255 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,130 obligation. We're not building this into a perfectly optimized 256 00:12:58,130 --> 00:13:01,280 routine that we're going to beat ourselves up for failing to 257 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:06,110 follow with 100% fidelity. You know that phrase. This is more 258 00:13:06,110 --> 00:13:08,930 about reintroducing a morning walk, stretching with your 259 00:13:08,930 --> 00:13:12,020 coffee, journaling for five minutes while the house is still 260 00:13:12,020 --> 00:13:15,560 quiet, or finally lighting the candle that you keep saving for 261 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:16,850 the perfect moment. 262 00:13:17,420 --> 00:13:19,940 Heidi: For you, it might be a date night that reminds you of 263 00:13:19,940 --> 00:13:23,060 who you are outside of carpool duty or a devotional or 264 00:13:23,060 --> 00:13:26,030 meditation that recenters you in something bigger than your 265 00:13:26,030 --> 00:13:27,140 classroom tasks. 266 00:13:27,680 --> 00:13:30,140 Emily: Think about your morning and evening transitions. Are 267 00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:33,950 they rushed and chaotic or calm and nourishing? Can you make a 268 00:13:33,950 --> 00:13:37,550 little space to wind down with a cup of tea to prep breakfast the 269 00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:40,580 night before, or to set the tone for your day with sunshine 270 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,610 instead of email, which, guilty. 271 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:46,910 Heidi: Refocusing isn't glamorous, but it is really 272 00:13:46,910 --> 00:13:50,870 powerful for me. I think it might be the most effective form 273 00:13:50,870 --> 00:13:54,170 of recovery. It helps me put things back in place, both 274 00:13:54,530 --> 00:13:57,800 literally and figuratively, if you could see my house, so that 275 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,130 I can face the next chapter from a place of calm and strength, 276 00:14:01,130 --> 00:14:02,930 instead of burnout and disarray. 277 00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:06,410 Emily: When the school year is in full swing, we so often move 278 00:14:06,410 --> 00:14:09,800 into survival mode. Everything gets compressed, and the first 279 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,080 things to go are usually the small, quiet rhythms that 280 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,410 actually make us feel like a really happy, healthy human. 281 00:14:15,890 --> 00:14:19,490 Summer is the chance to reset that so plan to refocus on 282 00:14:19,490 --> 00:14:22,610 whatever routines make your body feel cared for, your mind feel 283 00:14:22,610 --> 00:14:25,340 clear, and your home feel rich and happy. 284 00:14:26,060 --> 00:14:29,600 Heidi: And that brings us to our final R, which is to recharge. 285 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:32,960 This emphasizes activities that fill you up with energy and 286 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:33,800 excitement. 287 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,830 Emily: Recharging is about building up positive energy by 288 00:14:37,860 --> 00:14:42,300 actively refueling. Now this is different from our first R, 289 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:43,110 relaxing. 290 00:14:43,620 --> 00:14:47,250 Heidi: Try thinking of relaxing versus recharging as checking 291 00:14:47,250 --> 00:14:51,210 out versus checking in. Relaxing can involve a lot of losing 292 00:14:51,210 --> 00:14:54,000 yourself in something enjoyable or even just something that's 293 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,790 non demanding, like spending two hours playing a game on your 294 00:14:56,790 --> 00:15:00,690 phone. Recharging, though, is more about dialing in. It's 295 00:15:00,690 --> 00:15:02,850 rediscovering the things that light you up. 296 00:15:03,540 --> 00:15:06,450 Emily: Now, what recharges one person might completely drain 297 00:15:06,450 --> 00:15:08,880 another. There's no one size fits all approach, 298 00:15:08,910 --> 00:15:11,070 unfortunately. So you're going to have to think about what 299 00:15:11,070 --> 00:15:14,400 gives you energy, mentally, emotionally and physically. For 300 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,700 one it might be solo walks with the podcast. For someone else, 301 00:15:17,700 --> 00:15:22,170 it might be hiking with friends, baking or organizing a drawer, I 302 00:15:22,170 --> 00:15:24,390 know, but that really can be energizing. 303 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,050 Heidi: If you're not sure what recharges you, take notes. Pay 304 00:15:28,050 --> 00:15:30,570 attention to what leaves you feeling better and not drained 305 00:15:30,570 --> 00:15:34,020 afterward. Keep a list of quick ideas so when your energy is 306 00:15:34,020 --> 00:15:36,570 low, you don't have to guess what might boost that energy 307 00:15:36,570 --> 00:15:37,350 level back up. 308 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,840 Emily: Yeah, I love that, because when you're tired, it's 309 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,900 hard to think of what would help. Having a pre made list 310 00:15:42,900 --> 00:15:46,230 will make a big difference. And just remember there's no right 311 00:15:46,230 --> 00:15:49,050 way to recharge. The goal is just to find what works for you 312 00:15:49,050 --> 00:15:49,920 and make space for it. 313 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,190 Heidi: And remember that even small changes in a routine can 314 00:15:53,190 --> 00:15:55,770 have a big impact on how recharged we feel. 315 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,590 Emily: Yeah, it's just being proactive about energy 316 00:15:58,590 --> 00:16:01,170 management, and it's something I've realized lately too, that, 317 00:16:01,170 --> 00:16:04,890 like, I know that what I'm doing is actually a recharging 318 00:16:04,890 --> 00:16:08,130 activity, if when I'm done with that, I'm, like, excited and not 319 00:16:08,130 --> 00:16:11,550 like, uh. You know, so believe me, scrolling the phone for a 320 00:16:11,550 --> 00:16:14,430 long time does not leave me feeling like that. 321 00:16:15,060 --> 00:16:18,210 Heidi: No, I can imagine that that wouldn't work. Well, that's 322 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,210 a really good thing to pay attention to. Another aspect of 323 00:16:21,210 --> 00:16:25,410 recharging is identifying and eliminating energy drains. For 324 00:16:25,410 --> 00:16:28,020 me, I found that a surprising drain was having the news on 325 00:16:28,020 --> 00:16:30,150 while getting ready in the morning. Nobody needs that in 326 00:16:30,150 --> 00:16:33,210 their life, so switching to music made an immediate 327 00:16:33,210 --> 00:16:34,650 difference in my energy level. 328 00:16:34,950 --> 00:16:37,230 Emily: Yeah, and it's worth noting that what recharges you 329 00:16:37,230 --> 00:16:40,560 might change over time or in different seasons of life. The 330 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,410 activities that filled your tank five years ago just might not do 331 00:16:43,410 --> 00:16:44,610 the job anymore. 332 00:16:44,940 --> 00:16:47,730 Heidi: Oh, that's such a good point. It's worth reassessing 333 00:16:47,730 --> 00:16:50,490 regularly and being open to discovering new sources of 334 00:16:50,490 --> 00:16:51,150 energy. 335 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,020 Emily: Okay, so let's recap those four Rs of teacher 336 00:16:55,020 --> 00:16:58,560 recovery. First is relax, give yourself permission to rest 337 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,250 without guilt. Second is refresh, reconnect with who you 338 00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:06,930 are outside of teaching. Refocus is to rebuild the rhythms that 339 00:17:06,930 --> 00:17:09,900 keep your life running, and then to recharge is to find what 340 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:11,400 fills your tank and do more of it. 341 00:17:12,030 --> 00:17:15,120 Heidi: Many teachers worry that if they fully embrace these four 342 00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:18,210 Rs during summer, they'll somehow be less prepared for the 343 00:17:18,210 --> 00:17:21,330 next school year. And if you feel that guilt hovering around 344 00:17:21,330 --> 00:17:23,820 you, I want you to shoo it away right now. 345 00:17:24,330 --> 00:17:26,250 Emily: Yeah, there's this misconception that rest and 346 00:17:26,250 --> 00:17:29,790 preparation are opposites, but recovery is preparation. That's 347 00:17:29,790 --> 00:17:30,990 how we come back stronger. 348 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,650 Heidi: And research does back us up on this one. Studies show 349 00:17:34,650 --> 00:17:37,620 that adequate recovery periods lead to higher productivity, 350 00:17:37,860 --> 00:17:40,380 better decision making, and greater resilience when 351 00:17:40,380 --> 00:17:41,550 challenges arise. 352 00:17:41,910 --> 00:17:43,980 Emily: So if you're feeling guilty about not using your 353 00:17:43,980 --> 00:17:47,040 summer to revamp your entire curriculum or reorganize your 354 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,620 classroom library, just let that guilt go. 355 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,350 Heidi: Yeah, your future students deserve a teacher who's 356 00:17:52,350 --> 00:17:56,550 rested, recharged and ready to give them their best, not 357 00:17:56,550 --> 00:17:58,620 because she hustled all summer, but because she took care of 358 00:17:58,620 --> 00:17:59,190 herself. 359 00:17:59,730 --> 00:18:01,950 Emily: If you know a teacher who could use a little permission to 360 00:18:01,950 --> 00:18:04,380 rest, would you send this episode their way and come share 361 00:18:04,380 --> 00:18:07,920 your recovery plans with us in our Facebook group? We could all 362 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,540 benefit from the ideas. 363 00:18:10,650 --> 00:18:13,620 Now for our teacher approved Tip of the Week, where we share an 364 00:18:13,620 --> 00:18:16,200 actionable tip to help you elevate what matters and 365 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,980 simplify the rest. This week's teacher approved tip is to make 366 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,610 your own personalized summer recovery plan. Tell us about it, 367 00:18:23,610 --> 00:18:23,970 Heidi. 368 00:18:24,690 --> 00:18:27,030 Heidi: Well, most summer lists focus on fun activities or 369 00:18:27,030 --> 00:18:30,390 travel plans, which is great. We're totally here for that. But 370 00:18:30,390 --> 00:18:34,770 teachers, I recommend creating a 4R recovery bucket list that 371 00:18:34,770 --> 00:18:37,710 deliberately incorporates activities from each of our 372 00:18:37,710 --> 00:18:39,030 recovery categories. 373 00:18:39,300 --> 00:18:41,310 Emily: Oh, I love this idea. So what does that look like in 374 00:18:41,310 --> 00:18:41,940 practice? 375 00:18:42,270 --> 00:18:45,360 Heidi: Well start by grabbing our free end of year roadmap 376 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:48,630 from the show notes. There's a page in there that is set up to 377 00:18:48,630 --> 00:18:52,680 help you tailor the perfect recovery plan for you. Now, all 378 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,290 of this is in Google Sheets, so you can type right on the page. 379 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,270 And I like that, because it's just so much quicker than 380 00:18:57,270 --> 00:19:00,840 handwriting. You start by reflecting on where you're at as 381 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,600 the school year wraps up and envisioning what you need to get 382 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,230 out of your summer. And then there are boxes for the 4 Rs of 383 00:19:07,230 --> 00:19:10,140 recovery—relax, refresh, refocus and recharge. 384 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,350 Emily: The next step is to brainstorm three to five 385 00:19:13,350 --> 00:19:16,230 specific activities for each category that you want to 386 00:19:16,230 --> 00:19:20,280 prioritize this summer. And make these concrete ideas, not just 387 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,950 relax more. You might really need to focus on recharging, 388 00:19:22,950 --> 00:19:25,770 which is totally fine, but try to come up with a few ideas for 389 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:27,180 each area of recovery. 390 00:19:27,570 --> 00:19:30,810 Heidi: Yeah, exactly. So for relax, you might write, read the 391 00:19:30,810 --> 00:19:33,570 new Emily Henry novel, or catch up on The Last of Us. 392 00:19:33,660 --> 00:19:36,660 Emily: Although I have to say, I don't think the Last of Us is 393 00:19:36,660 --> 00:19:39,570 relaxing. If you do, tell me about it. I tried to watch it 394 00:19:39,570 --> 00:19:41,970 just recently. I was like, I need to get on this. I love 395 00:19:41,970 --> 00:19:45,420 Pedro Pascal. And I was like, oh, no, this is stressful. 396 00:19:45,690 --> 00:19:47,040 Heidi: No, definitely not for me. 397 00:19:47,730 --> 00:19:50,310 Emily: But if it's relaxing for you, you should put it on your 398 00:19:50,310 --> 00:19:50,550 list. 399 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,750 Heidi: For refresh, it could be go to sunset yoga at least three 400 00:19:54,750 --> 00:19:57,810 times, or practice playing the piano three times a week. 401 00:19:58,170 --> 00:19:59,610 Emily: And then what are the other two Rs? 402 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,370 Heidi: Well for refocus, you might include something like, 403 00:20:02,580 --> 00:20:05,010 figure out a meal planning system that doesn't make my 404 00:20:05,010 --> 00:20:08,130 brain melt, or buy a tray to hold all of the water bottles 405 00:20:08,130 --> 00:20:09,990 that the kids keep leaving around the house. 406 00:20:10,140 --> 00:20:11,220 Emily: Oh, seriously. 407 00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:15,060 Heidi: And for recharge, it might be hike a new trail every 408 00:20:15,060 --> 00:20:16,980 week, or visit the local flea market. 409 00:20:17,550 --> 00:20:20,370 Emily: So once you have all that filled in, the key is keeping 410 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,490 your planner visible, print it off and stick it on your 411 00:20:23,490 --> 00:20:26,280 refrigerator or as your phone lock screen. 412 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,220 Heidi: If you need some accountability, try to commit to 413 00:20:29,220 --> 00:20:32,190 doing at least one activity each week of your summer break. 414 00:20:32,580 --> 00:20:34,890 Emily: Yeah. That ensures balanced recovery across all 415 00:20:34,890 --> 00:20:37,410 dimensions of well being, not just physical rest. 416 00:20:37,620 --> 00:20:41,880 Heidi: Exactly. And here's a bonus tip for each item, note 417 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,240 how you will know if it was successful. This helps you 418 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:48,090 recognize when an activity is truly serving your recovery 419 00:20:48,090 --> 00:20:49,560 needs and when it's not. 420 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,770 To wrap up the show, we are sharing what we're giving extra 421 00:20:52,770 --> 00:20:54,930 credit to this week. Emily, what gets your extra credit? 422 00:20:55,380 --> 00:20:57,690 Emily: Well, I'm giving extra credit to the extremely not 423 00:20:57,690 --> 00:21:00,930 relaxing book from John Green called Everything is 424 00:21:00,930 --> 00:21:04,410 Tuberculosis, the history and persistence of our deadliest 425 00:21:04,410 --> 00:21:05,280 infection. 426 00:21:05,610 --> 00:21:06,780 Heidi: Not much of a beach read. 427 00:21:07,020 --> 00:21:10,890 Emily: No, indeed, it is not. But I just finished reading 428 00:21:10,890 --> 00:21:15,330 this, and it's just really on my mind right now. And to be clear, 429 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:17,790 I thought I pretty much understood tuberculosis, but it 430 00:21:17,790 --> 00:21:21,990 turns out I did not. The book was just so eye opening to learn 431 00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:25,980 not only how tuberculosis works, but to understand how it's been 432 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,910 just deeply intertwined with humanity over time. And really 433 00:21:29,910 --> 00:21:32,370 the most mind blowing and frustrating thing I learned is 434 00:21:32,370 --> 00:21:36,180 about how this disease is curable, yet it is the deadliest 435 00:21:36,180 --> 00:21:40,440 disease in the world due to a healthcare inequality. So I get 436 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,020 it. This is a heavy topic, but the book is short and the 437 00:21:43,020 --> 00:21:46,440 information is really compelling and digestible. And John Green 438 00:21:46,470 --> 00:21:51,420 makes any topic easy to listen to or read, I feel like. And I 439 00:21:51,420 --> 00:21:53,700 might just turn into him bringing up tuberculosis in 440 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:57,150 every conversation from now on. So be prepared, if you know me. 441 00:21:58,530 --> 00:22:01,950 Heidi: If you follow him on social media, he kind of does a 442 00:22:01,950 --> 00:22:04,800 bit, I guess, where people will be like, well, how does this 443 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,350 relate to tuberculosis? And he'll be like, Oh, easy. And 444 00:22:07,350 --> 00:22:10,530 it's kind of like the worst version of the Six Degrees of 445 00:22:10,530 --> 00:22:11,280 Kevin Bacon. 446 00:22:14,130 --> 00:22:17,130 Emily: That makes me think of My Big Fat Greek writing, when the 447 00:22:17,130 --> 00:22:20,220 dad's like, give me any word, and I'll tell you how it came 448 00:22:20,220 --> 00:22:23,430 from Greek. It's like that, but with tuberculosis. 449 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:26,940 Heidi: A little less fun, but very interesting. 450 00:22:27,270 --> 00:22:31,020 Emily: It's informative, if nothing else. So what's your 451 00:22:31,020 --> 00:22:31,770 extra credit, Heidi? 452 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,400 Heidi: Well my extra credit goes to something very different. It 453 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,370 is the little Torani syrup bottles that you can get at 454 00:22:38,370 --> 00:22:41,790 World Market. I picked up some the other day that came in a 455 00:22:41,790 --> 00:22:45,750 special spring sampler variety pack. And it has been so fun. 456 00:22:46,170 --> 00:22:48,990 I've been adding hibiscus and lavender to the Clearly Canadian 457 00:22:49,020 --> 00:22:52,800 that I also got at World Market. So just a fancy little midday 458 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:53,670 drink for Heidi. 459 00:22:54,300 --> 00:22:56,580 Emily: I love clearly Canadian. I'll have to get some mini 460 00:22:56,580 --> 00:22:58,050 Torani bottles too. 461 00:22:58,560 --> 00:22:59,700 Heidi: They're so cute. 462 00:23:00,570 --> 00:23:04,200 That's it for today's episode. Teacher recovery isn't laziness. 463 00:23:04,230 --> 00:23:07,710 It's a necessity that directly impacts your effectiveness in 464 00:23:07,710 --> 00:23:09,120 the classroom and in life. 465 00:23:09,330 --> 00:23:11,640 Emily: And don't forget our teacher approved tip, which is 466 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,750 to create a 4R recovery bucket list to ensure you're addressing 467 00:23:15,750 --> 00:23:18,480 all dimensions of teacher wellbeing this summer. And you 468 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,990 can get that in the end of your roadmap, which is linked in the 469 00:23:21,990 --> 00:23:24,750 show notes. You know we couldn't do a whole episode where we 470 00:23:24,750 --> 00:23:26,640 didn't talk about the end of your roadmap again. 471 00:23:29,430 --> 00:23:32,610 Heidi: We hope you enjoyed this episode of teacher approved. I'm 472 00:23:32,610 --> 00:23:33,180 Heidi. 473 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,510 Emily: And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow 474 00:23:36,510 --> 00:23:39,060 or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss an 475 00:23:39,060 --> 00:23:39,480 episode. 476 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,240 Heidi: You can connect with us and other teachers in the 477 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,450 Teacher Approved Facebook group. We'll see you here next week. 478 00:23:45,660 --> 00:23:46,470 Bye for now. 479 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:47,280 Emily: Bye.