How are you spending your long summer days?

[TeachersParadise]

This is a needing practical advice thread aimed at teachers or people who don't work or aren't working currently, retired or whatever. I'm not really interested in debating summer holidays in general.

When my children were younger, I had no trouble filling in the summer holidays because we were off doing things and I was with them

But they're now adults, and the youngest left home for university last year.

I'm just finding it hard on my MH now that I'm left to my own devices for 6 weeks.

So far this summer, I've cleaned the house from top to bottom including doors, windows, blinds, skirting boards. The house is immaculate and so takes around 15 mins a day to keep on top of now.

I've cleared out, cleaned and reorganised the kitchen cupboards and drawers.

I've spent a day batch cooking for the freezer and will do another.

I've redone a craft thing I first made 10 years ago and was showing its age.

I've bought what I need to do another.

I've had a couple of evenings out and been to two lunches. Most of my friends are not teachers and are working still (as is my partner) so it's only retired friends I can meet up with who already have their lives in a routine that they obviously aren't going to change because I'm free!

I've been into school to sort out my classroom for September and will have to go in at least once more.

I've got work I could do - planning for September and laminating resources etc but I don't want to fill every day doing that.

I need the break so I don't really have the capacity to commit to volunteering - the process can be longer than i have with vetting processes and no one wants to invest in someone who'll be gone in a few weeks.

I don't really want to find a summer job because mentally and physically last year was tough and the upcoming year will be equally so. I want to feel completely rested. And I don't actually need a summer job.

I've got a couple of colleagues coming round for dinner tomorrow and I'm meeting up with a couple of others next week for a day out. I've got a day out planned with my daughter too.

I've watched everything I'm interested in watching on Prime.

I'm not quite in the headspace to sit down with a book yet - maybe next week.

I've got clearing out and organising my wardrobe/drawers to look forward to, along with tidying out the shed. But I'm pacing myself - I don't want to get everything done straightaway because then there'll be nothing left to look forward to! 😉

I'm doing self care stuff.

But I'm also still waking up at 5.40am evey morning without fail so my days are very long. I just feel like I'm killing time until bedtime sometimes.

I struggle with the loss of routine when not working but, equally, am reluctant to get myself into another rigid routine for the summer.

Anyone got any suggestions for other things I could do? If you're not at work right now, and no children at home, how do you spend your days? I'm finding it hard MH wise.

Last summer was all about A level results and shopping/planning for university. So there was lots to do. I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment.

Thanks.

Long walks in a park, beach or the countryside are my fave, stopping with a coffee or a drink on the way to people watch 😊

I've got a week of camping in the middle of nowhere coming up. I can't wait.

Perhaps I should do more of that.

Long walks would be good. Thanks.

I'm no help I'm afraid - been finished just over a week but been in every day since doing paperwork. I also have house and garden to sort and prep for September plus a week away. Summer feels too short! Can you go to a gallery/museum/show near you or for a night away somewhere? I'm also a year post a levels (dd's not mine) so feels odd to have nothing child related to do.

Sounds to me like you havent fully decompressed since the end of term, hence all the "busy" tasks you've been doing in and around the house.

Can you afford to get away more? Even for cheap days out?

Im off work just now for different reasons and have children at home so very different for me.

I think it’s really hard to go from full on teaching to nothing and I do feel guilty that I ‘waste’ my summer holidays, even though I do need the break! I’ve found futurelearn helps, it’s free courses you can dip into and keeps my mind busy. Other than that I just try to achieve something every day - a gym session, chapter of a book etc. It’s ok to just chill though!

I would go for some nice long walks on the cooler days. Do you enjoy swimming or sports? I'd look at incorporating something like this in my daily or every other day routine. Something like an exercise class or badminton club would also potentially be a good way to meet new people.

I’d look for local events that might interest you, theatre, music, museum etc.

Or pick a local town or point of interest (somewhere you’ve never been) nearby and take yourself off for the day to explore. It’s often what’s on our doorstep we never get to see.

Sounds like you need to get out more. Almost all your mentioned activities are home-based. Staying at home,
even if busy, can leave you restless as it can feel like you haven’t achieved anything.
I would suggest day trips, even if solo, to whatever interests you - national trust? Museums? Country walks?

I think that's part of it.

I knew I'd have more free time this year and thought I'd get all the big jobs out of the way to begin with but I definitely haven't decompressed.

I feel like an overtired toddler! I'm tired but can't sleep and feeling lacking in energy because of it.

The suggestions for days out/nights away are great but, at the moment, I'm too tired to be bothered!

Perhaps I just keep a lazy day where I don't aim to do anything and enjoy it for what it is.

It's hard isn't it?

In everyday for the week though? That's tough. I'm trying to preplan the days I'm working and not think about it otherwise. But it's hard to do!

I can do days out but I'm just too tired at the moment. I just keep thinking that all I need is a god night's sleep but I'm not getting it.

I found it much easier when the children were small! I've not really felt the empty nest until now becaise of work but perhaps some of it is tied in with that.

It's partly guilt I feel too. And the dread of getting back in autumn and suddenly thinking of loads of things I want to do!

Thanks for the futurelearn suggestion! That's exactly the kind of thing I'd enjoy. More than going to the gym anyway 😉 I'm going to look into that.

Yes, achieving something every day is how I feel about it too.

So true!

Yes, I've got a couple ofnthings I want to do and my day out next week with some colleagues is a day like this. Thanks.

Yes, that's true. I realised while typing it out that it's all very home based. I also feel I need that at the moment though. Not much peopley stuff.

I think that I need to look at getting out more from next week.

My partner and I are NT members but its something we always do together. Not considered going alone before but maybe I should.

Couldn’t agree more with @noidea69 , I believe there is research on how many decisions teachers have to make every day…and it’s a hell of a lot! It will take a while for your mind to slow down.

This is a bit left field, but I find animals really help when that burnout feeling comes on. They’re just so present. I have dogs but I also sometimes go to a donkey sanctuary (early, before it’s full of families bickering) and spend time watching, patting and just being with the donkeys.

Sounds bonkers, but it helps me 🤣.

It doesn't sound bonkers at all! I spend most of the time im not busy sitting in the garden watching the animals, insects and birds! 😁

We have pets and I enjoy spending time with them. There's also a donkey sanctuary nearby. Maybe I'll go there!!

If I were you I would have a few utterly chill days to try to reset your brain from work to holiday mode. And then lots of day trips places. I like NT properties, gardens, second hand bookshops, beach trips and canal walks.

Understand what you’re saying. I’m in academia, so August is quiet work wise, however I have a 15 year old son who would be constantly gaming if I didn’t plan things for him. His friends are mostly remote and they seem nonplussed about arranging to meet up despite some prodding. I feel in a bit of a no man’s land, where I can’t work and there isn’t much a 15 year old enjoys doing with his mum, plus it’s GCSE year in September so school have set him homework which he is chipping away at for an hour a day.
I’ve been very busy and all of a sudden August is here and we have nothing really planned. Like you, partly it’s an issue of decompression and transition. Could you look at any cultural things to do? Museum exhibitions, good films, catching up with friends. My need to be productive is somewhat being satisfied by collecting apples from the garden and therefore saving on the food bill. Clearing stuff out of the house- selling old books on the World of Books app, that sort of thing.

I do love Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary!

Also, I find exercise great for mental health, a long run in nature is a real tonic.

Im having a wonderful time.
Late nights lie ins till gone 10.30 binge watching youtube doing yoga its bliss.
Going to india soon for a week then back home to chill then off again to thailand.
Then back to chilling out.

I'm not a teacher or retired but it's my dream to have six weeks off in the summer so I have given this quite a lot of thought!

I would do Pilates and/or go swimming two or three times a week. I'd do lots of solo day trips to get out and about as much as possible - visit a castle, climb a hill, do a short coast walk. I'd go fruit picking and try making my own ice cream.

My other tip is to google "design your summer" it's something that Gretchen Rubin who has a podcast and blog about happiness has covered a lot. Basically it's about considering how you want to feel and how you could carve out time over summer to do things that would help you to feel that way.

IMissSparkling

Those are great ideas. And, tbh, what I do but not every day.

I used to buy an unlimited pass to my local yoga studio and go to a class every day but then I moved and the studio shut down. Shame it was really good!

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Some.great ideas and some good reasons for why I might he feeling the way I did this morning.

Today, I spent the whole day in bed, watched a film on my phone and slept for about 4 hours this afternoon! 🙈

I feel so much better now and I'm definitely going to take on board what people.have said about using the time.