Quickest way to destress at the end of term

[wonderstuff]

I am TIRED and I am stressed. Started a new job in Jan, took over a department that hadn't had good leadership in many years with some really complex students as SENCo, a week to go and I am crawling to the end.

In past years I've spent day one of the holiday in bed, and I probably will do this this year, but I worry that actually even that won't do it? I don't want to spend a week recovering from school - what can I do? Will a spa day work? A long walk in the country? I want that first cocktail by the pool feeling, but without flying off on holiday.. What is your most effective destress?

(my dc are teens, so I can ignore them for a chunk of a day, but not abandon them completely)..

I find it really hard to switch off at the start of summer. I'm a HoD and with so much to do before term ends, like you, I am crawling to the end!

I have a 10 year old so do need to be about for him more than you would with teens.

I try to plan something nice - even if it's simple. So, for instance, maybe a local walk on a bridal path that lands in a nearby village and a coffee at our favourite cafe. Perhaps something like that would help you?

I also try to avoid doing much in the first few days - it's tempting to want to start spring cleaning the house etc. But I really try to wait and have a few days of down time.

I generally do have to do some work over summer to make sure things are ready for September but I try to leave it a while and then spread it out.

I am away the middle two weeks of the holidays so will be getting organised and looking forward to that too!

Have a lovely holiday! I'm finding just planning my holiday time overwhelming - of course I am going to have to go in and do some work, but I'm hoping to leave that until the last couple of weeks. I do have a few days of city break with the family, which will be lovely but not particularly chilled I don't think. I want to paint my kitchen.. I'm eyeing up a spa day..

Also a SENCo. I take a slightly different approach and plan to go in for the first week of the holidays to clear things. I hate it hanging over me. So in my head I have another week of term and then an office/ classroom week with less interruptions.

I go on holiday, literally the next day or a few days after the end of term.

I hate having my holiday away at the end of the 6 weeks as I'm just waiting for it.

It makes me totally switch off and relax.

It might not be the quickest way, but I try to do a bit of work in the first week to help wind down, and then build up again in the last week of the holiday. Some of this is done at home and I have a choice over hours, so it doesn't feel too bad, and means I work less on the weekends during term time. I try to get as much planning done as I can, tidy the classroom etc. I find winding down and up gives me a U shaped de-stress, rather than just stopping and then falling ill. I still then get a good chunk of time in the middle away from it.

I will sleep for at least three days 🤣

It takes a long time for my body to slow down and then I often get tonsillitis....

I second the going on holiday immediately approach, that will definitely reset you!
Otherwise I would plan something else quite intensive that will break the routine - first thing I will do is jet wash the patio. That will take a day and will definitely break the school rhythm. After that I will be able to reset and relax.

Have you selected a good book or two you're planning on reading this holiday?

I find an entire day or two spent reading without worrying about work very relaxing. Or giving myself permission to video game for a whole day or two (depends how long it takes to get through), or to binge watch a long TV series.

Just for a weekend, and knowing it's completely guilt-free, is a great re-set for me.

That said, I'm working like mad at the moment, because my HOD is new to the role and so a LOT of prep for next year falls on me as they're busy finding their feet and naturally are having difficulty keeping all the plates spinning at once (I'm a TLR holder with a fair bit of experience in the role).

An aftenoon game of cricket should do it.