By the time May rolls around, most of us are running on coffee fumes and sheer determination. State testing has sucked the soul out of the room, kids are half here (mentally, if not physically), and we’ve all got a countdown hidden somewhere in our planner. Enter: summer. The glorious light at the end of the tunnel. But here’s the catch… how do you actually rest over summer without feeling like you should be laminating something?
I’ve been there. I used to spend June telling myself, “I’ll take a week off, then I’ll start planning for next year.” But suddenly it’s July, and I’m deep in a spiral of redoing labs, reorganizing bins, and rewriting lessons I probably won’t even use. Spoiler: that’s not rest. That’s summer work disguised as productivity.
So, this year, I’m committing to a Teacher Summer Bucket List… the kind that’s designed for actual rest, with zero guilt attached. And yes, I’ll probably still wander into Target’s school supply aisle “just to look,” but at least I’ll have some balance.
1. Drink Coffee While It’s Still Hot
During the school year, coffee exists mostly as a lukewarm science experiment on your desk. Summer is for sipping it slowly, maybe even outside, with no bell schedule dictating your life. It’s the little luxuries that feel revolutionary.
2. Take a Real Nap (Not a Grading-Induced One)
There’s a difference between the accidental, face-on-the-stack-of-labs nap and the glorious, sun-drenched couch nap you choose. This bucket list item is about intentional rest… no red pen in sight.
3. Do Something That Has Nothing to Do With School
Read a murder mystery, take a pottery class, finally binge that show your students keep spoiling for you. The key: resist the urge to justify it as “professional development.” It’s okay to have hobbies that don’t come with CEUs.
4. Get Outside (But Leave the Worksheets Behind)
Whether it’s a hike, a picnic, or just sitting on the porch, summer is for reconnecting with the outdoors. And no, you don’t need to collect data on the number of squirrels you see. Just be.
5. Say “No” Without Apologizing
Summer invitations will roll in—committees, trainings, curriculum planning sessions. Unless it genuinely sparks joy (or at least pays decently), your bucket list gives you full permission to politely decline. Protect your time.
6. Save One Nerdy Science Adventure for Fun
Okay, I can’t completely take the science teacher out of summer. Maybe it’s a trip to a science museum, a stargazing night, or tinkering with a DIY experiment. The difference? It’s for you—not for a lesson plan.
7. Leave the To-Do List Half-Finished
This one might be the hardest, but it’s the most freeing. You don’t have to declutter every closet, read every book, or prep every lesson. Rest isn’t earned by finishing tasks. It’s allowed, period.
Wrapping It Up
Summer isn’t just a break; it’s a reset button. Your students deserve a teacher who comes back refreshed, not one who spent 8 weeks burning out in different ways. My summer bucket list isn’t about productivity—it’s about presence, joy, and unapologetic rest.
So go ahead. Take the nap. Drink the hot coffee. Wander Target’s school aisle just for fun. You’ve earned every single moment.
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