Refreshed to Overwhelmed? The highs and lows coming back from Spring break. 

What a relief Spring break is for educators. All the anticipation leading up to a well-deserved weeklong break and the fun we experience during that week is such an advantage to being on a school calendar. So many in the business world are envious of those times, commenting on the freedoms we experience with our chosen field. While Spring break moments are fantastic, they are well deserved leading up too and coming back from. Ending the 3^rd quarter with momentum and prepping for the last 9 weeks can take its toll on even the most seasoned educator. Spring break offers us a moment to recharge and remember why it is we do what we do.  

Educators generally experience a refreshed feeling coming back from break and know we must hit the ground running to close out the year strong. Those refreshed feelings can be quickly dampened by a host of issues: students needing extra support and remediation coming in from the week absence, internal pressures to meet and exceed various benchmarks, and a testing season that just takes the wind out of your sail. These and many other circumstances can quickly take us from rejuvenation to exhaustion.  

Mind your refreshed mindset. 

Remember you the ol’ “locus of control” speech? Well, hear it again. Don’t get caught up with what you can’t control. It takes you down a path of negativity and away from a positive mindset. So many things come across us in education that we cannot control. We do what we can for our students to the best of our capabilities. Own your control and don’t worry about someone else’s.  

Take a moment to breathe. When those feelings of exhaustion or becoming overwhelmed start to emerge, hit the pause button. Pause, if students are not understanding your instruction. Pause, if the testing schedule has you moving all over the place. Pause, if your PLC is becoming a nightmare. Breathe, don’t stress. Enjoy a lunch with a colleague. Show your students some positive praise. Offer gratitude and grace to your administration. All will be well. When summer hits, you will be carefree again.