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Countdown to Christmas Break
posted by: Ruthie | December 21, 2012, 01:21 PM   

After weeks of prepping students for exams, grading, and managing holiday celebrations, winter break is just around the corner. Nearly two weeks of vacation stretch ahead and teachers are undoubtedly making holiday relaxation plans. We hope that you will take this time to relax and rejuvenate. Consider our tips for a peaceful Christmas break:

1. Read a great book. You teach the importance of reading, you constantly encourage the practice, yet you rarely get a chance to pick up a book and read it cover to cover. Winter break is your chance! Give your mind a break from holiday and teaching stresses and enjoy a great novel. Click here for a list of the top books of 2012.

2. Try something new. Whether it's a new recipe, a project around your house, or trying a new local activity, use this break to add some variety to your routine. Look for opportunities to mix things up. You'll come back with stories and recommendations (or warnings) for your students and colleagues.

3. Catch up with an old friend. There's something unequivocally comforting about reconnecting with someone you haven't seen in a while. Whether it's been a year or just a month, spending time with an old friend reminds you of who you are, who you used to be, and who you are becoming. Like an anchor, an old friend ties you to what is important.

4. Spend time with family. You can't live with them and you can't live without them. This winter, spend time enjoying your family. Choose to overlook the stress and appreciate their presence this holiday season. Take time to ask family members how their fall was, what the highlights of 2012 were, and what they are looking forward to in the New Year.

5. Develop yourself professionally. While you may not have the time to take a class, you can still look for ways to spice things up in 2013. Catch up on your copies of AAE's publication Education Matters, or take a look at AAE's professional development blogs.

6. Reflect over the past semester. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "It is impossible to move forward successfully without looking back. If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values." Take stock in your successes and resolve to change your failures.

7. Make realistic goals for next semester. Using your reflections and evaluations, make a few realistic goals for 2013. Too many goals will leave you feeling discouraged and overwhelmed, but a few reasonable resolutions can add inspiration and motivation to your spring semester.

8. Be healthy. Your health is tied to your ability to be an excellent teacher. However, after-school tutoring and extra-curricular activities often take the place of sleep, exercise, and healthy eating. Now is the time to revamp your strategies to being healthy, so when the chaos of a new semester begins, you will already have healthy habits in place. Click here for tips on staying healthy as an educator.

9. Do nothing. This is difficult for hardworking teachers. If you cannot wrap your mind around this concept, then you probably desperately need to do nothing. Put your feet up, sit on the couch, stay in bed later than normal, or watch a mindless show. Take some time off and just relax.

10. Laugh. Whether you watch a movie, share old stories, or read a book, make laughter a priority. Studies show laughter releases endorphins and bonds you with other humans. As the Proverbs say, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

We wish you a relaxing holiday break with your friends and family! 

 
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