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You’re Not Just a Teacher: Rediscovering Hobbies & Identity in the Summer Break
- Eduettu
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
During the school year, it’s easy to lose yourself in the role of “teacher.” You become the early riser, the deadline keeper, the emotional anchor, the after-hours planner. In conversations, even outside of work, the question “So, how’s school?” becomes a constant. Over time, the boundaries blur. What starts as a profession becomes a full-time identity. That’s why summer break isn’t just a holiday—it’s a vital pause, a chance to ask: Who am I when I’m not teaching?
Reconnecting with that answer doesn’t always come easily. The abrupt shift from packed schedules to empty days can be disorienting. Many teachers experience what could be called a “purpose void” in the first days of summer. But this transition is also an invitation—to rest, to explore, and to rediscover. The first step is recognising that teacher wellbeing depends not just on physical rest, but on identity recovery.
So where do you begin? Here are five ways to reconnect with yourself this summer:
Revisit abandoned hobbies: Pull out the guitar you haven’t touched in years. Dust off the sketchpad. Try a new recipe without checking the clock. Let yourself play again—without the need for perfection or productivity.
Let your calendar breathe: Resist the urge to fill every day with goals. Leave space for spontaneous joy: a walk without a destination, a book without an academic purpose, or a nap in the middle of the day.
Explore identities beyond “teacher”: You are also a friend, a partner, a daughter or son, a reader, a runner, a dreamer. Reinvest time in the relationships and roles that remind you of your wholeness.
Reflect without pressure: Journaling can be powerful, especially with prompts like: What energized me this year? What drained me? What did I lose that I want to reclaim? You don’t need a plan—just curiosity.
Disconnect to reconnect: Take intentional breaks from education Twitter, professional development webinars, and school emails. Remember: growth doesn’t always happen in the noise—it often happens in quiet.
Summer is not a time to optimize—it’s a time to rehumanize. That includes your body (rest), your heart (joy), and your mind (freedom). The idea isn’t to become someone new, but to gently return to the person you may have set aside between term reports and staff meetings.
And here’s the surprising thing: the more you rediscover yourself during the break, the more prepared you’ll be in the fall. Teachers who re-enter the classroom with a stronger sense of identity tend to experience greater resilience, clearer boundaries, and deeper classroom presence. You bring back not just knowledge, but energy. Not just strategies, but spirit.
So go ahead—say yes to the hike, the painting class, the silly movie, the late breakfast, or the quiet afternoon in the garden. None of these things need to “advance your practice” to be valid. They advance you.
What’s something small but meaningful you could return to this summer—not because it’s useful, but because it’s you? Let us know in the comments below.
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