The past couple of years has seemed like a quiet revolution in education, built on the need to keep education alive for our students and keep some normality in their lives. As educators, this is what we do every day in many different ways whether we are in a global pandemic or not.
But now, it’s the holidays, and it’s time to leave classes and school to one side and stop. As we all know, when educators stop during the holidays, they tend to get sick, but perhaps this year, if you’ve still been doing everything virtually, at least your exposure to all those student germs is non-existent. If you have been back in school like most, yes, you might have the driest hands possible, but maybe the students’ germs have been at a distance. Is this likely to mean you are less likely to get sick, sorry to say, probably not. However, your students are learning that your teaching life has been going at a million miles an hour for the majority of the past couple of years. So the sentiment “and now relax...” is exactly what we need to do to keep those sick germs away.
What are you going to do to relax this holiday period? I have in mind that I am going to spend some time making the Lego flowers that my husband bought me from Amsterdam in the summer. We will also be organizing my mother's no-fuss 80th birthday party. I am sure that will be left for me to organize but don’t worry, I am a wiz at that sort of thing now! My hope is that you find something that helps you stop, relax and take time for yourself. In education, there is always something else that needs attention, something that needs developing, but at the end of this year, the most important thing that needs attention is your wellbeing, and it’s vital that you make sure this is part of your holiday plans.