Teachers, this one’s for you.
The lesson plans are multiplying.
The to-do list has become a full-blown novella.
Your students are vibrating with pre-holiday energy.
And your brain? Probably running 87 tabs at once, half of them frozen.
Here’s your reminder as we head into Thanksgiving break:
You do not have to earn your rest.
We’ve Been Conditioned to Hustle
Somewhere along the way, we learned that rest is something we get after we’ve done enough.
After the grading is caught up.
After the classroom is organized.
After the house looks presentable.
After everyone else’s needs are met.
But here’s the truth: that “after” never comes.
Because there will always be another thing to do, another email to answer, another “quick” task that eats your entire evening.
If you wait until you’ve done enough to rest, you’ll never stop working.
Rest Isn’t a Reward. It’s a Requirement.
Think about your laptop and how it runs updates and reboots to work properly.
You don’t shame it for needing to restart.
You plug it in because that’s how it keeps functioning.
You, my friend, are no different.
Your body and brain need moments to power down so you can come back online and be clear, focused, and human again.
What Rest Actually Looks Like
Rest doesn’t have to mean an all-day spa trip (though yes, please, if that’s an option).
It can look like:
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Turning off notifications after 8 PM
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Sitting on the porch with your coffee before the day begins
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Taking a nap without guilt
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Leaving school on time just once this week
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Saying “no” to one extra thing and “yes” to breathing room
You don’t have to earn that. You deserve it because you’re a human being with limits — not a machine.
Rest Is Productive
When you pause, you’re not being lazy. You’re rebuilding capacity.
You’re giving your nervous system space to regulate.
You’re teaching your students (and your family) that balance is a strength, not a weakness.
Rested teachers show up more patient, more creative, and more grounded.
And that’s the kind of energy your students need most not the version of you who’s running on caffeine and fumes.
Your Permission Slip
So here it is, written out for you:
You have permission to rest.
You have permission to not be productive.
You have permission to exist without a to-do list attached.
Take your break.
Take the nap.
Take the walk.
Take the deep breath.
The world will keep spinning.
But you’ll come back centered. And that’s what truly matters.
💬 Tell Me
What’s one way you’re planning to rest over break?
Drop it in the comments, or share it on Instagram and tag me because we could all use a little reminder that rest counts too. 💛
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