The first half of the autumn term is often the longest and most tiring of the school year. New classes, new routines, open evenings, data drops and the first round of parents’ evenings all arrive at once.
October half-term is a chance to recover, but it is easy to lose it to marking, planning and a vague sense of guilt. Here are 17 ways to actually rest over October half-term, particularly for classroom teachers, early career teachers and anyone who reached the end of the half-term running on empty.
1. Decide in advance how much work you will do
“I’ll do a bit” usually turns into a bit every day. Make a clear decision before the holiday starts: no work at all, or a fixed amount at a fixed time.
2. Front-load or back-load any work
If you do need to work, do it on the first day or the last day, not scattered through the week. That leaves a solid block of time that is genuinely free.
3. Leave the marking at school
A pile of books in the hallway is a constant reminder of work. If you are not going to mark it, do not bring it home.
4. Write a short to-do list before you leave
Spend ten minutes on the last afternoon writing down what needs doing after half-term. Getting it out of your head makes it much easier to stop thinking about it.
5. Turn off school email notifications
Remove school email from your phone for the week, or at least switch off notifications. Very little that arrives during half-term needs a reply before the first day back.
6. Mute the staff group chat
Even friendly messages can pull your mind back into school. Muting the chat for a week is not unfriendly; it is sensible.
7. Catch up on sleep gradually
A couple of lie-ins can help, but keeping a reasonably regular routine will make the return to early alarms much less of a shock.
8. Expect to feel ill or tired
Many teachers find they feel worse in the first few days of a holiday. Plan an easy start rather than packing the week from day one.
9. Get outside in daylight
In term time, many teachers arrive and leave school in the dark during the autumn and winter months. A walk in daylight each day can make a real difference to mood and energy.
10. Move in a way you enjoy
Exercise does not need to be a punishing new regime. A swim, a bike ride or a long walk with a friend all count.
11. See people who are not teachers
Time with friends and family outside education is a good way to stop talking, and thinking, about school.
12. Do something that has nothing to do with school
Read a novel, cook something new, visit a gallery or pick up an old hobby. Something absorbing gives your mind a proper break.
13. Book the appointments you never have time for
The dentist, the doctor, the car service or the boiler check are hard to fit into a teaching day. Getting them done in half-term removes a background worry.
14. Do not compare your half-term with others
Some colleagues will plan the whole of next half-term. Others will not open a laptop. Neither is the right answer for everyone, so choose what works for you.
15. Plan the first day back, not the whole half-term
Knowing exactly what you will teach on the first Monday reduces Sunday night anxiety. The rest can wait until you are back.
16. Ease back in on the final evening
Lay out your clothes, pack your bag and have an early night before the return. A calm final evening makes the first morning much easier.
17. Ask for help if rest is not enough
If a week off does not lift your mood or energy, it may be a sign of something more than tiredness. Talk to someone you trust, your GP or the free, confidential helpline run by the charity Education Support.
Find Out More
Looking for ways to keep the benefits going after half-term? Read 17 ways to actually switch off from school when you get home.
How do you make the most of half-term? Teach17 would love to hear your tips. Get in touch.