25 Jun 2025
One of my most popular NAEO summer conference workshops was when I talked about ‘finding our nothing’ to re-fill our energy tanks.
In recent weeks, I’ve noticed many neuro-scientists recommending ‘nothing’ as good for our brain. So, this month, as many of us are crashed out after the long slog to exams, I’ve put together ‘Your 7-Step Summer Survival Strategy!’ - which includes seven ideas to prompt you to take care and look after yourself.
- Stop
One thing few of us are good at is Stopping. We’ve much to do. We push on to get done. “Plenty of time to stop” we say, “when this is done and dusted”.
The sad truth is that for many of us, that burn out comes before we’ve found the courage to take that stop time.
So here it is! Just Stop. Remove yourself from the situation. Take a moment, or two. Stop the process and the pattern from happening and from repeating. You know the signs.
Pay attention and be brave enough to put your hand up and your hand out to others, if you need to.
- Stillness
In order to rest, we need to be still. We are used to madness at school so being still is a challenge. If you cannot be still for long, at least allow yourself to be quiet.
It’s another way of just stopping the noise and busyness.
Don’t ‘do’. Just ‘Be. I have said this before!
- Silence
In the absence of noise, we can learn to hear more and slowly trust our instincts. Silence isn’t necessarily No Thing. Just less action, and more recuperation.
It could be thinking, reading, tea drinking time… you decide. It is a place where decision making is OUT OF THE QUESTION. You have had enough of that for a while, right?!
- Space
Again – find a place where you will not be asked to do anything, away from the madding crowd. Create an area which is sacrosanct like your own force field and imagine a mental ‘do not enter’ sign hanging there.
You decide where it is. It does not have to be a physical space. I have space in my head to hive off to when I need to.
But sometimes it needs me to remove myself from the hullabaloo first.
- Sleep
Sleep can be a challenge for some of us, so I will not harp on about how important it is, when you cannot find it. But you know that.
Think ‘rest’ as an alternative if sleep is elusive. Carve out some extra sleep/rest time at home or wherever you can. There is no benefit to worrying about the lack of it. Learn to relax and switch off.
Find your nothing and be protective of it.
- Support
How good are you at asking for help? It does not have to be the ‘big reveal’ where you share your innermost stuff! Just asking a friend for a chat over the kettle equals support.
Find a friendly colleague you can have a heart-to-heart with and be open to sharing whatever feels ok. Just reaching out is a step in the right direction.Do not be precious about soldiering on.
The time to stop is often before you think you need to!
- Self-Care
Do you have a favourite indulgence? It does not have to be expensive or luxurious – but it could be. Mine is a rug or hottie (depending on the weather!) with a hot earl grey or chocolate, good book and time to myself. Or any of that come to think of it.
For you it may be a pampering at a spa. Whatever it is, build it in, frequently so you can take care of your mind, body and spirit.
Doing this will have you ‘match ready’ for the season, and in a good shape to see things through.
Ultimately, get to know yourself and the signs of stress you are showing. Create your own survival strategy for your downtime and allow yourself to have it. No pencilling in. You need and deserve time off away from the strain and stress of school commitments.
As you work on your own stress-buster summer, keep an eye out for any colleague, friend or family member who may need a helping hand.
But remember, when we give out, we deplete ourselves, so only be willing to do so if you’re feeling strong enough in your own summer survival strategy to weather any incoming turbulence!
I’m offering Exam Stress CPD Workshops to help schools mentally prepare students for their 2026 exams! Want me to work with you? ‘Back to School’ September Workshops available for booking now. Download CPD workshop details here www.geraldinejozefiak.com/cpd or email me at hello@geraldinejozefiak.com
Take the School Stress Snapshot Quiz here.
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