Next week, I will begin my fourth year teaching.

This time last year, I was just starting my “Señora Newton” blog. I was so excited to get back to work, set up my classroom, and put into practice what I had been learning.

Last summer, I got to attend Model Schools Conference in Orlando and learn from some of the best and most innovative educators around. I took pages and pages of notes, met some new friends, and ate some of the best tacos of my life inside a gas station.

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After that conference, I spent the rest of my summer thinking about teaching. I started brainstorming ideas for my classroom, writing blog posts, and planning social media content. I spent way too many hours on Canva creating all sorts of materials for my classroom and graphics for my social media pages. I dreamed about seating arrangements and bellringers, and I hardly spent any time actually resting.

This summer could not have been more different. For the first time ever, I was not ready to go back. It feels wrong to even type that sentence, but I want to be completely transparent with you. I did not want to think about school this summer.

Before you judge me, keep reading!

One of the main reasons I started this blog was to be a positive presence for teachers online. I see so many posts about people leaving the profession or complaining about their jobs, and I don’t want to contribute to that. We don’t do it for the schedule or the benefits, and we definitely don’t do it for the money. Most of us teach because we feel like we were made for it. We had a teacher that inspired us to become that person for someone else. We want to make a difference in the lives of our students. We want to help raise up the next generation to reach their full potential. But that can be a big responsibility and a heavy burden to carry.

I understand why people leave. It’s a lot. Teacher burnout is real. I expected this past year to be a breeze – I had a group of incredible students, and I was more comfortable and confident in myself as an educator – but it was probably the most difficult year I’ve had so far.

• I got sick a lot – like, I think I used all of my sick days. Every time I would get back into my morning gym routine, it felt like I got knocked back down again.
• Our family dog suddenly died in March, which was a lot more difficult than I expected it to be. We still don’t really know what caused it.
• My grandfather, who lives in Kentucky, got put on hospice in April, and he died in May. I said goodbye to him over FaceTime since I couldn’t be there, and I spent every day at work anxiously awaiting that dreaded phone call.

It’s uncomfortable for me to share those things. It’s emotional to think back to those moments and remember feeling so defeated. It also feels wrong to even mention – it feels like I’m complaining or seeking your pity – but it’s important for me to include because it’s reality. It’s part of life, not only for me, but for everyone. You can ask any of my coworkers, and they would give you a similar list.

Being a teacher and a human being is hard. We get sick. Our families get sick. We lose loved ones. We have bad days. And through all of that, we still have a classroom full of students looking to us and depending on us to get them where they need to go. We don’t really have time to be human. We get to a point where our whole identity revolves around teaching.

So this summer, I decided to rest.

I was not ready to be a teacher again. I needed time to recover mentally, emotionally, and physically. I forced myself to sit down and relax. I intentionally kept my calendar empty. I slowed down and enjoyed each day, and I had a lot of fun.

I spent a lot of time traveling, resting, spending time with family, and catching up with friends. I read lots of books, listened to lots of albums on vinyl, snuggled with my cats, hung out in coffee shops, and went on walks. Over time, I remembered who I am (outside of being a teacher) and what I love!

I did not think about school. I did not attend any conferences. I did not spend any time on Canva. I did not create an Amazon wishlist. I didn’t even clean out any closets in my house!

And you know what?!

I feel rested. I feel like a person again. And I feel ready to start a new school year.

No matter what you do – whether you are a teacher, administrator, full-time parent, or however you spend your time – you are capable of burning out.

So I encourage you to take some time to rest. Whatever that looks like for you. Maybe it’s waking up an hour earlier to drink coffee and read a book in the quiet. Maybe it’s going for a long run with no headphones. Maybe it’s having a date night or taking a weekend trip with no kids. Maybe it’s writing in a journal or spending time alone in prayer.

Resting – actually resting – is not easy. We have to be intentional with our time. We have to make space for rest and prioritize it. My friend, Will, has a quote that he always recites when this topic comes up:

“That which we don’t do on purpose, we accidentally never do.”

So, rest on purpose. Whatever that looks like for you.

I promise you will be better for it. A better teacher and parent and leader and friend.

And it’s never too late to start. If you didn’t rest today, start tomorrow.