The Slow Unwind: Why Educators Need Time to Truly Recharge
There’s a strange rhythm to summer that I don’t think everyone fully understands — especially if you’re not an educator.
When that final bell rings in late June, it doesn’t instantly flip the switch to “vacation mode.” Instead, it feels more like an exhale after holding your breath for 10 months. The bags are unpacked, the classroom is cleaned out, and you finally get to stop running… but your mind doesn’t quite slow down right away.
For many of us, it takes weeks to actually settle. To let go. To reflect. To see the year for what it was — the wins, the chaos, the laughter, the growth. It’s only now, in the second half of summer, that I find myself finally processing the depth of the school year.
And that’s the thing about being an outdoor educator — the job doesn’t just ask for your time. It asks for your attention. Your energy. Your ability to see things from 25 different student perspectives. It asks you to carry safety, leadership, and big emotional moments in every backpack and campfire circle.
So when July hits and I start adventuring — solo, with friends, or with family — it’s more than a break. It’s a shift. A reset. It’s the chance to be outdoors without needing to lead or explain. To move at my own pace. To sit in silence. To say yes to a sunrise hike just for me.
But it’s not just about rest. It’s also about recharging with purpose.
As I head into the back half of the summer, I’m looking ahead to some big adventures. Time to fill my own bucket. To set new goals. To dream a little bigger. Because I know that come September, I’ll stand in front of a new group of students — and they’ll be looking to me for guidance, inspiration, and that spark of what’s possible.
I want to be ready. Not just rested — but full of life, ready to lead them toward challenge, resilience, and joy.
That’s the beauty of this slow summer unwind. It doesn’t happen all at once. But when it does — it brings you back to yourself.
What does your version of slowing down look like — and how does it help you show up better for the people you lead, teach, or love?
BC will always be home
