We love to be busy, but we need to be idle.
We know that you’ve been working at a thousand miles an hour for the past months. Although you may often feel drained, you also love the buzz of teaching and the satisfaction of a job well done, right? We know that it can be tempting to stay busy and work off some of the things on our personal to-do list. However, we must consider that our body and mind also need to find ways to recharge during the holidays.
Are you able to do this? We have asked our CAS Trips directors, Simon Armstrong and Callum Van Reilly, how they find the time to sit back and relax. Simon mentioned, “For me there is nothing better than a good book – I am currently re-reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, and can only recommend it most highly.”
Callum said that for him, “There is nothing better than a good BBQ with family and friends, especially in Australia where I am originally from.” Relaxing re-charges us for the next part in life and also heightens our creativity for the future. What do you do to relax?
We at CAS Trips have put together our five top tips for relaxing during the semester break!
1. Read a Book
Yes, teachers read a lot. And how great is it to be able to trade in reading those student essays for a book of your choice? It doesn’t even have to be linked to your curriculum – how exciting! Perhaps we can inspire you to check out Oprah’s Book Pick of the year or a thriller by James Patterson? Likewise, we love getting inspired by other teachers, so do share your recommendations with us via a quick Facebook message.
2. Try Something New
As teachers, we often find ourselves stuck in a bit of a routine. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new! Attend an opera concert, climb the tallest mountain in your area, join a running team, or let your creative juices flow during a session of pottery. Whatever you might choose, make sure that it is something new, and perhaps you’ll find yourself taking up a new hobby in the new year.
3. Take a Vacation
Tired of being stuck at home? Why not book a ski vacation or spend some time at the beach? Working in the travel industry has definitely inspired us to continue feeding our travel bug with new destinations – even if they are just around the corner from home! It might be too late to book something for this winter break, nothing beats some good old travel planning.
A trip to South Africa to spot the Big Five in Kruger Park or maybe a city trip to our favorite destination, Prague? Or even better, toes in the sands on one of the beautiful Caribbean Islands? There are so many options – and just researching potential options can be relaxing in itself.
4. Discover Your City
No time to travel abroad? Join a free walking tour in your own city and explore some of the up and coming neighborhoods! Sometimes the city you live in truly hosts some beautiful places. You may be surprised what your current location has to offer.
With a little bit of time on your hands, you can enjoy a cocktail at the newest bars, a delicious dinner meal at the new Asian-fusion restaurant, or visit the pop-up exhibition at the local art museum – your options are endless!
5. Take Five
For those of you short on time, spoiling yourself with a five minute break, may be the best method of relaxation. Why not meditate using Headspace, or initiate an impromptu foot massage by rubbing your feet over a golf ball? If you’re keen to explore more ideas on how to relax with five minutes of time to spare, check out this article.
We hope that our ideas have inspired you to take some time to relax and recharge for the new term. And on behalf of the entire CAS Trips team, we’d like to wish you very happy holidays!
