PEN Mondays - Burning out on Self-Improvement?

5 min read

Here’s a familiar picture: It’s June. Your students are gone. The classroom is quiet. You finally exhale.

But before you can take your first uninterrupted sip of coffee, a voice creeps in—maybe your own, maybe someone else’s:

“Don’t waste the summer!” 

And just like that, your calendar starts to fill again…

📚 That stack of unread professional development books? Time to tackle it.
💻 That curriculum you wanted to revamp? Better start now.
💼 That side hustle or leadership training? Get going.

Modern self-help culture—especially the productivity cult—says this is your golden hour. Use it or lose it. But what if that pressure is part of the problem? What if the real productivity move is to slow down, get clear, and resist the urge to sprint?

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Teaching Is Not a Factory Job. Your Growth Shouldn’t Be Either.

Let’s borrow a page from Cal Newport’s "Slow Productivity": The idea that we produce better, more meaningful work when we do less, more intentionally, and with fewer distractions. For teachers, that means resisting the pull to treat summer like a 60-day boot camp for self-improvement.

You don’t need to “fix” yourself over the summer. You need to restore yourself.
Because come September, your job will again demand every ounce of your emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energy. That doesn’t mean you stop learning. It means you stop rushing.

Choose one area you actually care about—something you want to read, explore, or rethink. Take your time with it. Let it simmer. Learning should feel nourishing, not punishing.

Still Want to Grow? Make It About Depth, Not Hustle

Here are a few ideas that align with this gentler, deeper approach:

• Read one book slowly. Something like Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport or Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday. Not because you should, but because you want to think more clearly.

• Relearn something for joy. Not for a certificate. Not for your principal. For you. Maybe it’s a language. Maybe it’s watercolor. Maybe it’s high school algebra.

• Talk with smart people. Find another educator, or a mentor, or someone outside the field. Ask them what they’re thinking about. Listen deeply.

You won’t get a badge. But you will come back sharper—and more centered.

You’re Not Falling Behind. You’re Reclaiming Your Pace.

Teachers are constantly being told they’re behind. Behind on grading. Behind on tech. Behind on trends. Summer doesn’t magically erase that message—it just shifts the timeline.

But here’s the truth: You are not behind. You are allowed to learn at your own speed.

In fact, the best model you can set for your students is not frantic, nonstop improvement. It’s thoughtful, humble, steady growth. Let them see that you are a learner too—one who knows when to work and when to rest. That’s lifelong learning. That’s maturity. That’s wisdom.

Read Less, Think More

You know what teachers don’t need? Another 17-point PDF on “10 Ways to Be a Better Educator This Summer.”

What they do need is time to think again. Not with a timer. Not with guilt. Just… think. Reflect. Ask good questions:

• What am I proud of from this year?

• What drained me more than it should have?

• What do I want my classroom to feel like next year?

That’s the real work of summer. Not the to-do list. The to-consider list.

You’re Still a Teacher, Even in Flip-Flops

Let’s drop the guilt, shall we?

You don’t need to come back in September with a new certification, a new Google Slides theme, and a five-year plan. You need to come back whole. Curious. Rested. Still in love with teaching.

And the best way to do that? Learn like the person you hope your students grow up to be.

Not cramming. Not chasing. Just learning. Deeply. Slowly. Joyfully.

That’s enough. And frankly, it’s more than most systems will ever ask of you.

But it’s what you deserve.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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