To do list - Summer Pick 'N' Mix To do organiser

The summer holidays can sometimes be bittersweet for teachers. We have weeks ahead of us before restarting term in September which can be daunting. We feel torn between trying to ‘relax’ whilst catching up on life admin and trying to prepare ourselves for September! I struggle to get the balance right over summer so came up with my Pick ‘N’ Mix planner for the summer. Hopefully this will help us return to work feeling happy, satisfied, rested but prepared.

1. List out what you want to achieve this summer. Make sure it’s reasonable and achievable. For example, don’t convince yourself you will edit all your lessons, train for a half marathon and read a 100 books. Chances are, if you make an impossibly difficult and unattainable list, you will feel demotivated. I have divided my sections into Life (eg: life admin like deep cleans of the house or paperwork), School (eg: preparing resources or organising your classroom), Me (eg: A hobby you want to work on or a shopping trip you want to book in!), Health (eg: Yoga / running goals), Someone else (is there someone that would benefit from your help/company), and finally bucket list (is there anything you really want to achieve this summer (eg: Read 5 books, trip to the beach). Remember you can modify this list throughout the summer but it’s a great starting point for you to get all your thoughts onto paper. You can print and hand write or write in the text boxes.

2. Each day You get to decide how many from each list you want to achieve. The reason I’ve divided it into sections is so you ensure you have balance each day. There’s also a section for a schedule in case you have to fit your plans around appointments or meeting friends. Remember, there is no set standard. Some days you may be able to tick off 20 from your lists, some days you may only get around to 1 or 2. That’s fine! You do what you need to do at your own pace. It’s best to start with a smaller list and add more if you have time that day or have completed everything else.

3. Have fun! Enjoy your summer. I am hoping this list system can enable you all to feel productive whilst resting and looking after yourselves. Let me know if this system helped you by tagging me on Instagram @honeybeebiology.