Teachers, we all have ideas when using our personal days. Maybe you strategically spread them out throughout the school year. Or maybe you’re like me this year and you have to use them all for other people’s weddings. Or maybe you’re lucky and your personal days roll over to the next year and you can save them up for a special trip. Regardless of how many personal days you get and how you choose to spread them out, it is important to take your personal days. Whether you are a busy body that uses personal days to catch up on errands, or you’d rather spend that 24 hours catching up on sleep, your personal days are yours to take.
I know what you’re thinking. Ugh but the sub plans I will have to write…it’s not worth it. It’s easier to just be at school than take a day off and get everything prepped. Well, I used to feel this way too. Until I learned that Education to the Core released Editable Emergency Sub Plans for K-2! This growing bundle includes plans for the beginning, middle, and end of the year, covering topics for math, reading, writing, grammar, phonics, social studies, and science. All you need to do is find the lessons that you like and print them!
Now that we’ve come to the conclusion that sub plans are no longer the hassle they used to be, let’s hear some ideas for your next personal day.
1 – Sleep the Day Away
“I would get up, get dressed, and leave home like I was going to work. When I saw the bus pick up my kids I would go home and lay in bed all day.” ~ Cheri B.
“Napping and peeing whenever you want.” ~Pennie R.
“On. The. Couch ” ~Sydney M.
What better way to spend your personal day than catching up on those zzz’s. Think of how refreshed you will feel after a nice long nap. Not to mention being able to stay in your pajamas all day.
Personal Day Idea 2 – Gal Time (or Guy Time)
“Massage and wine with girlfriends.” ~Stacey A.
“Going to Target!” ~Abigail
Maybe, you decide to play hooky with a couple of your teacher besties on the same day. Where are you going to go and what are you going to do? There are so many possibilities! Whatever you decide, it is always more fun with friends!
3 – Binge Watching Shows
“Stay in PJs all day, on the couch, binge-watching Netflix with the fur babies on my lap. BEST. DAY. EVER!” -Teddi G.
“Binge-watching TV with all your favorite snacks.” ~Karissa B.
“Watching a movie or show that’s been on my Netflix queue for a while” ~Cait F.
“Massage” ~Elizabeth M.
Do you prefer Netflix or Hulu for all of your streaming needs? There is nothing like being able to curl up in a comfy chair, couch, or your own bed and watch episode after episode of your favorite show(s). Is your queue currently empty? We have some Netflix Show recommendations for you.
Personal Day Idea 4 – Enjoy the Peace and Quiet
“ALONE IN PEACE! LOL” -Liss A.
“Sleep in is a must. whatever makes you happy. don’t answer emails from work. Home alone, feet up, favorite show on.” ~Carmen C.
When was the last time you truly had peace and quiet? If you can’t remember, then this might be the best route for you to take when planning your next personal day.
5 – Pamper Yourself
“Pedicure, long run, shopping, yummy food, and binge-watching tv.” ~ Jennifer R.
“Sleep, stay in jammies, order door dash, long bubble bath, binge watch or read, tea…” ~Karen K.
“Mani/Pedi, massage, bike ride, and lunch with a cocktail ?” ~Abby S.
Sometimes it’s the little things in life. For some of us, self-care might be a luxurious trip to the nearest spa. The rest of us like myself might take more of the stay in jammies route. Whatever your preference is, find the time to get it done!
Personal Day Idea 6 – Cleaning Party
“I’m a weirdo, so the perfect day off to me is home alone, cleaning and organizing while a movie I’ve seen a hundred times plays in the background. There will also be at least one nap.” ~Carol V.
“Depends on what you need. I would take a long hot bath, veg out in front of the TV, take a nap, and clean my house in the afternoon… or clean in the morning and do all that in the afternoon.” ~Stephanie H.
There are two types of people in the world. People who find a day of deep cleaning and organizing therapeutic. And people who would rather do anything but clean on their day off. Which one are you?
7 – Recharging
“Spending time doing something that allows you to recharge” ~Leo T.
“Outside soaking up the sun. Being present in nature” ~Sabrinna E.
“The gym, actually sleep, duty-free lunch” ~Ashley M.
“Hot coffee, reading, spending time with my dog and ZERO school work” ~Brittany G.
For some of us, recharging could mean a trip to the gym. For others, it might be as simple as being outside (because we all know recess duty does not count). Recharging might not depend on what you do, but rather what you don’t do (AKA, no school work!).
Personal Day Idea 8 – Food
“Driving to a town that is 45 minutes away to get an almond croissant at the French bakery, shop at my favorite thrift store, and shop at the natural food co-op. Then cook a nice dinner later on. Drink wine and watch a movie with hubby.” ~Deborah B.
“Breakfast/lunch at a place that closes before you’d normally be off!” ~Grace M.
“Cooking for my family, especially when the oldest is home (he lives 3000 miles away), watching old movies in my fuzzy PJs while eating yummy food when it’s cold and rainy out, or, poolside with a BBQ going on a hot summer day.” ~Andrea H.
“Having lunch and shopping with one of my friends or you save for things like getting a new appliance installed lol.” ~Lynda Z.
As teachers, we are pretty much trained to scarf down our lunch in 15 minutes or less. Personal days mean no time limit on eating the foods we enjoy. Maybe you love going out and trying new restaurants. Or maybe you love cooking at home and trying new recipes. Either way, get yourself a three-course meal and enjoy a lunch where you don’t have to worry about any interruptions. That’s right, no coworkers barging in to ask you a question, or students coming in saying they’ve spilled their milk all over themselves. Woohoo!
9 – Whatever Makes You Happy
“Whatever makes you happy. I did an entire day date with my husband and I loved every second of it! Once I did a spa day which was lovely. I’ve also done days where I sleep super late and just lounge around my house all day trying to recharge. It’s whatever you feel you need!” ~Ashley U.
“Whatever makes you happy…” ~Moriah S.
“Whatever makes you happy. Don’t answer emails from work. Home alone, feet up, favorite show on.” ~Carmen C.
How you choose to spend your personal days might look different than how I choose to spend mine, but the outcome is still the same: teachers getting the well-deserved rest and relaxation we need. My hope for you this school year is that you are able to find a few days to relax, whatever your preferred activities are on your much-needed day off. Refresh, relax, recharge, so you can be the best version of yourself for your students.
Written by – Sarah Poquette
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