10 Things to Let Go of This Summer (and One to Keep)

As the school year winds down, the temptation to pack the summer full of tasks, trainings, and “shoulds” can be strong. But what if this summer, instead of trying to do more, you made space by releasing what no longer serves you?

Consider this your mid-year cleanse — not of your classroom shelves, but of your heart and mind.

Here are 10 things to let go of this summer, and one powerful thing worth holding onto.

1. The Belief That Rest Is Lazy

If you’ve been running on fumes for months, your body and mind are already giving you signals: the fatigue that doesn't go away with one night of sleep, the irritability, the brain fog. That’s not weakness — it’s wisdom.

Let go of the idea that rest has to be earned or justified. Rest is not a reward. It's a right. This summer, reclaim rest as an act of resistance and a pathway back to yourself.

2. Over-Identifying With Your Job Title

Teaching is a calling, yes — but it’s not your whole identity. When the classroom door closes for the summer, who are you outside of that space?

This is your season to explore the parts of yourself that get overshadowed by lesson plans and late-night grading. Reconnect with hobbies, relationships, creativity, and curiosity. You are more than your role — and that “more” deserves time and space.

3. The “Should Do” Summer List

The summer to-do list can quickly become a productivity trap in disguise:
“I should reorganize my Google Drive.”
“I should finally digitize my worksheets.”
“I should start planning next year’s seating chart.”

Unless those things truly bring you joy, clarity, or peace — let them go. Shift from a list of “shoulds” to a list of “wants.” The goal isn’t to stay busy. It’s to find what fills your cup.

4. The Guilt of Saying No

“No” is a skill — and it’s time to practice. Whether it's a family obligation, a professional opportunity, or a friendly invite, you don’t owe anyone an explanation for protecting your peace.

Boundaries are how we teach the world how to treat us. Guilt is often just a sign that you’re doing something new, not something wrong. This summer, practice saying no with kindness and without apology.

5. Comparison to Other Teachers

Scrolling social media in July can feel like stepping into a pressure cooker of curated perfection — the teacher with a flawless classroom, the one who just published a book, the one doing yoga on a mountaintop.

Let it go. What you see is a highlight reel, not the full picture. You’re not behind. You’re on your own path, and it’s valid. Unfollow accounts that drain you. Follow voices that uplift you. Most importantly, tune in to your own needs — not someone else’s vibe.

6. The Pressure to Have It All Figured Out

You do not need a five-year plan this summer. You don’t need to know what your next role is, what your classroom will look like, or how to “fix” what felt broken this year.

Let go of the need for immediate answers. Uncertainty isn’t failure — it’s fertile ground. Some of your best growth will come when you learn to sit with questions, not rush to solve them.

7. Toxic Positivity

You’re allowed to say, “This year was hard.” You’re allowed to feel tired, sad, angry, and numb.

Let go of the need to wrap every struggle in a bow of optimism. Real positivity includes room for real emotion. It doesn’t deny pain — it walks through it with hope and honesty. This summer, allow yourself to feel without fixing. That’s healing.

8. The Narrative That You’re Not Doing Enough

Somewhere along the way, you may have started measuring your worth by your output — how much you get done, how many kids you reach, how many extra hours you put in.

Let go of that story. You are enough because you are, not because of what you produce. This summer, shift from striving to simply being. What if rest was your most radical act of self-worth?

9. Perfectionism in Self-Care

You don’t need a perfectly color-coded planner, a Peloton, or a new diet to be worthy of care. Self-care doesn’t have to be curated for Instagram — it just needs to be yours.

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Let go of the idea that it has to look a certain way. Sometimes, self-care is a trip to Starbucks. Sometimes it’s a nap. Sometimes it’s saying, “I’m not doing anything today — and that’s enough.”

10. Old Stories About Who You “Have to Be”

Maybe you've always been “the reliable one.” Or the “fixer.” Or the “teacher who never complains.” Those stories may have served you once — but do they still?

Let go of the narratives that keep you stuck or small. Rewrite the script. Who do you want to become this summer? What roles are you ready to shed? Your identity isn’t static. You get to evolve.

🌱 And the One Thing to Keep?

Your Heart for the Work — but on Your Own Terms

That spark that drew you to teaching? Keep it. That sense of purpose, that passion for growth, that belief in young people? Keep that, too.

But let it be something that fuels you — not consumes you. Let it live alongside rest, joy, and boundaries. This summer, carry your why like a candle, not a weight.

💬 Before You Go…

What will you let go of this summer?
What’s one thing you’re choosing to keep?

Share your thoughts in the comments or journal them for yourself. And if you’re ready to reset, recharge, and reclaim your energy, check out the Thrive This Summer series — made just for teachers like you.

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