Episode #12 Season 2 Reflect, Rejuvenate, Return: A Teacher's Guide to Summer Self-Care

The journey toward wellness is never a straight line, especially for dedicated educators who pour their hearts into their classrooms all year. As we close our first season of Wellness for Educators, this finale brings together the essential wisdom from twelve episodes of teacher-centered self-care strategies.

Throughout this season, we've heard from remarkable guests – from former students sharing how compassionate teachers changed their lives, to educators like Nell Herman reminding us to "give ourselves grace," to health experts like Dr. Peter Montminy explaining why filling our own wellness tanks must precede serving others. Their collective message reinforces our foundational belief: you need to be well to teach well.

Summer offers educators a precious opportunity for rejuvenation. Whether your break has already begun or awaits on the horizon, now is the perfect moment to set intentional wellness goals. Research confirms that written goals are substantially more likely to be achieved, but the key lies in making those goals realistic and sustainable. Rather than dramatic, all-or-nothing changes, embrace small adjustments: reducing caffeine gradually, finding creative ways to incorporate movement into daily routines, or creating technology-free family time. These modest shifts accumulate into meaningful transformation without triggering the perfectionism that derails many wellness journeys.

Perhaps most valuable is the reminder that wellness often resides in life's quieter moments – a family meal without phones, conversations around a fire pit, or periods of restorative silence. As I reflect on my own journey, including the cherished memory of the last meal shared with my sister before her unexpected passing, I'm reminded that these seemingly ordinary moments ultimately become our most precious treasures.

You've worked tremendously hard this year, shaping young minds and hearts despite countless challenges. Now it's time to celebrate and nurture yourselves with the same dedication you show your students. Kick back in those flip-flops, turn up your favorite music, and remember that your well-being matters profoundly. Ready to set your summer wellness goal? Share your intentions or ask for support – we're cheering for you every step of the way!

Thanks for listening!

Transcript

Podcast Introduction & Season Recap

Lori Maxfield 0:00

This is Wellness for Educators , episode 12 . You need to be well to teach well . That is the motto , seeking a healthy balance . You matter , and so does your health . There is life beyond the classroom . This is Wellness , Wednesday , May 28 , 2025 . Wellness for Educators . Lori Maxfield , your host For the majority of the episodes this season , I interviewed guests For the final episode .

Lori Maxfield 0:35

I'm going to recap a few of the themes , hoping you have found my guests inspiring and helpful . In episode four , I interviewed two of my past ESL students who are now adults and they emphasized how much they appreciated caring , compassionate teachers that took an interest in their lives and supported them during difficulties . Episode five I interviewed Nell Hermann . She is presently a teacher from Blue Hill , Maine . Her main tip was to give yourself grace . Episode six we discussed prioritizing sleep . Many teachers are sleep deprived this summer . See if you can go without setting an alarm or just sleep a bit longer each night . It might require you to go to bed a little bit earlier , but it really is important . Episode 7 , Rachel , read the story about Mrs Thompson and Teddy . There's a lot of power in empathy . It can be transformative for you as an educator as well as your students . Please show empathy to yourself and maybe this summer you can show a little empathy to your neighbors . Episode 8 , I interviewed Dr Peter Montminy . He described how important it is to remain calm and how we need to fill our own gas tanks . I am hopeful that you can fill your wellness gas tank over the next few months .

Lori Maxfield 2:30

In episode nine , I interviewed Jamie Barberich . She shared a bit about her challenging health situation and the focus was on her ability to be resilient

Key Lessons from Guest Interviews

Lori Maxfield 2:44

during these very challenging times . I want to quote her advice when we face hard things , they don't last forever and we can do anything for a little while . In episode 10 , I interviewed my daughters and we discussed their experiences with having a working mother . They emphasized how they learned responsibility and independence . In episode 11 , I interviewed my childhood friend , allison . When Alison taught preschool , she saw the importance of rejuvenating over the summer . Friendships are vital . Maybe take some time this summer to reconnect with some of your friends , old and new .

Lori Maxfield 3:41

Summer vacation may have started for you if you live , possibly in the South . If so , congratulations on completing another year . What a huge accomplishment . If not , my hope is that you can end on a positive note . Find the joy even during these hectic final days .

Lori Maxfield 4:06

My desire for you is that you might select a goal for yourself for this summer . Maybe you want to read a few books for pleasure . How about more quality time with your children , your husband Maybe ? Start

Setting Meaningful Summer Goals

Lori Maxfield 4:24

a tradition where you play a board game once a week . See if you and your children can play without your phones . We are so attached to those little phones . Put them away so that you are fully focused on the fun and the time spent together . If your phones are put away , you're not distracted by social media and more Working towards goals for self-improvement seem to be easier when we have more time to focus on ourselves .

Lori Maxfield 5:04

Summer is that perfect time . Take this time to reflect . In the first episode , I encouraged you to play I Spy . Just looking at a tree , what do you have in common with that tree ? Where are your roots ? How many people are you holding in your branches ? Find your northern star this summer and strive to head there there .

Lori Maxfield 5:48

Set a vision for yourself in creating a simple path and goal . Sometimes we think the mundane is not important . One thing that I have learned as I have aged is that the simple things are what we will cherish During the summer . Try to have more family meals , put some logs on your fire pit and make some s'mores . Make precious memories for you and your family . If you can take time over the first week of summer to think about a goal you hope to accomplish , then write your goal on an index card so that you can see it daily . There are positive effects of written goals . Those who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals .

Lori Maxfield 6:40

Before you begin , I want you to really plan an achievable goal . So think about it . Are you having unrealistic expectations ? Are your goals too ambitious ? Sometimes that's a problem . Don't think you don't have enough willpower to achieve the goal . Don't think you don't have enough willpower to achieve the goal .

Realistic Goal Setting Strategies

Lori Maxfield 7:14

Self-efficacy is the belief in one's own ability to succeed in specific situations to accomplish a task . It's a key concept to keep in mind as you begin to set and accomplish your goals . To set and accomplish your goals , I want you to have the confidence in your skills and capabilities to achieve a desired outcome . You can do it . This may sound super simple , but it's actually quite complex . Goal setting and your ability to reach these goals takes time and energy . Think about what you desire for yourself If you want to be a light in the world and your goal is to help others . How are you going to brighten that light ? First of all , quiet the negative voice in your head where you say I am not enough . Give yourself tenderness and love . This is the time to reflect . If you want to be the best version of yourself , then you need to take care of yourself . Just like a little seed . You need to water and nurture that seed to allow it to grow . We are like those little seeds .

Lori Maxfield 8:30

At this point , I have 814 downloads for my podcast . My podcast has listeners from 18 different countries . I have listeners from 43 states and Washington DC . I set a goal to have listeners from all 50 states by my last episode of the season , which is today . This has been a bit of a challenge . I don't know anyone in these states , and so I've tried to find people that maybe do have friends that live in those states , and so I've tried to find people that maybe do have friends that live in those states . My little treat each day is to have a Dove chocolate . One day , on the little red aluminum paper it said don't just wish for it , work for it . Well , this really spoke to me , so I decided I was really going to jump with two feet in and I was going to focus on this goal . I sent emails to staff members of teacher unions in those particular states , I tried to reach out to schools and so much more , but unfortunately I did not reach my goal . But it was not for the lack of trying , and that's okay . Maybe next season I will get these additional states . If you happen to know anyone in Arkansas , Kansas , Montana , North Dakota , Wyoming , Rhode Island or New Mexico , please send them a link to my podcast and then maybe next season I will reach my goal and have listeners from all 50 states .

Lori Maxfield 10:22

That's the tricky part about goals we need to strive to achieve them . But if we don't quite make the mark , it's okay . No need to feel down about it , just continue to strive . We need to be mindful of that voice . What are we telling ourselves ? I don't have time

Finding Peace in Small Moments

Lori Maxfield 10:46

to go to the gym , that's okay . There are other ways to get some exercise . Take the stairs . Did you know that when given an option elevator or steps 72.8% of the people opt for the elevator ? Maybe you can join the 8.1 percent and take the stairs ? These little changes really do make a difference .

Lori Maxfield 11:16

Cutting out sugar . This is unrealistic . There is sugar in so many foods . For example , one tablespoon of ketchup , you will get one teaspoon of sugar . Is that shocking ? Maybe you need to come up with an alternative to ketchup or opt to use another condiment . Myself , I realized it was not good to eat some of the barbecue sauce and salad dressing . So now I realized I could make my own barbecue sauce , which is much healthier , and I can make my own salad dressing . So don't think you have to give up a whole food group or tell yourself no sugar , no carbs . That's just not realistic .

Lori Maxfield 12:09

When we make unrealistic goals , this can lead to a cycle of stress , frustration and potentially impact your overall well-being . This directly impacts your ability to maintain motivation and progress toward meeting your goals . So start small . You might say I want to quit caffeine . Well , that's a good goal and that's okay . But instead of going cold turkey , try to cut back maybe one cup less per day . That is more realistic . Wellness is not all or nothing . It is about starting where you are and just making small changes . So if you can't go to the gym , maybe you can do 10 squats while you brush your teeth . When you go shopping , could you park your car at the far end of the parking lot and walk a bit more to get to the store . I know if you set your mind to it , you can set and reach these goals . Reach these goals .

Lori Maxfield 13:28

The summer is such a wonderful time to refresh . Take the time necessary to rejuvenate . Maybe your goal could just be quiet more often . There is such healing in quiet , in quiet . Sadly , my sister passed away in 2002 . She passed unexpectedly and that peace was extremely difficult . But the moment I remember and cherish was the final meal I had with her and her family .

Season Closure & Summer Wishes

Lori Maxfield 14:08

With her and her family , we sat on her porch for hours , we talked , we laughed and to this day that memory has blessed me .

Lori Maxfield 14:12

What I have learned over time is that the small things actually become the big things . You have worked really hard over this past school year . You so deserve this time away . Please make the time your own , kick back , put on your flip-flops , turn up the tunes and celebrate . School is out for summer . Remember I am here cheering for you . Thanks to Ron Coleman for providing the music and thanks to you for being a positive influence to the future generation . You are a true hero . You need to be well , to teach well , find joy in the journey . This is Lori Maxfield , and I thank you for listening to Wellness for Educators . If you have a friend who you think could benefit from this podcast , please pass it along . I look forward to connecting again in August . Until next season , have a wonderful , restful , relaxing summer and please show kindness to yourself and others .