Finish Strong And Rest Well

We close out season three by naming the real stress of the final school weeks and choosing a mindset that honors what went right for us and our students. We also pull together the most practical wellness takeaways from the season so we can step into summer with more rest, more joy, and less burnout. 
• end-of-year stress reframed through gratitude, student growth, and small wins 
• simple connection habits like board games and phone-free time 
• resilience through determination and support systems 
• healthier food choices and cutting back on processed foods 
• the power of silence for nervous system reset 
• doable self-care steps and using insurance perks 
• fitness snacks, posture, and core focus for sustainable movement 
• courage, clarity, and community that turn dreams into reality 
• supporting student anxiety while protecting educator energy 
• summer recovery through rest, play, nature, and laughter 
• using leftover energy to organize, donate, and prep for next year 

If you have a friend who you think could benefit from this podcast, please pass it along. 
Until that time, please practice self care. 

Thanks for listening!

Transcript

Speaker 0:00

This is Wellness for Educators, episode 23, and the end of season three. 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 Wednesday, May 27th,

Finish The Year With Gratitude

Speaker 0:19

2026. Wellness for Educators, Lori Maxfield, your host. It is hard to believe we are ending another season and your school year is coming to a close. I know many places in the country have had harsh winters and lots of snow days. This may have presented frustrations and difficulties for some during the school year, but regardless of the difficulties and the challenges you had to endure, my hope is that you focus these final weeks on a positive mindset. As you enter the final weeks of school, maybe even the final days, you may be anxious to get the final lap completed, and that includes the students as well as the teachers. Maybe you just want to end this chapter and head right on into summer vacation. I had often felt that the final weeks and days of school, and sometimes they had a tendency to drag on. I used to have a countdown to the last 10, and at times I thought those lasted 10 times longer. There's also so much to do at the end of the year, and that can add lots of stress. You have final grades, getting your classroom prepared for summer cleaning, plus you need to keep your students engaged. Rather than looking at this negatively, think about the year you've had with these children. Remember fond times and focus your eyes on your successes and your students' growth. I'm not sure if you've had only a few days or a few weeks left of school, but regardless of this number, you are on the home stretch. Summer is just around the corner. Sitting by the pool with an iced tea or walking on the beach are moments that await. A relaxing summer is in your near future. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to review some takeaways from this season. To start off the season, I interviewed Brittany Snavely. She is the parent of four daughters and is presently a librarian at an elementary school. Britt gave some great recommendations

Season Three Wellness Takeaways

Speaker 2:30

when she talked about playing board games or just playing some simple games with a deck of cards. Sometimes it's a great idea to just put away the cell phone and just connect face to face. In October, I interviewed Anjaleka. She shared about her journey and the power of resilience. She shared with us how it is possible to overcome obstacles when you have the necessary determination and support. Like you, teachers supporting students. In November, I interviewed Sam Rodgers. He is passionate about balancing good health. He emphasized how 80% of our health choices are often related to food. We want to make wise choices, and avoiding processed foods is probably a good first step. In December, I shared about the power of silence. We live in a noisy world. Silence can be powerful. Maybe on these final days you can turn off the radio as you travel to work and just appreciate the birds or allow yourself to turn off the voice in your head and just breathe. In January, I interviewed Dayna Gowan. She provided helpful tips regarding insurance perks. She encouraged us to find the fun in the mundane. She said to take doable steps into self-care. In February, I interviewed Lane Grosser of Lane Grosser Fitness. She recommended some fitness snacks. Often we think we need to take 30 minutes, but actually we could take three sets of 10 minutes as exercise snacks. As a dancer, Lane encouraged us to focus on posture and concentrating on our core. In March, our guest Kelly Donovan joined us from Switzerland. She took a leap of faith as she showed us that courage, clarity, and community can turn a dream into a reality. She also shared a bit about the See Learning program, in which social, emotional, and ethical learning has made a lasting difference in her students' lives. In April, my guest was Dr. Dana Sarvey. She is a child psychiatrist in Boston. She has a wealth of knowledge about the rise in anxiety as it is showing up in real kids. And as educators, we need to be aware of ways to support them without burnout. Dr. Sharve shared some heartwarming stories about her favorite teachers. We hope you found these stories encouraging. She also encouraged us to try something new. In fact, Dr. Sarvey was trying to learn to play a new instrument. Have you always wanted to play the piano? Maybe this summer you should just give it a try. Lastly, I interviewed Matt Palmer. He gave us some real insight into the role of an administrator. He shared about priceless moments. He emphasized how peer walks have made a significant difference in strengthening relationships at his school. He also shared the difference between a get-to day versus a going-to day. It has been a true honor to have these conversations during this season. I am pretty blown away when I realize I have listeners in 44 different countries and 48 states. I hope you feel encouraged that we are all here working together for the good of the future generation. I realize these final days can have their challenging moments, but think about the impact you

The Legacy Teachers Leave

Speaker 6:08

are making each day in a child's life. Please make these final days get two days. You have been given a wonderful opportunity to show encouragement that may impact a child for a lifetime. A few quotes that may be encouraging on these final days. Never regret anything that made you smile. This is Mark Twain's quote. I hope in these final days you can find something to smile about each day. Also a quote from Pericles. What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the life of others. You have the opportunity to weave kindness into your students' lives, hoping as you end the school year, you can continue to focus on caring and loving your students. I have no doubt your students will remember you taking time to demonstrate care, encouragement, and support. My hope and desire for you as we end this third season is that you can take time to completely unwind. Remember hearing from Kelly in Switzerland? She said she is learning to truly rest. I hope you too can rest during these summer months. Please spend quality and uninterrupted

Summer Rest Without The Phone

Speaker 7:23

time with family. Enjoy laughter and just having fun. Maybe you need to set up a play date for you and a friend. Do something carefree. Walk barefoot in the grass, go out in the rain and get totally drenched. Whatever you do with your time, please try to put your phone away and look around. I recall that often you are running around trying to complete so many tasks prior to the end of the school year, as well as trying to rein in the excitement of your students. After school is finished, I had difficulties getting into the relaxed mode. If you go on vacation immediately, that forces you to recharge. But if your KIP vacation is not planned for a few weeks, I would encourage you to take this energy that you have right now and use it for good. Maybe you can deep clean your home, clean out your refrigerator, or organize clothes to donate to a local charity. It usually took me about a week to finally relax. If you are faced with the same dilemma, I would recommend you use this energy for good. I am in Hilton Head, South Carolina for part of the year. I volunteer regularly at the local elementary school. It has been such a great opportunity. I adore being around the energy of these children. One day I was preparing little bags of goldfish with a little note that stated, You are oh fishalie in second grade. These will be given to the new students in the fall. If you have any extra time, I would encourage you to try and do some things to prepare for the next school year. Your future self will thank you for getting a few items ready for the next year. You have worked so hard this school year, and now is your time to celebrate your successes. Maybe listen to the birds, walk in nature. Each day is a gift you have been given. Not all professions have these large chunks of time off. You deserve every minute. I used to hear people complain about all the time off in the summer for teachers. Believe me, I know this is a necessity. But don't forget you've worked extremely hard and you need this time away. Take pleasure in the priceless gift of time. Make this summer one to remember. My hope for you is that you can find time for some whimsical moments. My goal for you is that sometime over this break you will laugh so hard you cry. These are moments of pure joy. These opportunities for laughter is actually quite therapeutic. It is proven to reduce stress and can boost your immune system. Isn't that something we all desire? Now you are almost officially on summer vacation. This time for relaxation is only a few days away. 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 for Wellness for Educators. If you have a friend who you think could benefit from this podcast, please pass it along. Until that time, please practice self care. And remember, you have the ability each day to make a lasting difference in a child's life. Happy summer! I hope it is the best

Pass It Along And Recharge

Speaker 10:57

one yet.