Good Morning Y’all,

Let’s talk about something that hits home for a lot of us: it’s June... but our brains are already creeping into August. Your favorite Big Box store’s school supply aisles are whispering. The emails are piling up. The to-do list is threatening to come out of hibernation. And suddenly, what was supposed to be a “break” starts to feel like a countdown.

But I want to remind you of something important today… maybe even give you permission if you need it:
You don’t have to rush.
Not now. Not this month. Not this summer…

As alwyas, if you find this info helpful, please share it with your teacher bestie!

This season… this slow, sunny, wonderfully unstructured season… isn’t just a pit stop between two semesters. It’s part of the journey. And if we’re constantly looking ahead, we’ll miss the very thing our body and mind have been asking for since March… REST.

🛑 The Hustle Habit Dies Hard

We’re teachers… we’re planners by nature. We like structure, we like goals, and we like checking things off.

But if we’re not careful, we’ll turn summer into another sprint. Another checklist. Another thing we try to “do right.”

FYI… You don’t need to be productive right now.
You already did the work. You finished the race. You showed up, poured out, and made it to the finish line… exhausted but victorious.

Summer doesn’t require performance. It just asks that you be present.

🌺 Joy Lives in the Middle

We’ve been taught to chase joy at the end — when everything is done, when everything’s in place, when we finally “earn” it.

But some of the best joy? It lives in the middle.
In the spontaneous road trip.
In the late-night laughter.
In the ice cream cone on a Tuesday just because. (Hello Dairy Queen dipped cone?)

You don’t need everything figured out for next year to enjoy this year’s summer. You don’t need to feel guilty for doing less.

You just need to slow down enough to feel what’s actually happening right now — freedom, stillness, and a whole lot of well-deserved peace.

💡 What Hitting Pause Actually Looks Like

I want to get as practical as I can, so here I go. Here are three small ways you can stop the rush and enjoy where your feet are:

• Create “off-limits” days. Designate entire days where you don’t touch school stuff. No planning. No Pinterest. No emails. Full permission to unplug.

• Start your day slowly. No alarm. No pressure. Just ease into your morning and enjoy the luxury of time you usually don’t have.

• Make a fun-first list. Instead of a to-do list, make a want-to-do list. Hiking? Napping? Painting? Do something that fills your tank, not just your planner.

📣 Bottom Line, Y’all:

Summer doesn’t need your hustle… it needs your presence. This season isn’t something to rush through. It’s something to savor. The more you try to plan, prep, and anticipate what’s ahead, the more likely you are to miss what’s right in front of you.

Don’t let back-to-school pressure steal your here-and-now peace. Hit pause. Take the nap. Go on the walk. Be where your feet are.

Because the best kind of preparation? It starts with being fully present. So enjoy family, friends, and long walks on the beach (with favorite beverage in hand). There will be time to “do school” later. Right now… “do Summer!”

~Mitch

🎵 May’s Teacher Tunes TuesdayPlaylist: Summer Fun! 🎶 

☀️We've almost made it! 🎉 This playlist is packed with good vibes, sunny feels, and a big splash of motivation to help you power through the final weeks of school. Whether you're grading papers, planning your last lessons, or daydreaming about beach days with family and friends, these tunes will lift your spirits and get you summer-ready. 🌴

🎯Finish strong. Celebrate big. You deserve it!🎯

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