Do this ONE thing before every winter break to actually enjoy it guilt-free…

The road to Christmas break for teachers is a long, bumpy, stress-filled grind. By the time it finally rolls around, we’re DONE. Like, done-done. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Even my hair is tired. And when that break finally hits, I completely check out. No school emails. No lesson plans. No students on my brain. Just me, my family, and the glorious act of existing in sweatpants all day. The classroom and my students never even cross my mind.

But here’s the thing no one warns you about: Coming back after break sucks!

Not just for you, but for your students too. You’ve all been living your best lives—sleeping in, eating Christmas cookies, and forgetting school even exists. Then January rolls in, and everyone is thrown back into a routine that feels way too structured after two weeks of blissful freedom. Your energy is low, your students are dragging, and that Monday morning back hits HARD.

For years, I struggled with this. I’d walk into my classroom in January on whatever day the school calendar deemed “back to reality” feeling lost and unprepared. The kids? Same. They didn’t want to dive straight into the less than pleasant curriculum (and honestly, neither did I). They needed a soft landing.

My Breakthrough Moment

So, I realized something needed to change. I didn’t want to spend my precious break time worrying about work. But I also didn’t want to come back to stress. So, I started doing one simple thing that changed everything.

On the very last day before break (right before I officially checked out), I set aside 20-30 minutes to plan a handful of activities designed to ease all of us—myself included—back into the routine of school. These weren’t curriculum-heavy lessons or anything fancy. Just fun, engaging activities that woke up our brains, helped us reconnect, and got us moving in the right direction without the pressure of diving headfirst into “real” learning.

The Difference It Made

When I tell you this small tweak changed my entire outlook on post-break teaching, I mean it. Those first few days back became bearable—dare I say, enjoyable. The students were more productive, and I felt like I had it together (for the most part). Plus, having a plan ready to go meant I could actually relax during my break. Like, fully unplug and not feel that nagging “what am I going to do when we go back?” panic creeping in on New Year’s Day.

Why You Should Do This Too

Listen, I get it. Right now, you’re probably running on fumes. But trust me when I say that a little prep now means a lot more peace later. Taking just a tiny slice of time to prep a couple of low-stress, high-engagement activities for January will:

• Give you permission to completely unplug during break (no guilt, no “what am I doing when I get back?” spiral).

• Make the return easier for everyone.

• Set the tone for a smooth, productive January.

Don’t Know Where to Start? That's OK...

Now, if the thought of any more prep makes you want to crawl into bed and hide, or you just don’t have the time or energy to sit down and figure out which activities will work for your students, let me make this even easier for you.

I created The Hot Spot Hub and Brain Buster Squad memberships because I’ve been where you are—tired, overworked, and just trying to survive. 

The Hot Spot Hub is your go-to library of no-nonsense classroom activities—brainteasers, games, escape rooms, scavenger hunts, writing prompts, and more—designed to engage your students and make your life easier. No Google searches. No Pinterest rabbit holes. Just plug-and-play activities that actually work for your middle school students.

And if you’re as obsessed with brainteasers as I am, the Brain Buster Squad is where you’ll find all the brainteasers, all the time. These are perfect for those back-to-school days when you want something low-stakes but still meaningful.

With memberships like these, you don’t have to spend hours Googling “fun classroom activities” or reinventing the wheel. I’ve already done the heavy lifting for you. So, when break comes, you can completely check out knowing you’ve got a plan waiting for you.

Don’t Wait Until You’re Burnt Out

You deserve to enjoy every minute of your winter break without feeling guilty or stressed about what’s coming next. Take those 20-30 minutes before you leave and set yourself up for success. And if you want to make it even easier, let me help.

Because you and I both know this: teaching is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Ready to reclaim your break and make January stress-free? Click here to start your FREE trial of The Hot Spot Hub or Brain Buster Squad today.