The end of the first semester is a busy time marked by holidays, finals, colder weather, and the final push to wrap up projects before break. While the work is heavy, it is also gratifying to see students make art they’re proud of or discover that your studio is their happy place. As art teachers, we pour so much passion into our work, but it’s just as important to pause and proactively refill our own buckets. What we do in our art rooms matters deeply, so let’s make sure we’re recharged and ready for the long haul!
End one semester and start the next feeling relaxed, restored, and rejuvenated. Here are five ideas to help you not just crawl across the end-of-the-year finish line, but dominate it!
Sleep isn’t the only way to recharge. Fueling your creativity can often have a bigger effect on your art teacher battery. According to Brian Johnsrud, PhD, a study showed that 95% of educators found creativity leads to better mental health and less stress for them and their students. If this is true for all teachers, regardless of subject matter, imagine how great a positive impact creativity has on art teachers’ mental health and stress levels!
1. Collage cards to send out to friends and family.
There’s nothing more fulfilling than thoughtful snail mail! Cards are often exchanged for season’s greetings or well wishes. Use this tradition to make your own with a fun collage twist. Turn your brain off, play your favorite audiobook or podcast, and just flow. Alternatively, collect any cards you receive and transform them into a useful journal.
Play with these fun collage ideas this winter:
- Recycle those little scraps of wrapping paper for fun splashes of pattern.
- Hide special messages using simple folded hinges to create a flap or pocket.
- Print free sheet music of your favorite seasonal songs for a layer of surface texture.
2. Plan non-art activities.
After talking about and looking at art all day, sometimes we even need an art break! The good news is that there are tons of options to engage your creative muscles in fresh ways that are perfect for cozy season. Add a few of these activities to your winter bucket list, or go ahead and drop them on your calendar now so you have the time reserved later.
Some creative “non-art” ideas include:
- Calligraphy
Download some fonts or make up your own! Practice hand-lettering with pen and ink or simple washable markers. - Puzzles
Set up a seasonal puzzle and play a movie in the background. Challenge your brain a little bit more and hide the box as you piece the image together! - Cookie Baking
As the weather cools down, heat up your oven. Transform your cookies into miniature works of art! Snap a picture to treasure your handiwork and then enjoy it for dessert.
- Creative Writing
Take a favorite series where you have a strong connection with the characters and try your hand at writing fanfiction. - Improv Classes
Shake off the stress by doing a little improv with a lot of laughter. Enroll in a workshop or class and enjoy the chance to explore another creative avenue.
3. Schedule screen breaks.
You look around, and it feels like everyone has a phone attached to their hand. While access to technology at our fingertips has its benefits, it can also increase stress, anxiety, and depression. It’s healthy to take a break and put your phone in another room. Try implementing a screen-free day once a week or put your devices “to bed” at a certain time each evening. You can also ease in by disabling or putting time limits on certain apps, like social media.
Once you free up your time and mind, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how your creativity and mood will naturally improve! Set the scene in an area of your home or your studio space and embrace all things cozy. Repurpose your screens to enhance instead of distract. Pull up soothing background music or sounds, or loop a video of autumn or winter foliage. Grab an art-related book to spark inspiration or pick up a notebook and pen to do some zen-doodling. Whatever activity you choose, having the right ambiance will enhance your relaxation.
4. Start a gratitude journal for the new year.
Gratitude journals are popping up everywhere, but what if you put your iconic art teacher twist on it? Use simple bookbinding techniques to whip up your own and include mindful drawings, collages, and doodles in between your reflections. Collect things that you find inspiring and add them to your pages. Keep a record of all your wins as an art teacher, both in and out of the classroom. This is a great place to stash those student notes and funny stories!
Don’t wait until January 1st to start. If you begin now, you’ll build a habit for long-term success next year. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to end this year on a thankful and reflective note. If you’re having a difficult time finding things to be grateful for, brainstorm one thing that was challenging and what you learned from it. For example, if you had a student who threw a temper tantrum in class, maybe it taught you a new level of patience. Reframe your thinking and be intentional about recording it—you will see a difference in how you approach work and life.
5. Permit yourself to rest.
At the end of a long school day, you know what you need more than anyone else. You know when it’s time to do worthwhile activities to recharge and when it’s time to just sit back and zone out. While there are all kinds of ways to rest, sometimes all you need is a nap! If you’re a checklist person and it’s hard to wind down, remember that rest can be its own form of productivity. It’s often more efficient to rest up first, and then tackle what’s on your plate with full art teacher energy! On the other hand, if you’re thinking that you don’t know what you need, shutting down your brain is probably it.
We’re all art teachers because we love art and our budding artists. However, being an art teacher is not all rainbows and glitter. It comes with a lot of responsibility, prep, and hard work—especially as we count down to winter break and ramp up seasonal stress. That’s why it’s so important to build time into your schedule to recharge with intention. Add fun artmaking activities like collaging cards or creative blocks to bake or put together a puzzle. Sit down and reflect (or take a nap!) to tap into multiple areas of rest. Take care of yourself so you can be the best art teacher you can be and continue to love what you do!
What’s your favorite way to recharge your teaching energy and fill your artist bucket?
To discuss how to rest at the end of the semester with other art teachers, join us in The Art of Ed Community!
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
