Why the Summer Holidays Often Become Recovery Time Instead of Rest
The end of the school year is finally in sight.
Classrooms are being tidied, displays are coming down, reports are being finished, and many teachers already know which classes or year groups they'll be teaching in August. Supply teachers may have found out where they'll be working next term. Family holidays are booked. The prospect of slower mornings, lighter days and time with loved ones is beginning to feel real.
After such a demanding year, most teachers look forward to the holidays hoping they will finally feel rested.
Yet for many teachers, something unexpected happens.
The first few days of the holidays arrive and instead of feeling energised, they feel exhausted.
A cold suddenly appears. A sore throat develops. Sleep doesn't seem to touch the fatigue. Some feel emotional, flat or unusually tearful. Others find themselves needing an entire week or two before they start feeling like themselves again.
One teacher who completed my recent survey described it perfectly:
"The initial part of my holidays isn't recovery mode. It took the whole first week before I felt normal and functional."
I remember hearing similar conversations in the staffroom every summer.
Someone would finally break up for the holidays and immediately come down with a cold. Another colleague would spend the first week sleeping and still feel exhausted.
Looking back, I experienced exactly the same thing myself. Despite finally having time to rest and getting plenty of sleep, it often took me several weeks before my energy started to return.
At the time, I couldn't understand it.
Now I do.
What Happens During a Stressful School Year?
Teaching asks an enormous amount of the human nervous system.
Throughout the school year, teachers are constantly adapting to changing demands, deadlines, workload pressures, pupil needs, behaviour challenges and the emotional responsibility of supporting young people every day.
The human body is remarkably good at helping us cope with short periods of stress.
When we face a challenge, our nervous system releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones help us stay alert, focused and responsive. They are designed to help us deal with immediate demands and keep us moving forward.
The difficulty arises when stress stops being occasional and becomes the background soundtrack of everyday life.
Over weeks and months, many teachers find themselves operating in a state of chronic stress. The nervous system becomes increasingly focused on getting through the next lesson, the next deadline, the next observation, the next term.
In survival mode, the body's priority is simple: keep going.
This process is largely automatic. It is not something we consciously choose.
Part of this survival response can include suppressing certain physical processes, including aspects of immune function, so that the body can prioritise immediate demands. This is one reason some people become ill shortly after a prolonged period of stress ends.
Why You May Feel Worse Once the Holidays Begin
Many teachers expect relief to arrive the moment the term finishes.
Unfortunately, our biology doesn't always work that way.
During the school year, your nervous system may have been working incredibly hard to help you function despite the pressure. Once the holidays begin and the demands finally ease, your brain starts receiving a different message:
-It's safe now.
As cortisol and adrenaline levels begin to settle, the body no longer needs to maintain the same state of alertness.
This is often when the true impact of the year begins to surface.
The exhaustion you've been pushing through becomes more noticeable. The emotions you've had little time to process begin asking for attention. The physical symptoms you've overridden for months can suddenly become impossible to ignore.
For many teachers, this delayed stress response can feel confusing. After all, if the stress has stopped, shouldn't you feel better?
In reality, recovery often begins when the pressure ends, not while you're still living inside it.
There May Be Grief Here Too
Sometimes the first days of the holidays bring more than physical exhaustion.
They bring grief. Not necessarily grief in the traditional sense, but grief for the teacher you used to be:
-The teacher who felt excited about new ideas
-The teacher who had more energy
-The teacher who found joy in the classroom more easily
Many teachers quietly wonder:
-What happened to me?
-Why don't I feel like myself anymore?
These questions can feel uncomfortable, particularly when everyone around you seems to be celebrating the start of summer.
However, they are often important questions. They invite us to pause and understand our experience rather than immediately trying to fix it.
A Different Way to Approach Recovery
Many teachers enter the holidays with another list of things they feel they should be doing:
-Recover faster
-Get organised
-Be productive – clean the house; catch up with family and friends; attend social events; keep the kids entertained
-Make the most of every day.
Perhaps there is another place to begin. Instead of asking:
-How quickly can I get back to normal?
You might ask:
-What is my mind and body trying to tell me?
Understanding comes before change.
Before we focus on improving energy, reducing stress or creating new habits, it helps to understand what has been happening beneath the surface.
The first week of the holidays may not be evidence that you're failing to recover. It may be the first opportunity your mind and body have had all year to tell the truth about how tired they really are.
If this holiday begins with extra sleep, slower days, unexpected emotions or a box of tissues beside the sofa, know that you are not alone.
Sometimes recovery starts with listening, acceptance and connection.
Sonata x
P.S. If you’d like gentle support to understand what’s happening beneath stress and overwhelm in teaching, alongside simple somatic and nervous system practices to help you feel more grounded in your day-to-day life, you’re very welcome to join my email community here.
It’s a low-frequency space for educators who want both clarity and practical support as they navigate work, stress, and decision-making.
Or download my free Self Assessment Burnout Quiz to identify exactly where you are on the burnout spectrum.
About the Author
Sonata Jankauskiene is a CNM-certified Health Coach and former teacher who helps educators understand the effects of chronic stress and burnout so they can reconnect with themselves, regain clarity and support their wellbeing from the inside out.
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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you're experiencing severe symptoms, please consult your GP or a mental health professional.
