16 Ways That Summer Drastically Improves Teachers' Lives

It's the little things.

1. Goodbye, alarm clock.

2. Your morning commute is no longer lit by moonlight.

3. Shopping is an entirely different experience.

No more having to settle for green bananas in the 6:00 grocery store rush hour! No more crashing into carts of the other 20 people on your aisle! Being able to find a spot!

4. Traffic no longer unhinges you emotionally.

5. You actually have time to do the errands you'd been meaning to do all school year.

Auto inspection, haircut, dry cleaning. I have a cardigan I’ve been meaning to drop off since October. OCTOBER.

6. You regularly forget what day it is.

Oh, it's Tuesday? Huh.

7. You share the gym with a handful of retired folks and moms at 11 AM instead of with EVERY HUMAN ON THE PLANET at 7 PM.

#solitude

8. You no longer have to feel guilty about the naps you take on weekday afternoons.

I mean, what? I've never done that.

9. You have time to read.

Whatever you want! Silently! Without creating accompanying essay questions and grading them!

10. You reteach yourself to eat leisurely, like a civilized human, instead of inhaling handfuls of Starbursts meant for students.

11. Your apartment/house might actually look presentable.

...instead of like a refill station for marathon runners. Which, from August to June, is basically what it is.

12. Realizing that you've stayed up past 10 on a weeknight is no longer horrifying.

13. You can actually catch up and socialize with family and friends who have forgiven you for unreturned calls and texts, short tempers during the end of grading periods, and being roped into grading/crafts/school projects for the past nine months.

There needs to be an Appreciation Day for People Who Appreciate Teachers.

14. You can pee whenever you want.

Go ahead. Order the 32-ounce Diet Coke. Your organs are no longer limited by a bell system.

15. You don't have to bring your giant tote bag or laptop case when you go out.

16. Your FitBit sometimes stays in the single digits if you're not careful.

And you ain't mad at it.

Love Teach blogs about being a middle school English teacher here and for WeAreTeachers. You can follow her on Facebook or Twitter, but please do not follow her home unless you are a cute baby animal.