“We really did Christmas wrong,” says my sleepy husband as he tries to wake up. “We do all that at the end of the year, and New Year’s, which is supposed to be festive and fun, and then? Nothing for the rest of the winter. We should have Christmas in the middle of the year to spread out the festivities [Sic].”
He’s got a point, especially for educators! February can be one of the most difficult months in teaching. There’s a long stretch between January and March (or whenever Spring Break happens) when it feels like all the momentum from September and October grinds to a halt.

That’s ok! You’ve got this. In case you don’t, here are 6.5 tips to beat those February doldrums until the weather begins to feel better!
1. Get a Sunlamp. Being near this prescribed light source for a bit each day can help your circadian rhythms. They typically are in the $20 – $100 range. Plug it in, and pretend you are on the beach for 15 minutes during your prep.
2. Watch Funny Teachers. Educators are some of the funniest people on the planet. Dig into our curated list, or check out Bored Teachers for more laughter!
3. Doodle. Researchers from Harvard University have shown doodling to be a wonderful way to decrease stress and improve memory and mindfulness. Read more about the benefits of doodling from the Doodle Art Club.
4. Cook or Bake. Cooking can put us into a meditative state when focusing only on the directions and the recipe of a dish. This level of focus can distract us from the hurriedness of our lives!
5. Do Not Make Major Decisions. I cannot stress this enough. This is the time of year when teachers want to quit, get bangs, or both. Wait until March, or better yet, April, to decide on these life changes.
6. Try Something New at the Coffee Shop. You may always get your half-caf sugar-free mocha with 2 ice cubes, but maybe this time around, try a latté, an Americano, or a new flavor like Amaretto. Just changing your order can pique your interest in trying more!
6.5: Try Anything New: a different route to school, a different class or machine at the gym, a genre of book you haven’t ever tried (like vampires or a good swashbuckler), or just a small, 4 word mantra when you get out of bed: Today will be wonderful. Your brain likes change, and you might find that you do, too.
There you have it, friends – just a few of the many things you can do to get through the February doldrums. Give yourself grace when you need a moment, and make sure to take those moments on the regular. Take care of yourself—students and the world around you need you. And, maybe say no to the bangs, this time.
About the Author

Betsy Butler (she/her) is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel. She holds a B.A. in English, a Master’s in Education, and has been teaching since 1992. Betsy uses her three decades of teaching experience to write and revise our courses while selecting the perfect accompanying texts. Her specialty areas include ELA, special education topics, behavior management, and mental health.
Fun Fact: Betsy’s daily conquest is solving the New York Times crossword puzzle!