Being an international teacher comes with a distinct set of perks and challenges. The summer holidays sit high on that list, even for those who genuinely love the job. A full school year of effort earns this break. It’s a chance to unwind, recharge, and return in September with fresh energy.
One of the best parts of teaching internationally is the chance to travel. The reality, though, often means juggling a trip home to see family and friends with wanting to explore the region you now call home. So how do you get the most out of this time?
1. Plan and prioritise
Before the holidays begin, take stock of what actually matters to you this year. Rest? Quality time with family? A new country ticked off the list? Write down your priorities and build your plans around them, rather than trying to fit everything in. If you want to travel but are on a budget, you need consider money-saving options such as house swaps with fellow international teachers.
If you’re travelling home, keep the itinerary realistic. Overloading it with visits and activities tends to leave you needing a holiday to recover from your holiday. Focus on a few close people and let them know your plans in advance, so you’re not managing last-minute stress on top of everything else.
Alternatively sometimes a rest is just as good! As an international teacher travelling can certainly become a tiring excercise after a while, and many choose the summer break to properly explore the region they are living in instead:
“I like to stay and explore the “host” country at least a little. It’s usually cheaper than going back home and I can do it on my own terms.” – Sarah, English Teacher.
2. Combine trips where it makes sense
If you’re based in Asia but originally from Europe, a stopover in a new city on the way home can add real value without eating into family time. Or invite family to join you where you’re now based. It gives them a proper sense of your life abroad, and you get quality time without the return-flight scramble.
3. Balance work and leisure across the year
Long weekends and short breaks spread through the school year take pressure off the summer holidays. Shorter trips tend to be less stressful and give you a slower pace to actually enjoy the surroundings. They also reduce the stress that builds up term by term.
When you do travel, disconnect properly. Decide in advance when you’ll deal with any work planning, then leave it alone outside that window. The break only does its job if you let it.
4. Embrace slower travel
One place explored properly beats three places rushed. Slow travel tends to give a more authentic sense of a culture and leaves you less drained than a multi-stop itinerary. A staycation counts too. The surroundings you’ve stopped noticing day-to-day are often worth a second look, and can be just as restorative as a longer trip. Consider slow travel itself by opting for different transportation; don’t just rely on flights. Trains, buses and hiring drivers can really open up new opportunities for adventure and experiences.
5. Protect your rest
Sleep affects concentration, memory and overall health, all things you’ll rely on heavily next term. Build in proper downtime, whatever that looks like for you: a walk, a book, doing nothing in particular.
It’s fine to say no to social plans that don’t serve you. Overcommitting leads to burnout, not relaxation. Most people will understand an honest boundary far better than a cancelled plan at the last minute.
6. Reflect before you recharge
Take some time to think about the year just gone. What worked? What would you do differently? Journaling can help here, as can simply naming one or two things to focus on next year. This is also important for career development. What do you want to have achieved by the end of your contract to strengthen your CV? Write down your goals, things you want to work towards in the next term.
The holidays are also a chance to reconnect with whatever makes you, you, outside the classroom. A new hobby, a class, a skill picked up for no reason other than curiosity. That kind of personal growth does as much for burnout prevention as the rest itself. Focusing your mind on something else entirely will give you a refreshed perspective when you next step into the classroom.
Teaching internationally means seeing the world, but making the most of it takes some planning. Set your priorities, combine trips sensibly, balance the term-time load, slow down where you can, and protect your rest. Do that, and September finds you properly ready for it.
If you’re weighing up a new challenge or a different region altogether, chk Education can help you think it through. Our team brings 30+ years of combined experience in international education recruitment, built on real conversations rather than algorithms or box-ticking.
