Business
Stay healthy and cool
for the summer
By Carolyn Lee
E
ducators
have
already
started the count down
to the highly anticipated
summer break. Plans for
catching up with family and friends,
travelling and discovering new
places, and trying out new activities
are on many lists of what to do this
summer. We want to ensure that all
our teachers, who will be returning
to the Middle East, are healthy,
rejuvenated and ready to tackle
the next school year. Below are a
few reminders on how to enjoy the
summer, while taking care of your
health.
Plan a schedule: Yes, this is the
last thing most teachers want to
do. Yet, it is an effective way to
manage your time this summer.
Whether you are travelling back
home to visit loved ones, or
heading to a different country for
some fun, sun and exploration,
poor time management can turn
a fun vacation into a stressful
time. Nobody wants that. Avoid
unnecessary stress, by creating a
schedule of what you would like to
do. Always timetable some down
time, where you can just chill.
Feel free to edit your schedule
even while on vacation. The aim of
the schedule, is for you to have a
working idea of what you need to
prioritise.
Don’t get overly zealous:
Summer is the time for having fun
and trying new activities. However,
it is important that you remember
and respect your limitations. For
example, if you have problems
with your knees, don’t get overly
zealous with activities that could
exacerbate the problem. Always
ensure that you have the right
dosages of the medications that
you need to stay healthy. Don’t
go crazy with all the delicious
meals from home, that you have
missed. Food poisoning is real. Pay
attention to your allergies.
Be budget savvy: Dinner dates,
group activities, travel expenses
and more all add up. Additionally,
some of the products that were
hard to find in the Middle East, are
now easily accessible. Remember
to keep your budget tight. During
the summer, our budgets usually
take a hit. Make sure your budget
includes allowances for the things
that you will need from wherever
you are travelling to. Before
making an unplanned purchase,
ask yourself if you NEED it. Having
money woes during or towards the
end of summer is stressful.
Exercise: Don’t slack off because it
is summer. Ensure that you exercise
both physically and mentally
during the break. Include physical
and mental workouts during the
summer. A healthy body and mind
are important to overall wellness. A
healthy body and a sick mind (vice
versa) will not be of benefit to you.
Indulge, but remember your fitness
routines. Learn something new and
slightly challenging to tease your
mind. Maintain a positive outlook.
Balance is important.
Finally, it doesn’t matter where
you are, in the world this summer,
be alert. A lot may have changed
since you last visited your home
country. Each new country that you
visit, has its own set of problems.
Even though the summer is for
fun and relaxation, awareness is
necessary for your safety and that
of those around you. Don’t break
the law or enable others to do so.
Your overall wellbeing depends
on it. Ignorance is not an excuse,
especially for teachers.