5 Daily Mindset Habits Every Teacher Should Start This Summer

For many educators, the summer months offer a brief window of calm—a time to reset, recharge, and prepare for the whirlwind that is the school year. But what if you could use this downtime to build sustainable habits that help you stay grounded and focused all year long?

In this episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, host Beth Vaucher highlights powerful yet simple mindset habits that anyone can implement, no matter how packed their schedule is. These aren’t time-consuming rituals—they’re short, intentional actions that help you manage stress, increase presence, and avoid burnout.

Why Mindset Matters

Teaching is emotionally taxing. From the moment you step into the classroom, you’re pulled in a dozen directions. Beth reminds us that mindset isn’t about ignoring challenges—it’s about equipping ourselves with habits that make us more resilient.

1. Start with Gratitude

Inspired by 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp, Beth emphasizes the life-changing power of gratitude. Keeping a simple journal and noting even the smallest blessings—sunlight through a window, the sound of laughter—can shift your focus from what’s wrong to what’s right.

“Gratitude isn’t just a feeling—it’s a habit that rewires how we see the world.”

2. Use Breathwork to Reset Your Body

Beth introduces listeners to “box breathing,” a powerful technique involving a simple four-count rhythm. This type of breathwork activates your parasympathetic nervous system, helping you transition from fight-or-flight mode to a calm, regulated state—essential for both teachers and students.

3. Intentionally Pause

Without breaks, stress compounds quickly. Beth recommends setting small “pause alarms” throughout the day—take a short walk, breathe in fresh air, or simply stand in stillness. These brief moments of calm can help you reset and refocus.

4. Build Morning and Evening Routines

You don’t need a perfect routine—you need a purposeful one. Beth shares how starting her day with hydration, prayer, or journaling (instead of checking Instagram) sets the tone for productivity. In the evenings, a quick wind-down routine that includes reflection or reading helps her sleep better and prepare for the next day.

“Presence isn’t just physical—it’s mental, emotional, and powerful.”

5. Create Tech Boundaries

Beth gets real about the pull of social media and how mindless scrolling can derail your mindset. With tools like app timers or accountability partners (in her case, her husband sets the timer password), you can reclaim hours of your life and feel more in control.

Conclusion: Progress Over Perfection

Beth’s message is clear: your mindset won’t shift overnight—but it will shift with consistent, simple habits. This episode serves as a gentle but firm reminder that educators need care too. The more we invest in our inner world, the more we have to give to our classrooms, families, and communities.

Ready to reset your mindset this summer? Start with one habit today. Your future self—and your students—will thank you.

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More about Equipping ELLs:

We all know that teaching isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be this hard. Equipping ELLs is a podcast for both ESL specialists and homeroom teachers who are looking for effective and engaging ways to support their English Language Learners without adding to their endless to-do list. Tune in each week to hear tips, strategies, and inspirational stories that will empower you to better reach your ELL students, equip them with life-long skills, and strengthen relationships with colleagues and parents.

Your host, Beth Vaucher, is the founder of Inspiring Young Learners. She is an ESL certified homeroom teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching in the US and internationally. Her background of M.Ed in ESL and Curriculum and Instruction combined with her experience has led her to develop a bestselling newcomer curriculum that has sold in over 90 countries around the globe. She brings a different perspective to teaching ELLs from her years teaching and living abroad and working with ELLs from around the world. You will walk away from each episode with the ideas and tools you need to transform your experience as a teacher and cultivate a thriving and welcoming environment for your ELL students.

Beth

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