--- title: Top 5 things to do over the summer to set yourself up for Back-to-School Success description: Practical tips and ideas to use now and benefit from later! image: https://blog.g-w.com/hubfs/iStock-1220976971.jpg --- [![gw_web_logo](https://blog.g-w.com/hubfs/gw_web_logo.png)](https://www.g-w.com/) ![menu](https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/7479797/menu.png) ![close_24px](https://7479797.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7479797/close_24px.svg) - [G-W Blog Home](https://blog.g-w.com/home) - [Career & Technical Education](https://blog.g-w.com/cte) - [Health & Physical Education](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe) - [G-W Blog Home](https://blog.g-w.com/home) - [Career & Technical Education](https://blog.g-w.com/cte) - [Health & Physical Education](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe) [Contact Us](https://www.g-w.com/connect) [Health and Physical Education](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/tag/health-and-physical-education) # Top 5 things to do over the summer to set yourself up for Back-to-School Success [![Katherine Bates](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20-%20Content/KatherineBates.jpg?width=50&height=50&name=KatherineBates.jpg)](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/author/katherine-bates) [Katherine Bates](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/author/katherine-bates) ![](https://blog.g-w.com/hubfs/iStock-1220976971.jpg) Top 5 things to do over the summer to set yourself up for Back-to-School Success 2:21 **![iStock-1852391766](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1852391766.jpg?width=288&height=192&name=iStock-1852391766.jpg)1.   Reflect, and make a few notes to give direction to your next school year.** Here are some questions that might be useful prompts:   - What worked for you this past school year?   - What do you wish were different?   - Which activities were hits?   - Can you mimic or adapt those activities for other topics?   - What resonated with your students?   - What were you proud of over the past year?   - Are there ways to increase that action or circumstance? - Take time to reflect now, while the past school year is still relatively fresh in your mind! **2.   Create a SMART plan for one or two things you’d like to change in the coming school year**: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed. For example, if getting to work on time in the morning has been stressful, you might try:  When school starts, for one week, a friendly alarm sounds 20 minutes before I have to walk out the door. If you want to build a stronger classroom community, ensure that every student participates in at least one class discussion or group activity per week for the first month of school.   ![iStock-2151931785](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-2151931785.png?width=365&height=246&name=iStock-2151931785.png)3.   Connect with a colleague. Share thoughts and ideas. Trade techniques that worked. Brainstorm together on a couple of challenges you’re facing. Is your colleague doing something you admire that you could try?    **4.  Line up a few wins to support yourself for the first month of school**. Some possible ideas:  - Make a coffee date with a friend, or a time to go for a walk, for a few weeks after school starts.   - Put a couple of freezer-friendly dinners in the freezer.   - Write a quote that is meaningful to you on a piece of paper and tuck it in your work bag.  - Find a comic that makes you smile, print it out, and pop that into your work bag.   **5.  Take a break**. Weall need time to rest. Check out [ideas for educators to recharge over summer break here.](https://blog.g-w.com/unplug-and-thrive-your-guide-to-recharging-this-summer)![iStock-2214889694](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-2214889694.jpg?width=455&height=303&name=iStock-2214889694.jpg) When you are ready to think about school material again, you can rely on G-W for comprehensive packages of instructional support and ready-to-implement resources. Ease your transition back into the classroom with our [skills-based programs](https://www.g-w.com/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=top-5-things-to-do-over-the-summer-to-set-yourself-up-for-back-to-school-success) that include lesson plans, PowerPoints, editable and assignable workbook activities and handouts, and more. If you see something you like today, [request your preview copy here](https://www.g-w.com/preview?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=top-5-things-to-do-over-the-summer-to-set-yourself-up-for-back-to-school-success).  In the meantime, enjoy every moment of your well-deserved break!  Previous Post ###### [Unplug and Thrive: Your Guide to Recharging This Summer](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/unplug-and-thrive-your-guide-to-recharging-this-summer) Next Post ###### [Coping with FOMO: Tips to Stress Less and Boost Positivity](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/coping-with-fomo-tips-to-stress-less-and-boost-positivity) ### Similar Blog Posts [![](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Leading_Without_a_Title_SolStock.jpg?width=352&name=Blog_Leading_Without_a_Title_SolStock.jpg)](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/leading-without-the-title) #### [Leading Without the Title](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/leading-without-the-title) [![](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1403856507.jpg?width=352&name=iStock-1403856507.jpg)](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/unplug-and-thrive-your-guide-to-recharging-this-summer) #### [Unplug and Thrive: Your Guide to Recharging This Summer](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/unplug-and-thrive-your-guide-to-recharging-this-summer) [![](https://blog.g-w.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Thumb_Stress%20Success_600x400.jpg?width=352&name=Blog%20Thumb_Stress%20Success_600x400.jpg)](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/from-stress-to-success-how-exercise-transforms-test-day) #### [From Stress to Success: How Exercise Transforms Test Day](https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/from-stress-to-success-how-exercise-transforms-test-day) 18604 West Creek Drive , Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 [facebook icon](https://www.facebook.com/GoodheartWillcox) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/GWPublisher) [linkedin icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodheartwillcox/) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/gwpublisher/) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/GoodheartWillcox) Resources - [Contact Us](https://www.g-w.com/connect) - [Engage with Us](https://www.g-w.com/engage-with-us) - [Find Your Consultant](https://www.g-w.com/consultant) - [Request a Free Preview](https://www.g-w.com/preview) - [Tools For Educators](https://www.g-w.com/tools-for-educators) © 2026 The Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Katherine Bates", "url" : "https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/author/katherine-bates" }, "dateModified" : "2026-01-13T18:05:58.644Z", "datePublished" : "2025-06-24T15:04:19.000Z", "headline" : "Top 5 things to do over the summer to set yourself up for Back-to-School Success", "image" : [ "https://blog.g-w.com/hubfs/iStock-1220976971.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.g-w.com/health-pe/top-5-things-to-do-over-the-summer-to-set-yourself-up-for-back-to-school-success", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "Goodheart-Willcox Publisher" } } ```