Teacher self-care often gets framed as something you need to plan for, budget for, or simply dream about. But for a lot of us, the hardest part of the day isn’t the morning rush or even the school day itself. It’s the after-school hours when your body is tired, your brain is still buzzing, and you don’t quite know what to do with yourself once you’re home. Real teacher self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. It can be as simple as choosing activities that help you come down from the day without pulling you right back into “teacher mode.” These after-school teacher self-care ideas are meant to help you transition out of work, feel productive or relaxed in ways that actually matter, and protect your energy for the long haul.

Teacher Self-Care Ideas

Have Some Craft or Maker Time

I love hobbies that make me use my hands. My go-to is crocheting. I love when I end up with an actual product at the end. Plus, it keeps my hands busy, so I’m less likely to end up doomscrolling for hours on end. Other crafts could include cross-stitching, wire crafts, beading, painting, scrapbooking, etc. The key is to stay open minded during the search for “your thing.” The first couple of hobbies may not hit, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something out there for you. You just have to be willing to keep looking for it.

How to make it easier: There are a ton of “starter kits” on the market right now. They’re very beginner friendly, and make your end product feel much closer in reach. If you’re overwhelmed by the supplies you need for a craft, see if you can find one of these kits. Also, recruit a friend or coworker in your pursuit. Doing things with someone else makes it way easier to continue. Have snacks, put on some reality tv, and make it a “Vent & Craft” night.

Work on a Home Project

There are so many things around my home that I keep telling myself I need to work on. For example, my bedroom closet is begging to be cleaned and organized. When I’m coming off the high of a successful school day (or my Adderall hasn’t completely worn off), I need *something* to do, but I hate when I am solely focused on school and teaching, leaving the rest of my life unattended. A good home project keeps me moving and feeling productive without dedicated all my energy to one area of my life. Other home projects could include redecorating a bathroom, rearranging your kitchen to be more “eating at home” friendly, or creating a reading nook in your living room. Make a list of all the tasks involved, and get cracking, girly!

How to make it easier: Break it down in the simplest of tasks, so it doesn’t become overwhelming. For example, my closet is a mess…a scary mess. My first task would be just getting the items that make it difficult to open and close the door out of the way. That simple task includes a bunch of micro-tasks like figuring out where to store those items, deciding whether to donate or trash things I no longer use, etc. It’s such a simple task, but it’s something that makes a decent impact on my space.

Have Antisocial (Media) Time

I often find myself starting to scroll on Pinterest or Instagram and then, end up going down a rabbit hole of things I need to start implementing in my classroom. After an entire day of “classroom,” my brain is still on teaching. That’s not relaxing. Instead, I try to spend a couple of evenings a week off socials (some weeks are more successful than others). During that time, I might play a video game (this is a forever favorite) or read (currently reading this). One of my goals is to start walking more, and that would be a perfect “no social media” activity. Ideally, these hobbies would be entirely screen-free, but I’m not there yet. 

How to make it easier: Practice with a few different hobbies to see what really gets you excited. Also, if you do want to scroll social (even with the intent of finding teacher/classroom content), give yourself an objective to find an idea that you really connect with and implement it within the week. Then, reflect on how it went, figure out what (if anything) you need to tweak, and go on the hunt again.

To Sum Up the Teacher Self-Care Ideas…

Teacher self-care isn’t about doing more or trying to become a perfectly balanced person overnight. It’s about creating small, realistic after-school habits that help you feel like yourself again once the school day ends. Whether that looks like working with your hands, making progress on your home, or intentionally stepping away from social media, the goal is the same: giving your brain a break from constant performance and decision-making. You don’t need a full routine or a flawless plan for teacher self-care to work. You just need a few go-to options that support your energy instead of draining it. Start with one idea, keep it simple, and let after school be a time that restores you instead of stealing whatever you have left.