The new academic year always brings with it a sense of new beginnings, a bit like January does, but with a slightly different rhythm. Working in education means that my life has been structured around the academic calendar for many years, and in recent times that has also been coupled with the commitments of being an adult learner myself. Between assignments, deadlines, family responsibilities, and the day-to-day pressures of work, the last year was a particularly intense one. By the time summer finally arrived, I realised just how much I needed to take a step back and allow myself some space to breathe. For the first time in a while, I was able to do exactly that.

That pause has been invaluable. It was not just about going away for a short break, although I was fortunate to be able to do that this summer, it was about recognising the importance of recharging, and giving myself permission to switch off from the constant pull of responsibility. In education, we encourage students to pace themselves, to take breaks, and to look after their wellbeing, but many of us who work in the sector rarely apply the same advice to ourselves. It can feel like we should always be doing more, achieving more, or supporting others, but that constant cycle only leads to burnout. Taking time out, whether it is a full holiday or simply an afternoon with no agenda, can make a real difference to how prepared we feel for the challenges ahead.

What I have learned is that being refreshed does not have to mean a big getaway or a complete break from routine. Of course, if you are able to take a holiday, that can be wonderful for creating space between yourself and the pressures of everyday life. But I have also come to appreciate that rest can be found in smaller, simpler moments. An hour spent with a book in the garden, a walk without my phone, or even just allowing myself a guilt-free nap can all be ways of refreshing my mind and body. These small moments may not seem much at the time, but they add up, and they create a rhythm of rest that helps sustain us through busier periods.

In many ways, learning to value these smaller breaks is essential for anyone who, like me, juggles multiple responsibilities. When you are studying as an adult learner alongside working and raising a family, it is not realistic to expect that you will have endless free time to switch off completely. But what is realistic is choosing to build in moments of pause. It might mean saying no to an extra commitment, or being disciplined about setting aside study materials for an evening. It might be as simple as scheduling time to meet a friend for coffee, or taking the longer route home because you know it allows you to enjoy a little peace. These decisions are rarely grand, but they are powerful in how they protect our energy.

One of the biggest shifts I noticed after giving myself more space this summer is just how different I feel approaching the new academic year. In the past, I have often felt that September arrives too soon, bringing with it a rush of planning, expectations, and renewed pressures. This time, I feel a little steadier. That sense of being refreshed has not come from doing nothing, but from deliberately stepping away when I could, and recognising that rest is not indulgent, it is necessary. The result is that I am now returning to work and study with more focus, more energy, and more perspective on what really matters.

This idea of perspective is something I keep coming back to. When we are deep in the cycle of work, study, and family commitments, it can be very easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. We focus so much on the next deadline or the next task that we forget why we are doing any of it in the first place. Taking time to pause creates space for reflection. It reminds us that our identity is not only tied to our output. It allows us to reconnect with the things that make life meaningful outside of our responsibilities. For me, that has meant spending more time with family, enjoying nature, and remembering that achievements are not just measured by grades or job performance, but by the quality of the moments we create.

As I move into the new year, I am holding on to the lesson that taking breaks is not just a luxury to be enjoyed when everything else is complete. It is something we can and should weave into our daily lives. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to rest is unrealistic, life rarely slows down enough to give us that gift. Instead, we can create those pauses in smaller ways, and over time they make all the difference. A five-minute break between meetings to breathe deeply, stepping outside at lunch rather than eating at a desk, or putting away screens earlier in the evening to allow proper rest, these things are small, but their impact is cumulative.

It is easy to dismiss rest as unproductive, but in reality, it is one of the most productive things we can do. Without it, we lose focus, our creativity diminishes, and our resilience fades. With it, we are able to bring more of ourselves to everything we do, whether that is in the classroom, in our studies, or at home. In education, we often talk about lifelong learning, and I think part of that learning is recognising how to balance our efforts with our wellbeing.

This summer has reminded me that it is possible to find balance again, even after an intense year. It has shown me that refreshing ourselves does not always mean a complete escape, but it does mean being intentional about where we place our energy. As I step into the new academic year, I feel better equipped to face what lies ahead, not because the challenges have disappeared, but because I have given myself the chance to recover.

If you are also approaching this new year feeling tired from what has come before, I would encourage you to find your own moments to pause. They do not need to be elaborate, and they do not need to wait for the holidays. Allow yourself the kindness of rest in whatever form you can, and notice how it helps you return to your commitments with more clarity and strength. We all deserve that sense of renewal, and by taking it, we are not stepping back from our responsibilities, we are preparing ourselves to meet them with a refreshed perspective.