What is your Holiday Intention?

I love Adam Fraser’s book The Third Space and its focus on intention—the conscious shift between what you just finished and what you’re about to do next.

Take a moment to consider: What is your intention as you transition from one task to another?

In the daily whirlwind of education, it can feel like you’re an F1 driver, racing toward student progress while swerving between unexpected challenges. But unlike an F1 driver, whose track is clearly defined, educators are often pulled from pillar to post, sometimes feeling like they’re moving backward.

So, what does this have to do with intention?

With the holidays approaching, it’s time to release yourself from the relentless pace of term time. Now that time is on your side, consider both your long-term and short-term intentions for this break.

Long-Term Intentions for the Holidays:

• Relax and enjoy the simple things—without guilt, without judgment.

• Let the day unfold without rigid plans.

• Spend time with people who truly get you.

• Fill your days with cup-filling activities.

Short-Term Intentions Between Activities:

• Show up fully committed.

• Be present—in body and mind.

• Approach moments with curiosity.

• Reflect on the joy rather than the annoy.

The holidays are a time to lighten your emotional backpack—to extract work concerns before you even leave the carpark. They’ll be there when you return. For now, replace them with experiences of joy you control. These moments are lighter, last longer, and become even more meaningful when you pause with intention between each activity.

Name and tame your emotions as you shift gears, allowing yourself to fully immerse in the richness of the break. You deserve it.

💭 What are your intentions for the holidays?

💡 How will you show up for yourself and others?