Anyone who spends their days in and around schools knows that the stretch leading up to spring break can feel especially intense. The days are still cold and dark in many parts of the country, and the pace of supporting students, families, and colleagues rarely slows. For many counselors and educators, the arrival of spring break brings a much‑needed invitation to decompress, reconnect with themselves, and genuinely recharge. Some travel; others stay close to home and hope they will feel rejuvenated simply because the schedule is lighter.

It is important to remember, though, that rest rarely happens by accident. For educators accustomed to powering through to‑do lists and showing up for everyone else, creating intentional downtime can feel surprisingly difficult. Making space to pause without the pressure to get things done is a powerful choice to reset. Put differently, slowing down is not unproductive; in fact, it often creates the conditions for renewal that sustain the important work waiting in the weeks ahead.

One of the most effective ways to step out of the constant rhythm of school life is to step into a different world entirely. A compelling book or a thoughtfully chosen podcast can offer a mental reset, spark new perspectives, and create space for genuine relaxation. Whether the goal is to unwind, feel inspired, or simply breathe a little deeper, use the book and podcast recommendations below to fully embrace the pause this spring break. Consider choosing one listed here or be inspired to find something that speaks more directly to you and settle into a cozy spot indoors or outdoors, take a slow walk with headphones, or tuck into a corner of your favorite coffee shop with something good to read. The hope is simple: that you end the break feeling restored and ready for what comes next.

Book Recommendations

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Summary from goodreads: “Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.”

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Summary from goodreads: “Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and Earth itself will perish.Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone. Or does he? An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could imagine it, Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian—while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.”

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Summary from goodreads: “In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams for a friend to alleviate her isolation. Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.” But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives. Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.”

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros  

Summary from goodreads: “Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia Stanton has to start over after she gave up almost everything in a brutal divorce―the New York house, the friends, and her pride. Now back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado, she finds herself face-to-face with Noah Harrison, the bestselling author of a million books where the cover is always people nearly kissing. He’s just as arrogant in person as in interviews, and she’ll be damned if the good-looking writer of love stories thinks he’s the one to finish her grandmother’s final novel…even if the publisher swears he’s the perfect fit. Noah is at the pinnacle of his career. With book and movie deals galore, there isn’t much the “golden boy” of modern fiction hasn’t accomplished. But he can’t walk away from what might be the best book of the century―the one his idol, Scarlett Stanton, left unfinished. Coming up with a fitting ending for the legendary author is one thing, but dealing with her beautiful, stubborn, cynical great-granddaughter, Georgia, is quite another. But as they read Scarlett’s words in both the manuscript and her box of letters, they start to realize why Scarlett never finished the book―it’s based on her real-life romance with a World War II pilot, and the ending isn’t a happy one. Georgia knows all too well that love never works out, and while the chemistry and connection between her and Noah is undeniable, she’s as determined as ever to learn from her great-grandmother’s mistakes―even if it means destroying Noah’s career.”

Great, Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 

Summary from goodreads: “Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years--or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century…Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period…But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room. And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad… depending on who’s telling it.”

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Podcast Recommendations

Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers

Summary from Spotify: “Lifelong brothers, Seth Meyers and Josh Meyers ask guests to relive childhood memories, unforgettable family trips, and other disasters!” 

Everything is Alive 

Summary from Spotify: “Everything is Alive is an unscripted interview show in which all the subjects are inanimate objects. In each episode, a different thing tells us its life story--and everything it says is true.”

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Summary from Spotify: Come hang with Amy Poehler. Each week on her podcast, she'll welcome celebrities and fun people to her studio. They'll share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what's been making them laugh. This podcast is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time.

The Empty Cereal Bowl

Summary from Spotify: “A meditative podcast about cereal from cereal eater Justin McElroy and Cerealously creator Dan Goubert.”

Wonderful!

Summary from Spotify: “Welcome to Wonderful! It’s an enthusiast podcast by Griffin and Rachel McElroy in which they discuss Very Good Things, and the Things that Make Them Good.”

Beyond the Break

The pause of spring break can be more than time away from school; it can serve as a reminder of how intentional habits can restore your energy and support your overall well‑being. Alongside the books and podcasts you explore, consider weaving in other restorative practices–slow morning walks, time away from screens, reconnecting with a hobby, meaningful time with friends, or simply allowing yourself moments of quiet without multitasking. And, though it is not always easy to make space for them, try maintaining one or two of these habits as you return to the final weeks of school. These thoughtful choices can bring balance to your days and help replenish the reserves you rely on in your work. 

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