How to Keep Your SLP Brain Fresh During Summer Break

Hey, speech friend! 👋🏼

Summer can feel a little strange as a speech therapist.

After months of packed schedules, back-to-back sessions, paperwork, progress reports, and IEP meetings, the sudden shift in pace can leave many SLPs feeling torn.

Part of you wants to rest.

Part of you wants to organize everything.

And part of you wonders if you should be doing some sort of professional development.

The good news?

You do not have to choose between learning and resting.

In fact, summer can be one of the best times to refresh your SLP brain without overwhelming yourself.

Start With What Actually Interests You

One mistake many clinicians make is feeling like they need to learn everything.

AAC.
Literacy.
Apraxia.
Fluency.
Gestalt Language Processing.
Narrative language.

The list never ends.

Instead of trying to tackle every area of speech pathology, choose one topic you've been curious about recently.

Ask yourself:

• What goals show up most often on my caseload?
• What area do I wish I felt more confident targeting?
• What students tend to challenge me the most?

Focusing on one area often leads to more meaningful growth than trying to consume everything.

Listen Instead of Reading

Professional development does not have to mean sitting through lengthy trainings.

Summer is a great time to learn while:

• Walking
• Driving
• Exercising
• Cleaning
• Traveling

Podcasts can be a great way to stay connected to the profession without feeling like you're "working."

Even listening to one episode per week can expose you to new ideas and perspectives.

And may I suggest my podcast? 😉 The All Things SLP Podcast is a perfect, quick win podcast from me to you to give you bite-sized trainings on the go! 

>> CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW <<

Organize Your Therapy Materials

Professional growth is not always about learning something new.

Sometimes it is about making your future self's life easier.

Summer is a great opportunity to:

• Clean out old files
• Organize digital resources
• Update therapy materials
• Create folders by goal area
• Save favorite activities

A few hours of organization now can save countless hours during the school year.

Give Yourself Permission to Rest

This might be the most important tip of all.

Rest is productive.

Burnout does not make you a better clinician.

Taking time to recharge helps you return to your students with more patience, creativity, and energy.

The best professional development plan may include:

• A few trainings
• A few podcasts
• A little organization
• And a whole lot of rest

Sometimes that is exactly what your SLP brain needs.