As a retired teacher I am well aware of the burn out that all teachers feel. Whether at the beginning of the school year, during conferences, the week before Winter or even Spring break as well as the end of the year aaaannnnnnddddd let's not forget SUMMER...Summer you question??? YES Summer! Do Teacher really relax or are the spending their summer thinking about a new class of kiddos...YOU DECIDE...I know the answer...been there...done that and every vacation seems to disappear like magic...POOF and it is time to teach!!!
Well...I am a firm believer that YOU need to take care of yourself every chance you get or you will burn out before you even start...
Who's with me...think of this...Have you ever felt like September comes and you never had a BREAK!
So Here are 5 tried and true Ideas that I have used, when I taught...WELL actually still use, to make sure my engine is running in top notch condition:
🌻Surround Yourself with Positivities:
That means: Read positive quotes:
Post a positive or inspirational quote in your classroom, office or anywhere you can see it everyday...Remember there will be days that are harder than others.
Make a list of everything you love about everyone and everything around you. I have kept a small journal and take a few minutes every so often to count my blessings and think about what I love about each of member of my family.
Post a positive or inspirational quote in your classroom, office or anywhere you can see it everyday...Remember there will be days that are harder than others.
Make a list of everything you love about everyone and everything around you. I have kept a small journal and take a few minutes every so often to count my blessings and think about what I love about each of member of my family.
Take a minute and jot down a positive moment or an accomplishment...Little or Big that made you feel blessed to be present with your family. I love this idea of a gratitude or blessing jar. It is quick and simple to create...add a little of your personality and personal notes, then on New year's Eve or a designated day, sit and read the notes in the jar.
It may bring some tears, but happy tears are always good for the soul!!
🌻Take Time for Yourself and I MEAN ALONE TIME:
MOMs.. Eat lunch or take a coffee break or even an afternoon snack by yourself once a week or once a month.
I used to take these breaks in my classroom during a prep time or even during my lunch break just to regroup and have a bit of thinking time.
I had a friend who used to ride the school elevator to gain a minute or 2 of quiet time and destress!! Not a bad idea if you have an elevator in your building!
I used to take these breaks in my classroom during a prep time or even during my lunch break just to regroup and have a bit of thinking time.
I had a friend who used to ride the school elevator to gain a minute or 2 of quiet time and destress!! Not a bad idea if you have an elevator in your building!
🌻Get Rid of that STRESS!
The list of Ideas to destress and relax is infinite...BUT...you have to try one to get started. Find what works best for you and your schedule and JUST DO IT!!!
Here are some Ideas that I have tried and they might also work for YOU!
Here are some Ideas that I have tried and they might also work for YOU!
- Yoga: Every Morning rise a bit earlier and simply do about 7 minutes of yoga poses. Check the internet or have a book handy. You can always sign up for a class, but 7 minutes a day will make a world of difference!!
- Walk at lunch time with a friend, colleague or alone. It is even better when it is cool out! When I taught full-time(I'm retired now!) we used to walk around the school neighborhood about 2-3 days a week. It was one of the best activities I did and made a world of difference for how I faced the rest of the day.
- I also used to walk with a friend to school everyday...sometimes even in the snow...my friend and i would solve all the school issues as we walked and felt great even if the problems did not go away, we still chatted about it and got it off our minds. We lived about a mile and half away from school and would meet on the corner. We were assigned the title:"The Walking teachers" and i would even see someone in a supermarket who would say, "Don't i see you walking everyday to work?"
- Go to the gym (exercise) and bring the kids. I know our YMCA allows kids to walk the track with an adult or they have a Kids Room with Kids Activities.
- Play with the kiddos. play hide and seek, catch outside, a board game, anything you know will take your mind of off school and bring you back to where you are...in the present!
- Read a non educational book.
- Get a massage, facial, nails done or a pedicure once a month or so!
- That's right PAMPER yourself...don't wait for someone else to do it!!! UMMM...it might not happen. You are in charge of YOU!!
Now...please note...I am not saying to do all of these...I mean....you would have more stress to life than you had before you started!!!
Simply pick one or two to try for a while and see if it makes a difference in your daily life!
🌻Prioritize or Set Priorities:
- Make a list of Have To's or Must Do's, Can DO's or Can Say No To's and start to listen to your list and cross off and prioritize that list.
- Make a list each week perhaps Sunday night or a night that works for you and write everything that you have that week. Then evaluate each item on your list. Add a key something like this: Green is MUST Do or Have To; Yellow is Can Do and Red is I can say no to or can postpone to another time.
Download this list and Print.
🌻 Eat as Healthy as you Can:
For example; make one change. Something like I am going to switch to breadless sandwiches this week and stick to it. Plan that type of lunch for the week and make it each night or ahead of time. Add all the ingredients except for the heavy bread. Add a light bressing and that change will come naturally the more you do it.
Here is an idea to get you started on your healthy journey:
Another idea might be to start your morning off with a healthy fruit or vegetable smoothie each morning or even bring it to school for break or lunch.
I am sure there are many small changes you can make in your diet that will make a difference in your life.
Try your best to focus on the Blessings you have not what your neighbor has...Positivity is a choice...a choice you have to make every single DAY! If you feed your brain positive thoughts, you brain will be reconditioned to think that way, which will lead to a less stressful life.Check these out to get you started:
The last one that you NEED to absolutely add to your diet is water!
Just remember every day is a new beginning with new possibilities. If at first you don't succeed, just simply start again and again...Remember: you might not be there YET...but you will!!
Allow yourself to make a few mistakes because we learn life long lessons from our mistakes and PLEASE, PLEASE, don't be hard on yourself...NO ONE IS PERFECT!
They say if you can do something for 30 days straight, then it will become a habit or second nature!!
Let me know how you do...I'll be waiting!!
