OL5792 Williams Wellness Blog

Do you ever take the time to think back to why you began teaching? In today's busy and stressful world, it can sometimes be hard to remember our "why". It can be easy to lose sight of why we do what we do, and it's important to take some time to remember how important our role is and know that we're significant. Here are some suggestions for maintaining your sense of purpose: Notice the "little" things. Collect student artifacts, keep notes from parents, cut out newspaper articles featuring your class. Accept compliments!  Mentor a new teacher. Be an active participant at meetings. Volunteer to run a professional development session. Don't take yourself too seriously!

If you're anything like me, you have a hard time saying no to people. I tend to say yes to everything, then I end up getting completely overwhelmed! Instead of doing a few things well, I end up doing a lot of things in a mediocre way. Check out these tips for learning how to say no and making the most out of what you are involved in.  Learning to say no to an administrator can actually be the more respectful thing to do if you know that you won't be able to give the new item your full attention If you must take on a new responsibility, talk to your administrator about what you can drop to make time in your schedule Don't worry about hurting people's feelings!  You need to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of others. It's better to do a few things well than try to do too many things poorly!

Do you ever feel like there literally isn't enough time in the day? It's important to figure out how to best manage your time and energy. Consider these ideas! Carve out time for non-negotiables - decide which things in your life are top priority and make sure that those things don't fall by the wayside. Figure out what to eliminate - there are probably some things you are doing that could be done by someone else. Eliminate one or two things can free you up to focus more on including those non-negotiables. Learn to say no! Know your limits and don't feel like you have to please everyone. Work smarter, not harder. Come up with ways to make the most out of what you're doing. Work during your most productive time during the day or turn off your phone for an hour to minimize interruptions. Relax! Be realistic when it comes to expectations.

 Stress. We all feel it! Have you ever thought about the many ways stress affects us? Stressed teachers take more sick day and get less done at school. Long-term effects of stress can lead to serious health problems. Stress costs money! When districts have to hire substitute teachers, that adds up quickly. Stress can be damaging to relationships. So what can we do??? Make time for friends and family! Care about your emotional health. Make sure you eat!  Don't skimp on sleep. Stay organized and declutter.  Find ways to disconnect from school. Take up a hobby - reading, gardening, journaling, etc. Connect with nature - bring in a few plants, hang a bird feeder, or take time to get outside for a walk!