Inspiration and resources for balance before burnout
Archive for November, 2008
Silent Night, Holy @%&*! The Oven Is On Fire
Sunday, November 30th, 2008Tonight I have been working on the December issue of The Whole Teacher e-newsletter and writing about the Balance Before Burnout Reserve for this month – Silence. The articles are written but there is editing and loose ends that must be completed before the Tuesday publish date. My husband is gone for the night and I set aside some time to spend the quiet evening on my writing.
The irony is that at this moment my reality is anything but silent. The fan on the stove is now set to hyper boost as I bake cupcakes for my youngest who turned 9 today to bring to school tomorrow. I am trying to clear out a house full of smoke from the fire caused from drippings of the flan I baked earlier with my older son for his Spanish class . "La comida esta en fuego!"
The dishwasher is humming with it’s second load of dishes from the family party we had last night. And in the midst of this, I am attempting to write about the importance of finding a "piece of quiet" when the post I am working on disappears into thin air. It is at this point when the little voice of my inner critic begins asking me "Who do you think you are?" as I attempt to finish the work I had planned for my own business this"quiet" evening (and check the oven once more for flames). It’s funny how I have no problem hearing him over the roar of kitchen appliances.
I could listen to this voice. I am tired and beat from a weekend of "busyness", but I know exactly why I am the person to do this job. I know why I have worked so hard to make The Whole Teacher a reality. I know how much time teachers put into their work. I know how hard it is to do it all. I know first hand how our best laid plans often fall to the wayside (or up in flames). I know how we often put ourselves last on our list, and I know how much we crave a group of like-minded people to support us as we try to be the best for our students.
Therefore I choose to look at the lesson and try to find the humor in the situation. There are many parts of life we can’t control, but it’s only what we make of it. We all have this inner critic’s voice inside of us. The stressors are inevitable, but we must build our resilience by taking care of ourselves and building reserves of what we need most. Right now I need to finish my baking, close up the windows, and head upstairs to a quiet candle-lit bedroom (better yet let’s forget the candle) and follow my own advice for silence. Who knows what inspiration will come when I take the time to listen?
Ten Ways to Say Thank You
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008Being a "whole" teacher means seeing all the good we have in our lives and being thankful for it. One of the top ten teacher stresses I write about in the Ten Days to Less Stress E-course (see home page) is feeling a lack of appreciation. We all love being appreciated and by now you have heard me say how important it is to give that which you’d like most to receive. This could not be more important than in showing our gratitude to others. So here are ten simple, yet creative, ways to say thank you:
1. Just say it – The most important part of saying thank you is the sincerity in which you say it. Take the time to look the person in the eye and tell them specifically what you are thankful for and why you appreciate it. Try this with strangers and service providers.
2. Send flowers – Whether it’s a bouquet or a single flower from your yard, flowers are a great way to make someone feel special.
3. Send a personal note or card – Again, don’t forget to make it personal and say how they touched you. A humorous card goes a long way.
4. Leave a treat – Fresh baked cookies, fruit, or even some candy … who doesn’t love an unexpected snack?
5. Give a small trinket – Give a mug, colorful notepad, or silly supplies that will remind them of your appreciation every time they use them.
6. Donate to a charity – Make a donation in the person’s name and send them a copy. This is a great way to give twice and spread your gratitude even further.
7. Make your own certificate of appreciation – This is easy to do on the computer. Be creative with the title.
8. Write a letter to a local newspaper or an announcement for the intercom – Sometimes an act is so moving that you want to tell the world, and we could all use some more good news.
9. Give a gift certificate – This could be a small amount to a local coffee shop, restaurant, book store, or movie theater or make it yourself and offer a night of babysitting, car wash, or homemade meal.
10. Decorate the person’s door, workspace, or car – Streamers, balloons, and a great big thank you can go along way.
I would love to hear how you’ve shown your appreciation or how you have been thanked. Leave a comment and share your experiences. Who did you thank? What did you do? How did they respond? Have fun with it.
Accounting helps stop teacher burnout
Friday, November 14th, 2008
If you count your assets you will always show a profit. – Robert Quillen
In these tumultuous economic times is is difficult not to be consumed by worry and a sense of lack. Is it important to realize that just our perception of scarcity can be debilitating to ourselves as individuals and to the economy regardless of the reality of our situation. If we buy into this sense that there is not enough and hold on to our belongings, our money, or our energy and attention, then the natural flow of energy is interrupted, causing even more problems. Just your perception of scarcity can cause a great deal of fear and stress, even if our reality does not match up to this "worst case scenario" media message. For teachers this can be especially dangerous as we feel the financial strain of the local community we work in. And this fear can’t help but be passed along to our students through our demeanor and actions.
How can we remain calm and cultivate a sense of peace in these challenging times? As the quote above suggests, count your blessings.
In accounting assets are the items that show the overall value of a business or organization. So what are your assets? Some may be liquid assets, such as money or possessions that could be sold. In gratitude terms, these are our belongings we are grateful for, and often how we measure how well we are doing. But a wise accountant knows you must also look at your intangible assets. According to Encarta these are the "long term assets that have no physical substance, but have value based on rights or privileges accruing to the owner." In order to see the true value you have built in your life, you need to take the time to identify and appreciate all of your assets.
So here are some actions steps from a girl who earned an "A" in an accounting class I took years ago when I had once been feeling the burnout of teaching:
- In the morning list 5 things (don’t forget intangibles) you’re grateful for. I put mine right into my planner to look at later on in the day when things might be tough. Go back to this list and you’ll see how it bring you back to your reality.
- Are you a visual learner? Create your own "Gratitude Collage". Cut out words, pictures and other clippings from magazines and print or doodle with markers and art supplies to map out all of your blessings. Do this with your family or your students. this is a great activity for children. They pick up on our fear – help them see the wealth in their lives!
Get even – Say thank you to a vet!
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008.jpg)
The only people with whom you should try to get even, are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard
The Balance Before Burnout reserve I am focusing on this month is gratitude – and with today being Veteran’s Day, I am honored and grateful to those who have served our country.
In a time when I see many people taking the easy way out, blaming others without take responsibility for their own actions, or waiting for others to “do it” for them, it is amazing to me that we still have so many young people passionate about serving their country.
One of my students at school has enlisted and has known for as long as I have known him that he is meant to serve his country. The truly heartening part is that this young man’s brother was one of our fallen soldiers in Iraq last year. This is a family dedicated to the military with another sister, cousin and the brother’s widow all serving.
So it is this picture of our young soldiers and their overwhelming pride and dedication that I keep n my mind as I thank all of our veteran’s who were once young men and women themselves dedicating their lives to the unknown for our freedoms.
If a Fellow Isn’t Thankful
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get. ~Frank A. Clark
This month is a great time to practice feeling gratitude. Today I read the quote above and realize that unless I am at peace with what I have, I really don’t need more. I know this could be about being thankful for "things", but for me it isn’t about that right now, it is definitely about time and new opportunities.
Time
So in order to truly be thankful for the free time you already have, begin today to log the moments of quiet you have to do as you choose, and give thanks at that time. Instead of rushing to fill every moment, take time to choose carefully between the quiet restfulness and a job that needs to be done. I don’t watch a great deal of TV, but when working on the business I do sometimes get sucked into the computer for longer time periods than necessary. Set objectives ahead for time online and again be thankful for the amazing technology that allows us to share these words instantaneously on a daily basis.
Opportunities
As far as my opportunities, I know that I need to relish in some of the opportunities that have already come my way and helped me to begin this wonderful journey. I am thankful for the belief that my parents instilled in me that anything is truly possible, and the confidence and lack of fear that has come from surviving their loss. I have been without everything. I have lost my parents, my home, and my independence yet the world did not end. In fact I had more drive to create the life I wanted and took hold of every opportunity that was graciously put before me.
Now that my life has become more comfortable and complete, I realize I cannot take these chances for granted. Be thankful for how far you have come and amazed at how much can happen in life, and then believe in how much more is yet to come. Don’t forget to appreciate the wonder and potential.
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