Inspiration and resources for balance before burnout

Archive for the ‘balance reserves’ Category

5 ways to build Balance Reserves into your daily life

Monday, January 11th, 2010

1.  Choose your top 5 Balance Reserve Areas from the 12 given in the January newsletter and schedule a different activity to build up one of them each day.
 
2.  Choose a single Balance Reserve Area for the month and schedule activities throughout the month the build that area into your plans.
 
3.  Chooses a Balance Reserve Area to focus on for the week and brainstorm several activities from different energy levels (high/low or relaxing/energizing) and schedule low and a high energy activities into each day at the appropriate time of the day (Morning: high energy, Evening: low energy).
 
4.  Using the list from the January newsletter, plan an activity for a different Balance Reserve Area into each day of the week. (Monday: Peace & Quiet, Tuesday: Nature, Wednesday: Adventure, Thursday: Self-care, etc.)
 
5.  Host a Target Balance Reserve Area Party with a group of friends or colleagues and choose a single Balance Reserve Area and plan activities together that fit this theme.
 
How are you fitting your Balance Reserves into your busy schedule?



 

 

 
 


The Whole Teacher Daily Planner & Workbook is here!

Monday, December 28th, 2009

I am so thrilled to announce the arrival of The Whole Teacher Daily Planner & Workbook!

 

I have had  a vision of a tool to help teachers build balance  and into their daily lives and it has finally come true.  It is a culmination of the best tools I have been using with teachers to help them beat teacher stress and puts it all into one neat package. 

 

Check out the video I created below, and don’t hesitate to let me know what you think. Please feel free to share with all the teachers you know. 

The planner itself is on sale at http://wholeteacher.com/store.  Check it out!



 
 


7 resolutions for healthier eating to manage teacher stress

Thursday, November 12th, 2009





A man may be a pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic believer in the will's freedom after it.  ~Aldous Huxley


How true!  What you eat and when you eat it can have a tremendous effect on how you feel and how you are able to manage stress.  As teachers our time that we can eat is often dictated by our schedule, but that should not stop you from putting some very simple steps into place to maintain energy and patience throughout the school day.

Here are some simple tips you can put into place in order to eat healthier and feel better offered by friend and Registered Dietitian,  Nicole Cormier, RD, LDN:

 

1.  Have less than 12 grams of added sugar per day.

 

2. Drink more than 64 oz. of water per day.

 

3. Eat more than 5 full cups of vegetables and fruits per day.

 

4.  Eat a lean protein at most of your meals.

 

5.  Move at least 30 minutes per day.

 

6.  Keep a food journal.

 

7.  Portion out your proteins at least once a week.

 

For more information about these "Resolutions"  and some great workshops offered by Nicole please check out her site at www.deliciouslivingnutrition.com

 



The Simplest Balance Reserves

Monday, August 10th, 2009





The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.




I had an amazing  time sharing The Whole Teacher with some truly special educators at the MTA Summer Conference at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.  I am so grateful to each of those who chose to attend the first session of the final day of the conference ... especially considering the weather was perfect and it was, after all, the morning after "The Bash".

Thank you to each of you for sharing, brainstorming and offering such heartfelt support to your fellow teachers.  I came across this poem this morning.  It seems to embody the true meaning of the Balance Before Burnout Reserves and simplifies them beautifully!

Enjoy the final weeks of summer!  This is when the "sunshine, water, rest and air; exercise and diet," are most easily found.  Keep checking in The Whole Teacher for help finding them throughout your school year when it's a bit more of a challenge!