1.  Trailblazing

Look for a local trail or walking path to hike out of doors.  Bring water and snacks and be sure to protect yourself from the elements with bug spray and sun block.

2.  Climb your way to the top

Weather bad or don't have time to go somewhere to get your walk in?   Bring your sneakers to school and do your walk in the building.  Stairs can add a great challenge and inside the school you are safe from the weather and whatever else may be lurking outside.

3.  City Sidewalks

If you don't live near a trail or are looking for a change of scenery, walking through a city can be just as invigorating.  The Freedom Trail in Boston, for example, offers a great adventure in history and culture, while offering great opportunities for people watching.  The city has it's own nature sightings, so keep your eyes open.  You'll be surprised where it pops up.

4.  Sandy Toes

If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or another body of water, try a bare foot walk in the sand.  Getting are feet wet and sandy can help us to feel grounded.

5.  Getting Caught in the Rain

Go back to your childhood.  Throw on a rain coat or poncho and enjoy the peacefulness of a rainy stroll.  Puddle jumping is optional.

Last year I went with several women from my church to a monastery in New York nestled on the banks of the Hudson River.  It was a moving and life changing experience.  This year I knew I needed time to myself to connect with my spirit, creativity, and inner voice.  I have been working on newsletters and a new book for The Whole Teacher, but felt stuck and unmotivated.  I needed quiet time alone to reflect.

So much to everyone's surprise I decided instead of waiting for another group retreat, I would create my own.  It was very simple, but not very easy.  I knew I wanted and needed to go alone, but as a mother and wife it was not very natural to me.  At every corner I caught myself almost inviting friends or family to come with me.  When this popped up, I reminded myself of my purpose and tried to let got the feelings of guilt and discomfort that mom's feel even when heading to restroom for alone time.

So here in these blog entries are my journey.  I share with you as a support in your quest for a retreat, and also possibly a retreat of the senses as you read along. 

The next step to building my Balance Reserve of "Space" is to brainstorm  ways I will build this reserve?

Ways to build my reserves of space:

At school:

• Weed out file drawer of reference files
•  
• Organize student files and file student paperwork
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• Clean out desk drawers and toss broken pens, pencils, etc.
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• Organize bookshelf
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• Clear out "working file" holder on desk and file those no longer of timely use in file drawer
•  

At Home:

• Clean out bathroom cabinets and toss expired and old shampoos and toiletries
•  
• Organize cleaning materials in closet
•  
• Remove everything from home office that does not belong there
•  
• Bring all office materials, books, files etc down stairs
•  
• Weed out (Recycle, donate or toss) all unwanted materials from home office
•  
• Make a plan for where things belong in office
•  
• Only put back wanted materials
•  
• Invite someone to help. (will make it less overwhelming and fun.  Exchange for a room in their home)
•  
• Donate children's table and chair set
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• Weed out toy boxes

Now its your turn:

So, what was the Balance Reserve you chose.  What will you do to build up this reserve?

Next step is to move these to a planner page and set a date to complete them.  

I will be sharing this process as I go along so please stay tuned and keep reading.  

We were able to use our time together to really get into examining what are our top teacher stressors and what do we need to do to set ourselves on a path to wellness and balance.  I was pleased by not only the quantity but also the quality of the actions steps that were created from this group in such a short time.

I love this venue because the group is always diverse, positive, and supportive of each other.  It reminds me of why I am doing what I do.  Thanks to each of the participants for sharing 3 hours of your busy schedule with me.  I love being able to hear your experiences and see the sparks as you join me on the journey to balance before burnout!

I am excited to be presenting Balance Before Burnout:  Make a plan to beat stress which is the course that explains the basics in regards to teacher stress and the Balance Reserves that are truly the backbone of The Whole Teacher.

After attending last year I am looking forward to meeting more fellow educators that amaze me with their professionalism and passion.  I loved connecting with people from across the state.  I am also looking forward to the quality workshops which I know I will give me nuggets of information to help me start the school year off strong.  I also am anxious to walk around the perfectly "New England" town of WIlliamstown and poke my head into the variety of shops, theaters, and museums (of few of which are free).

But most of all I am looking forward to a piece of quiet alone in my dorm room where I will have some free time to continue working on some exciting changes coming to The Whole Teacher.  I have a big vision for The Whole Teacher and the pieces are definitely coming together.  I promise that when I return I will be sharing some more details on what's to come and what it means for you.

I will be blogging from the conference so keep an eye out tomorrow and see what tips I have picked up throughout the day.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll even film the next video edition of The Whole Teacher TV from the WIlliams College Campus.  Until then … adios.

I was out at the beach spending a few hours in the glorious sunshine with a friend from school today when she introduced me to a family friend who also is a teacher.  When asked about how her summer vacation was going she took that common deep breath, and replied with how summer was like the weekend.

She went on to explain how June is like Friday, July is like Saturday and August is so Sunday.  This was perfect!

In June we are finishing our school year and excited for the possibilities the "weekend" has to offer.  We are often exhausted from a long and tiring"work week", but feel we must start the "weekend"off with a bang.

This takes us into July, the Saturday of summer.  We have trouble getting anything done first thing.  We are happy to laze around and follow our own inner time clock.  Some of us are up with the sun, using every waking moment to get things done, while others like to sleep late, lounge around, and refresh.  Monday seems so far away until August sneaks up on us.

August is the Sunday of summer vacation.  We remember what we planned on getting done and make preparations for the coming "work week".  There is often a bit of sadness and often denial that comes as the "day" progresses,that is mixed with the excitement of the potential of a fresh start.

How do we use this "Sunday" to prepare for the coming school year?

• If you've been working or just very busy during your summer, be sure to use some time for a day of rest.  Our quiet time alone helps us to hear what our inner self needs.  It is also a great way to spark our creativity as we get ready to plan.

• Clear some space for the new.  If July was all about the fun, now is the time to do a little work on clearing out the old that wasn't serving your purpose.  This might mean physically clearing out the old papers, old books or junk.  It might also mean clearing out duties that consume your time, but don't match you values or vision.  And it also might mean taking care of the little things that have been bugging you, like a leaky faucet, a messy trunk, or a broken drawer.  Little things like these zap our energy.

• Sundays are the time to look at the week ahead and iron our clothes, pack our lunches, etc.  In August it's time to make sure we have what we need to begin the year successfully.  Stock up on supplies, write out new habits you'd like to start, and organize your supplies, clothing, and daily resources so the new routine runs smoothly.

• Breathe.  If the end of summer is a difficult transition for you, please try to remember that while we can't control everything, we can do a great deal to create the autumn of your dreams.  What can you do to add pleasure to your fall routine.  Where can you set boundaries and find more time for you?  Take control and be a life creator!  Don't let the rest of the world decide your life for you.

Just as our students have different learning styles, I recognize that so do we.  The videos are another format that you can access for support and resources to help you to build balance before burnout.

Look for them to be posted soon here on my blog and check them out on YouTube.  I have plans of weekly short bits that continue building on the subject matter of teacher wellness and working on helping "The Whole Teacher"  "the whole you", so that you are better able to help your students and school.

Enjoy!

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!

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