Inspiration and resources for balance before burnout
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The Rewards of Harmony
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009A choice that rewards you with a sense of harmony between yourself and what surrounds you reveals something you value. A choice that leaves you feeling empty, or worse — annoyed, resentful, sorrowlful — indicates you’re under the influence of something other than what truly matters. – from A Woman’s Guide to a Simpler Life by Andrea Van Steenhouse.
Wow! Why does this seem so simple yet so challenging? This month as I have been practicing simplifying and organizing my life, I have found that the first step for me has been rest and quiet. Last month after the hub-bub of the holidays I stepped out of the lime light of my business and withdrew to my comfy homelife.
In this quiet, I have been thinking about what is important to me. What I want to keep and what I must let go of. I have been able to begin little projects weeding and pruning by asking myself if they fit in harmony with my life.
This past month the landscape of my life changed drastically. My husband left his position at a bank to finally start his own business. It has been a wonderful and exciting time, yet shifted many family routines.
As I go through each day and make decisions on how to spend my time. I try to take the time to pause to ask myself if it fits in harmony with my new life. Our values are the same, yet the routines have changed, so I can’t take the outcomes of my decisions for granted. It is a whole new playing field.
This was terrifying at first, but now I am enjoying the change that was made to fit our values. He’s closer to home, doing what he loves, and even though he works most weekends, the times we are together as a couple or a family are more precious, because we appreciate them. I believe because he is following his own calling he has more love and energy to give us.
Those who think they have not time
Monday, January 19th, 2009Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.-Edward Stanly U.S. Congressman
These past few weeks have been terrible for illnesses here in New England. I made it through the holidays in one piece and then succumbed to an awful stomach bug just after returning from vacation. It was pathetic. I had important meetings at school and tried to push through it, but finally caved in and stayed home.
I know that when I get sick, it is when I have pushed myself to do too much. I stayed up too late, worried too much, and tried to pack too much in to one day. When I am well I can do this and be clear and strong, but I now know that living on adrenaline wears me down fast. But it’s the nature of the job, right?
I suppose, but it wasn’t ending at work. So now I am looking at what I can control and fitting in ways to process that adrenaline before the inevitable crash. The answers are not exciting or new, but basics that help me sustain myself so I can be there for myself and those who need me.
Action Steps:
Exercise - I’m building in a routine at least 3 days a week on the treadmill to start amping up the chemicals that help process the "fight or flight". Now a day when we feel threatened, are bodies get ready to go, but the stress comes and we no longer "run away". The chemicals for flight just build up and leave us feeling anxious. Best way to get through it is to walk or run.
Breathe – Yoga, singing, and meditation all are great ways to get the air flowing. Deep breathing helps get more oxygen through your body and to your brain, which also helps with stress. There is a great deal of research on breathing techniques. My first week back to school I was so busy that I noticed I was holding in my stomach and taking short breaths. Taking time for deep breathing when I feel myself holding it all in has helped to calm my thoughts.
Just say no – Before I take on something new, I check with how I am with adrenaline. If it’s going to get me too crazy I try to say no.
Time Management - Giving myself plenty of time to get things done, or to get to where I need to go, means I can do things without added stress. I used to say I worked better under pressure, but I realize the price I pay in the end isn’t worth the push of procrastination.
Limit the caffeine – I love my coffee in the morning and am not ready to give it up all the way, but I can listen to my body signals and stay away from sugary sodas for lunch. Protein and complex carbohydrates and plenty of fluids also help.
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.
Ten Things I Would Like to Tell Teachers
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008.jpg)
Can’t believe it’s here. My first blog post. It is truly terrifying. I have been so looking forward to writing and publishing. I am bubbling up with things to share, yet now that the blank page is before me it is quite another story! I would like to use this first post to thank everyone who has helped me to make The Whole Teacher a reality. I have gone … I hope .. from just plain vanilla to quite defined in my purpose.
Thank you Grace Durfee, Suzanne Falter-Barnes, Alli, Susan and Toddy Schumann, and Rachel and Nirzhar Pradhan for helping me think big. There are times in our lives when we think big, but never act upon these thoughts. With the help of these wonderful coaches, designers, and role models I finally decided to invest in my ideas. I followed the advice of the greats and knew that I needed to surround myself with successful, positive people and learn from those who were already where I wanted to be. Thanks you also to Mark, Curtis, and Ben for always seeing me big!
In addition to finding great mentors, I decided to invest myself in my dream. It was costly… in time, energy, courage, (yes and even in money) but the price was nothing compared to what it would have been if I hadn’t tried at all. The "cost" was actually my greatest motivator. I knew how much I had invested and refused to quit or think small. In the very early stages of this project I was prompted to look at my mission.
What was my message? From this came the following list.
Ten Things I Would Like to Tell Teachers
- Remember what brought you to teaching. Keep your passion.
- Be grateful for what you have and look for the positive in all.
- Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself.
- Forget about trying to be perfect. You already are.
- Don’t take work home every night. It only comes back undone.
- Eliminate the unnecessary and delegate what you can.
- Beware of running on adrenaline.
- Find healthy and creative ways to manage stress.
- Make time for fun.
- Breathe!
Hello world!
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008Hello world!
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