Whole Teacher » balance before burnout

Whole Teacher TV – The “What” & “Who” of The Whole Teacher

Melissa — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:39:52 +0000

Just under ten minutes.

The Whole Teacher TV – What are Balance Reserves

Melissa — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:47:48 +0000

Check out this ten minute video to begin your journey to balance before burnout!

Whole Teacher TV

Melissa — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:46:43 +0000

Just shot first video to post on you tube for The Whole Teacher! What a leap! It was a bit challenging to put myself out there like this, but I truly believe in sharing my passion and helping as many teachers as possible keep theirs.

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!

5 ways to build Balance Reserves into your daily life

Melissa — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:02:28 +0000

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 Simplest Balance Reserves

Melissa — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:07:20 +0000

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!

Silent Night, Holy @%&*! The Oven Is On Fire

Melissa — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:58:57 +0000

Tonight 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?