Inspiration and resources for balance before burnout
Posts Tagged ‘teacher burnout’
Bringing The Outside In
Monday, April 9th, 2012
Sometimes when we are craving nature, we are not able to get out of doors for a walk or hike. What can we do to fulfill this need? Why not bring the outside in? Here are 6 ways.
1. Cut Flowers
This needn't cost a lot. A cut boquet from a grocery store or from a field of wildflowers can suffice.
2. The Grass Is Always Greener
Primary grade teachers know how easy this is. Fill a pretty container with potting soil, cover with grass seed, and water. You can have the best lawn in the neighborhood right in your classroom or office.
3. Sand Gardens
You have probably seen the zen gardens with white beach sand to "play" in. Add some pretty stones, shells or a mini rake for your very own sandbox.
4. Bird Calls
CD's of bird songs, bubbling brooks, or crashing waves are another way to bring the outside in. There are now several apps that you can even download on an ipod, ipad or phone.
5. Water Fountains
The sound of water is soothing and a desk fountain can help alleviate dryness of school airconditioning or heat.
6. Outdoor Trophies
Momentos from a day outside or a great vacation can remind you of the pleasures of nature. A pretty stone, piece of driftwood, cut branches or even pine cones, can be enough to muster up memories of a different season.
Personal Retreat – Here I Come
Sunday, March 18th, 2012
Have you ever contemplated a personal retreat … time away from the everyday routines and even the people you share them with?
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.
MTA Summer Conference 2010
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010Just finished my presentation to 20 amazing educators at the MTA Summer Conference 2010 here in WIlliamstown, MA. I wish I could put into words how energized and blessed I feel after working with such an amazing group of educators. I love what I do!
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!
Whole Teacher TV
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
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
Monday, January 11th, 2010
7 Colleagues Every Teacher Needs
Thursday, February 5th, 2009There’s a great article written by Lisa Earle McCLeod entitled 7 Friends Every Woman Needs. In it she address the 7 types of friends that are a must in every woman’s repetoire of gal pals. I love this article and everytime I read it I can go back through every one of my adult friendships and see the meaning and pupose in them.
In this month of building the Balance Reserve of Meaningful Connections, I suggest we reframe this and look for the variety of relationships we have at school. Who are the 7 Colleagues Every Teacher Needs? I’ve borrowed some of the titles, but let’s see how they fit in at school. Here’s the first:
1. The in-the-trenches-with-you Colleague -
This person is usually right next door to your classroom. They are extremely important when you can’t wait for your planning time to take a potty break, when you need a time-out for a student or yourself or just an ear to listen to your story at the end of the day.
Teaching can be isolating, but strong bonds are formed by geography. These are the colleagues who best know your daily routines. They witness your good days, and are the most likely to hear through the walls on your rough days and vice versa. They tend to teach the same grade level as you and are an amazing resource to help alleviate re-inventing the wheel.
Do you need more crayons? Have you run out of glue, or staples? Need a great lesson for teaching Egypt? These are the colleagues we turn to the most during our school day.
My last year in the classroom I developed a very close relationship with the woman who taught next to me. Every morning we shared a routine of relaxing music while we both checked emails. We each sipped our coffee and reflected on the previous day, while getting ready for the present. I made sure I was prepared for the next day the night before, so I could enjoy the morning "socializing". I felt that "adult" time helped me set the stage for a day full of "children".
Who are your in-the trenches-colleagues? What do they add to your day? Post a comment below. Tune in in a few days for "The Wise One".
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.
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?
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