Why Is Laughter So Refreshing?

Simple Way to Destress a Teacher’s Day

Teaching is like juggling while standing on a tightrope. Of course, some days it also feels like someone is throwing rocks at you while you're up there. You can't expect to help students earn good grades so they can win scholarships to college if you're frazzled. I found a simple way to destress my work day. It doesn’t cost money. It does, however, take stubborn will power to peel off a few minutes to do what works.

I decided to arrive at school one hour before the beginning of my first class. I brought my breakfast with me, so I could make this happen. The hardest parts were setting the alarm back and going to bed earlier. But, I’m glad I did. 

Upon arrival at school, I picked up my mail and unlocked my classroom door. I put everything away, locked up my purse and went back outside. I walked the campus for fifteen minutes. I planned a route away from where students and parents arrive each morning. After my walk, I had breakfast, went through my email and did anything else that needed to be done.

I always set up my classroom for the start of class the afternoon before. By doing so I missed the crowd in the parking lot. It also gave me enough time to do my walking the next morning. When students started to arrive, I was ready for them.

During the six minutes of passing period just before my conference period each day, I chatted with students and filed anything that needed filing. Once the campus was clear, I walked for another fifteen minutes. I used the same route as in the morning. It became a ritual and felt like meditation. 

At times a clerk from the office or another teacher joined me in my walk. This added a little social time to my otherwise jam packed work day. After my walk, I did all the things you do during your conference period. I was just in a better mood when I did them. I had more energy too.

I repeated the same procedure during my lunch break. After my walk instead of returning to my room to do paperwork or work on my computer, I went to the lunch room and joined my fellow teachers. I brought my own food, so I didn’t waste time standing in line. If I ever skipped one of these walks, my students noticed. I remember one of them saying, “You didn’t walk today, did you? You’re in a better mood when you do.” Exactly.

Walking is good for our health, of course, but it also reduces stress and adjusts our mood in a positive way, CLICK HERE (ad). It may seem like a waste of time, but I found it helped me use time more effectively. My students appreciated my dedication to walking. It was a great example to them of putting first things first, Covey, CLICK HERE (ad). Remember what you hear in the plane just before take-off, “When the oxygen mask drops, please put on your own before helping others.” Walking is a teacher’s oxygen mask. 

You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.

 

For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE . It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.

 

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Relieving Student Stress

Life can be pretty stressful at times. Assignments, deadlines, tests, siblings and even parents can cause students anxiety, stress and depression. None of this is intentional, but it happens anyway. Three simple activities can prevent or relieve these conditions.

First is exercise. Don’t roll your eyes. All experts agree, adding more movement to your day can help you relax, feel better and improve your grades. Stressed out students make lousy learners. Do the following and watch your stress level go down and your grades go up.

1.   You already walk between classes. This adds up to 25 minutes each day. If you don’t walk to school, have your parents drop you off a ten minute walk from school. Now you’re up to 35 minutes of walking five days each week. If you ride the bus, start walking to the bus stop ten minutes earlier than normal. Walk back and forth between there and home until you’re at the stop at your regular time.

2.   Sign up for a sport. This can be at school or with the parks program where you live. It doesn’t matter. Find something you enjoy, which will not take hours of practice each day. If you aren’t into sports, your school or parks program may offer dance. Either will relieve stress and look good on college applications.

3.   Remember Jumping Jacks and Jump Rope? They’re easy, simple and you don’t have to go to a gym to do them. They increase your heart rate, build stamina and bone density (you’ll be grateful later in life) and relieve stress. Start small, do five daily. After a week, make it ten. The third week, up the number of Jumping Jacks to twenty. That’s enough. For Jump Rope, also start small. Just jump for three minutes daily the first week, five the next, then ten. You don’t need to do more than ten minutes daily. If you have a medical condition, please check with your doctor before doing this or any new exercise.

Second is Meditation, CLICK HERE (ad). Lots of experts and organizations preach meditating. They explain the health benefits, which are real, but the best thing about meditation is it teaches you how to relax. You don’t have to sit cross legged and chant. Just find a comfortable sitting position somewhere quiet. 

Sit relaxed and quiet and concentrate on your breathing. If you find that hard to do, repeat something simple either out loud or silently. Try “I am”. It’s easy. Do this each morning and each afternoon or evening for about five minutes. Once you get the hang of it, increase the time to ten minutes each session. You’ll find it pretty simple to slip into this relaxed state when you’re in a stressful situation, like just before a big test.

The third activity that will help you relax, decompress and avoid or relieve stress is the hardest one. It isn’t tough or complicated, but it sure is hard to convince students to do it. You probably need to get more sleep. Unless you’re getting about 9 ½ to 10 hours of sleep each night, you’re making life difficult for yourself. 

You’ll feel better. Your stress level will drop and your grades will improve. Figure out what time you need to get up to get ready for school and eat breakfast, then count backwards nine hours. If you’re already going to sleep then, move it back one more hour. 

If you don’t believe me and the thousands of doctors who say these activities will reduce or eliminate stress, try them for a month and prove us wrong.

You are reading from the blog, RoadtoFreeCollege.com, where we empower families with knowledge to navigate the path to higher education without the burden of excessive loans.

 

For more information, you’ll want my book, Free College, CLICK HERE . It teaches families how to help their kids become more successful in school, college, and life.

 

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

Image Credit: Google Images