How to identify if you are stressed and easy ways to remedy it
HOW TO IDENTIFY IF YOU ARE STRESSED AND EASY WAYS TO REMEDY IT
The demands of working in a school can be very stressful. With a never-ending list of marketing, preparation and parent’s evenings it can be very easy to neglect yourself and end up burning out by the time we get to this time of year.
Are you juggling too many balls?
Often in life there will be times where there are multiple things needed to be done and simply not enough hours in the day. This can cause huge anxiety especially if there are deadlines attached.
How to fix it:
Rather than panic over the long to-do list, categories them into what must be done first and what can wait a little while. If you still have a long list that must be done by next week, try to sort out what is of the upmost importance.
What does your body need?
Listen to your body as it will always let you know what you need. More often than not you will ignore that stomach rumble to complete marking, have yet another coffee to get through your lesson planning or spend so long looking at a computer you give yourself a headache.
How to fix it:
Your body gives you signals for a reason so don’t ignore it. To avoid burnout your body needs upkeep. Always have healthy snacks to hand to stop hunger pains. Plan out your lesson planning so that you aren’t working late into the night and get that well deserved nights sleep. You won’t be any good to the students if you can barely keep your eyes open. Lastly make sure to take a 5-minute break away from the computer and step outside in the fresh air to avoid screen eyes and headaches.
What is causing your fatigue?
Do you end up leaving work every day feeling like your batter is drained? Do you feel physically exhausted, or sluggish?
How to fix it:
There could be several reasons for your fatigue and often it is a case of trial and error but here are a few things to try -
Exercise: Often you feel sluggish and tired due to lack of activity. As teachers you work nonstop but during the evening this could mean sitting down for quite a few hours. Any activity that isn’t teacher related like a jog or bike ride can clear your mind and reinvigorate you.
Setting Boundaries: Your fatigue could be due to spreading yourself too thin. Set boundaries so that students students and parents aren’t always messaging you and learn to say no to certain things.
Take time out: This one is easy to forget, don’t forget to take time out for yourself to recharge your battery. Often taking a leisurely bath can be guilt ridden but remember, it’s important for you and your students to take care of yourself. So, Don’t feel guilty and fill that tub up with bath bombs and essential oils.
Remember that there is always time: Never feel like there isn’t enough hours in the day to complete your tasks or fit in basic human needs. Most teachers feel stressed due to work load and forgo basic things to complete tasks.
No matter how busy or stressed you are there will always be a 5-minute window. Take those 5-minute windows for you, whether it is to grab a snack, step outside in the fresh air, concentrate on breathing or even some gentle stretching or walking.
Although they seem minor, incorporating these things into your daily routine will enable you to be a better teacher and to avoid a teacher burnout.
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