Teacher Tips that Help Me Avoid Stress

Now don't get me wrong, I love the teaching profession. However, there are times when every teacher can agree, the burnout gets to you. While not everything is always in our control, there are some things that teachers can do consistently to ensure the work week goes well.

1.Drink your water

Photo by quokkabottles on Unsplash

I don't know how many times I put my water down and forget to drink it during the day. I somehow always manage to finish my coffee though. And while caffeine gets me going in the morning, it's ultimately water that ensures my body is healthy and functioning at its best.

My favorite water bottles are the ones that have a straw. It allows me to take a quick sip without missing a beat.

There are great deals on water bottles at places like Ross. You can even spice it up by adding waterproof stickers that fit your style. My favorite sticker shop is Shop Erah, https://shoperah.com/. (And no, this is not a sponsored post, I just really love their work and it represents the heart of NM.)

2. Don't stay up late

I know that this is probably the most obvious thing that we can do, but admittedly, staying up late can be a hard habit to break. Personally, I have younger children that I love tremendously, but the quiet hours of the night when they go to sleep are my favorite time to unwind and relax. Unfortunately, it cuts into my sleep time.

When our bodies are deprived of the sleep we need, it hurts our immune systems and we cannot be our best selves. We may even get sick and have to miss work, putting us further behind and stressing us out even more.

Waking up early and feeling refreshed for the day is hugely important. It is nice to arrive at work early and feel prepared as opposed to stressed and cranky. I also have caught some killer sunrises and the occasional hot air balloon when I have ventured into my classroom early.

My smartwatch has identified my most stressful time of my day as being in the morning before I go to work. It wasn't at school at all, but when I am in my own home getting ready. This really surprised me. And since realizing this personal fact, I've worked to try and make my mornings run smoothly.

3. Use your prep

Use your prep to its maximum potential so that you aren't taking work home. Having lesson plans completed, grades updated, IEP paperwork finished up, emails responded to, and whatever other tasks that you need crossed off your to-do list goes a long way in reducing stress. All these tasks add up and can become a huge overwhelming pile if you don't work on them during your prep consistently.

Now I know that in this day and age we don't always have the luxury of a guaranteed prep. Teachers miss out on prep for so many things like PLCs, staff meetings, covering other classes. So when you do get a full prep, treat it as time you may not be able to get for the rest of the week. Don't put it off because your next prep may not happen.

Another tip, lock your door, don't answer your classroom phone, put your cellphone up and play some jams that help you focus. I like to buy those sturdy notebooks with the printed covers on them from Ross. Throughout the day I write down tasks that need to be completed and mark them off with a highlighter. This keeps me on track and helps prevent me from forgetting important things, because let's face it, when we are teaching, it's hard to focus on anything else.

4. Pack your lunch

Whenever my husband or I cook dinner, we always make enough for a packed lunch. I take it to work in a cute but fairly cheap lunch bag from Walmart, and store it in my flea market find fridge. Then I heat it up in my microwave.

It is very simple, but having a home cooked lunch as opposed to running out for food, or heating a Hot Pocket goes a long way in keeping me healthy.

In my early years of teaching I was constantly spending money on fast food that wasn't good for me and feeling stressed as I watched the clock sitting in a drive thru. It just wasn't for me. So yes, I made an investment in a mini fridge and microwave, but it has been worth it.

I also keep plastic utensils on hand as well as napkins and Clorox Wipes so I can wipe down my desk before eating.

To recap, if you do all these things consistently, you'll notice a positive change in your work week. It's a lot easier dealing with the everyday challenges of teaching when you feel hydrated, rested, prepared, and full of nutritious food.