Take time for yourself! Do something that doesn’t involve teaching or work, like watch your favorite TV show, chat to a friend on the phone (avoid discussing work), read a book of fiction to help take you away from the daily grind (try & avoid self help and work related books) , listen to your favourite music or take a long soak in the bath, having a bath really helps to relax your muscles and relieves tension. Pour in your favourite aromatic oil, light some candles and drift off into a calmer world.
Find a colleague who you feel you can talk to. Having the sympathetic ear of a co-worker can help ease your frustrations.
Do deep breathing. While inhaling, think “I am inhaling, 1.” While you exhale, think, “I am exhaling, 1.” Continue until you reach 10, and then return to 1. Do this while sitting down and remember to breathe from the stomach.
Share laughter with your students. Find small ways to not take yourself so seriously. For instance, have a joke of the day, sing silly songs, have a laughing contest, and celebrate birthdays and upcoming events.
Write down a list of accomplishments that you have had as an individual and as a teacher. If you are having a bad day read the list to yourself and reflect on all the positive things you have done.
Close your eyes and visualise your favourite holiday, the sounds & the smells. This could have been when you were on the beach, in a forest, a warm bed, etc. While imagining, use all of your senses. For instance, think about the texture of the sand under your feet, the warmth of the sun, the smell of the ocean, and the sound of the lapping waves.
Engage your senses. Find something beautiful in your classroom that you can look at whenever you feel stressed, such as pictures on the wall, a plant that you can watch grow, or a piece of art that you’ve hung in the window. Keep lotion on your desk. Applying lotion to your hands can reduce stress, and scents such as peppermint can help lift your mood.
Stress tightens your muscles so engage in activities to loosen them throughout the day. Take a quick walk around the school during breaks, or get the class involved in stretching or yoga. This will make you and your students feel calmer!
Remember why you teach. Sometimes it is easy to feel annoyed by everyday hassles, or to feel hopeless about your job. Whenever you start feeling overwhelmed, recall why you started teaching in the first place, such as wanting to make a difference in the lives of children.
Number 10, the most important point of all… leave Social Media behind. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter they all help to disappoint, make you angry, upset you, and desensitise you. Lessen the amount of time you look at Social Media, you will feel more positive and happier.
