First, you have to start by putting it in your mind that you will devote
yourself to being stress-free. Yes, teaching never stops. Teaching
always piles on work for us to do, but we have to make sure that we are
humans living our lives, not simply teachers working 12 hours a day
(plus weekends).
Stress-free won't happen unless you truly work for it!
Find a way that works for you. Here are some ways that help me.
-Copies made before Friday afternoon for the following week.
-Binders to keep all papers organized.
-Lesson plans written by Friday, so you have the weekend to attempt to live school-free.
-Organize papers by day- buy an organizer at WalMart and sort papers by M, T, W, Th, and F!
Calendars and to-do lists are necessities as teachers. I'm sure you
already have one, but try to be even more intentional about writing down
what needs to get done (in order of importance).
Make it better: Make it colorful! Use Flair pens, which always make a teacher happy.
Make it even better: Add things to it that you know you'll easily get done that day, so you feel a sense of accomplishment when you can check it off!
Make it better: Make it colorful! Use Flair pens, which always make a teacher happy.
Make it even better: Add things to it that you know you'll easily get done that day, so you feel a sense of accomplishment when you can check it off!
Most of the time, your administration and the people you work with do want to help you!
If not, find a community of teacher friends outside of your school and ask for help or guidance.
And trust me, there are thousands of teacher bloggers who would LOVE to help you!
If not, find a community of teacher friends outside of your school and ask for help or guidance.
And trust me, there are thousands of teacher bloggers who would LOVE to help you!
Give yourself at least one day a month where you unplug from all
electronics. Spend the day without Facebook, Instagram, TV, etc. Get
outside, enjoy your family and friends, or just enjoy yourself. Shop.
Get a massage. Sit on a bench and enjoy the weather. Sit in a coffee
shop and read a real book!
Don't feel guilty.
Take one (when you don't have any meetings) and don't do anything. Enjoy
yourself. And truly, truly make it a mental health day. Heal yourself.
Be good to your body. In 30 years, you'll retire and teaching will be
over. Your health and body will be yours forever. Treat it right.
We all know. Teachers don't have ANY time to pee, so if you don't have
someone in the building who can easily help you out on a moment's
notice... then you have to wait on this tip.
Your body needs water. It will prevent sickness and it will make you
feel better in the long run. But don't load up until after 2:00 because
if you can't leave your classroom and you have to pee, you may end up
with a bigger issue!
Sometimes, you just need a nothing day.
This could double as your mental health day, or you could give yourself
one day or night a week where you do absolutely nothing.
Get to a gym or get outside. Either way, get some exercise.
Makes you happier. Makes you feel more accomplished. Keeps you healthy.
Win- win!
Administration is always giving us educational books to read. We,
ourselves, are always finding new articles and books to read about new
ways of teaching.
But, you have to let yourself spend time reading for pleasure. 
It's clinically proven. Adding an extra hour to your sleep can greatly improve your health.
Set an earlier bedtime and make sure you are true to it. Turn off the
TV, close the laptop, put away the papers you're grading. You need your
sleep.
No matter what... we are teachers. This is our job. We chose this job
because we wanted to make a difference in at least one child's life. If
you are tired, stressed, worn out, or overwhelmed, you likely won't be
giving your kids your best. You only get them for 7 hours a day. Try to
make those 7 hours count.
And I'll leave you with this.....
Work SMARTER, not harder.
Find a way that you can do your very best in the classroom while still taking care of yourself.