Stressed? These Ideas Can Help

06/04/2019

Stressed? These Ideas Can Help

One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.
Eleanor Roosevelt

The Harvard Graduate School of Education website offers an article written by Lory Hough called, “Helping Early Childhood Educators De-Stress.” Here are four tips Hough shares:

‘Recognize when other teachers are at their breaking point. Many of the symptoms of burnout or unhealthy stress may not be obvious to others, but signs of fatigue, difficulty concentrating or attending to tasks, edginess and irritability, sadness, or detachedness and isolation could indicate that a teacher is having trouble. Frequent unexplained or illness-related absences can be a definite sign that something is wrong. Disengagement from the teaching community or in the classroom can also be a sign that it’s time to check in.

Find community. Now…Teachers who have access to a community of support have a go-to system for affirmation, reflection, and solidarity. They have someone or a group of people they can talk to after a stressful day, and in talking they might get ideas about how to respond next time or simply some positive acknowledgment that things will be okay.

Reconnect to intention. Ask yourself why you wanted to become a teacher in the first place. What have you always loved about working with young children and their families, and what are the short- and long-term goals for your work? Find meaning in your work.

Take time for yourself. It’s important to develop a daily self-care practice or habits that bring calm between (inevitably) stressful moments. This can include yoga, mindful walking, or even mindful eating, which includes noticing and savoring textures and flavors. During the school day, which can feel hectic, teachers can find quiet spots during breaks, engaging socially with colleagues over lunch or at the end of the day. Self-care and strong community bonds aren’t luxuries; they’re essential components in providing quality experiences for children.

Source: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/ed/19/01/helping-early-childhood-educators-de-stress

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