“Stress” is a relative term as it relates to our life. Contrary to the popular phrase I’m too blessed to be stressed, we are often stressed-out more than we are aware of because it becomes a constant state of being. Stress leads to burnout, and the best prevention for burnout is self-awareness and taking action to de-stress regularly.
At some point in our lives, we morph from carefree students to stress-filled teachers – teachers who have expectations and demands that pull them every-which-way. It is not always possible or practical to completely remove yourself from every stressful teaching or life situation, but there is always hope to build coping skills that diminish the impact that stress has on your life.
Each of us lives a unique life filled with unique experiences, so our stress relief needs are going to be unique as well. Here’s how to craft your own tailor-made de-stress plan:
Identify what causes your stress- Easier said than done. What is the culprit robbing you of your peace? Is it a person, an activity, or an element of your life? Is it your entire job or just a specific class during the day? Do you have too many demands on your plate and commitments you can’t juggle well anymore?
Really think about it. Identify what causes you stress. The more dialed in you are to the details, the better. Once you know the root cause of your stress, you can set about finding ways to compensate for the pressure, fatigue, or burnout you are experiencing. If you don’t really understand what causes your stress, talk to a spouse/partner or a close friend or family member. Oftentimes, those who are closest to us can see where our issues manifest better than we can.
Apply your favorite de-stress activity- Each of us has our own unique way to decompress from life & teaching. Your favorite may be an activity like crochet or brewing your own kombucha (or beer!). Your spouse may enjoy running or raising chickens. The neighbor may restore cars, and your teen may like to zone out playing video games. Everyone has something that helps them when they feel stressed. Experiment to find yours, and make it an essential part of your life.
The keys to getting great decompression results are the frequency and combination of your stress-reducing activities. Build time for decompressing into your daily, weekly and monthly schedule. The more you do to compensate for your life’s stress, the better command you have of avoiding burnout and maintaining your mental wellness.
Need help narrowing down ideas?
Try These:
- Take up a new hobby
- Join a gym or an online workout membership (I use Daily Burn and I love it!)
- Volunteer
- Try yoga or pilates.
- Get a massage or trade off with a spouse or partner.
- Journal
- Take a walk
- Feed the ducks in the park
- Spend time with an animal
- Make a craft or play a game with your kids.
Some stress will ALWAYS be unavoidable– we’re teachers and somewhere we KNOW that’s always part of the gig. You may never be completely stressless, but you can stress less by taking deliberate action to decompress on a regular basis. Your mind and your body will thank you!
