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Love love this new article by Innovative Education in VT!! Changing habits is hard. Looking inward is hard. But making changes in our practice can be the difference in engaging all versus engaging a few. Shifting your habits can help you to build those relationships that have been the most challenging.
If you are curious about your patterns and would like a second set of unbiased eyes, please reach out! I would love to help!
Our Own Self Awareness- Taken from the Onward Book by Elena Aguilar, “Researchers have found that the happiest people savor the good moments in life. By taking the time and spending the effort to appreciate the positive, we can experience more well-being.” To help with this, try this simple exercise (you can do this with students, as well):
Savor the Little Moments
What will you savor this week? Make a list of the enjoyable moments that you can anticipate savoring.
When you experience those moments, enjoy them! Catch yourself in the experience. Be mindful you are there.
Finally, notice what you enjoy and appreciate when you are in the moment. What do you notice?
By intentionally planning, doing, and reflecting on these little moments, savoring and appreciating these moments can become a habit. :)
Check out these 10 great ideas for stress relief for educators! Click here!
FROM SEL Check-In 5/28/21
Time for Self-Care: Taken from Elena Aguilar's The Oneward Workbook, here is a quick activity you can do to check in with yourself this week as things continue to be hectic and move along quickly. This activity speaks directly to resilience and focus and can help ensure that you spend some time focusing on your needs:
Keeping a promise to yourself, say the experts, is a surefire way to boost your morale and self-esteem. When you make a commitment and stick to it, you'll feel encouraged to make additional or bigger commitments. What promise to yourself could you make today? To eat lunch? To chat with a colleague with whom you have felt some tension? To sleep eight hours or take a 30 minute walk? Make a promise right now. Write it down. At the end of the day, jot down a note to yourself in appreciation of the promise that you kept.
FROM SEL Check-In 4/21/21
When we take the time for self-care, it shows in our responses and management. Please take a moment to consider this article on the importance of optimism in the classroom. There is a definite link between attitude and success, and our students need us to believe in them. Here is another article that discusses the importance of self-care (in case you forgot :)), as well as some great ideas for this inside and outside the classroom. 💗
FROM SEL Check-In 4/8/21
Spring Self-Care: Are you looking to challenge yourself this spring and make YOURSELF a priority? Here is a Spring Self-Care Bingo game that you can use to get things moving! Give yourself a day, a weekend, or a week to get a whole row completed. Keep it going until you have it all covered...then start over! :)This can ensure that you are taking time for yourself.
A Virtual Calming Room- Thanks to a group of counselors out of California for this awesome resource!! Check it out!!
A Virtual Calming Room- Thanks to a group of counselors out of California for this awesome resource!! Check it out!!
FROM SEL Check-In 1/15/21
The ASCD put out this article on Stress-Busting Strategies for Educators. I love the five suggestions they give for better self-care for teachers. I especially like the Pass the Umbrella strategy. Don't forget, we are in this together. You are not alone. Ask for back-up. Ask for help. Sometimes all we need is a moment reprieve to reset.
FROM SEL Check-In 12/11/20
Bright Spots and You- What's going well in your classroom? Focusing your attention on your strengths and successes will help you feel better, respond to challenges more effectively, and influence your surroundings. In her book Onward, Aguilar calls this Focusing on the Bright Spots.
Think about this like using positive narration for yourself:
I organized the door decorating activity for my class and student enthusiasm increased.
I used small group norms to facilitate group work for my students.
I collaborated with my team to plan our next math unit.
I made time in my day to go for a walk outside, and it felt great.
FROM SEL Check-In 11/13/21
As we move into the winter months and anxieties are on the rise due to the uptick in COVID cases in our area, it is of the utmost importance that we focus on self-care. Here are a few suggestions and resources that can help in that process:
TURN OFF YOUR SCREEN- In this era of Zoom and Google Meets, as well as not being out and about socially as we once were, it is even more important to set screen limits for yourself. For many of us, anxiety comes from what we read on social media or see constantly on our screens. There are many benefits to mindfully unplugging and setting expectations for yourself with your screen time, just as you do with your kids.
GET OUTSIDE- The benefits to getting out there and hiking are abundant. We are so fortunate to live in an area where this is available year round. From a leisurely walk like Indian Brook, to a spectacular summit like Mount Mansfield, Vermont offers natural beauty for all abilities!
BREATHE DIFFERENTLY- Believe it or not, how you breathe can help you with anxiety. Check out this article for techniques that will help.
SHARE YOUR FEELINGS- Self Awareness centers around being able to name your feelings and sharing them with others. This article speaks to the importance of this, and the benefits that come along with this. If you or someone you know need support immediately and are in crisis, the state of Vermont offers these resources.
READ- Want to be inspired? Here is a list of novels/memoirs that will inspire you to think about the world in a different way.
FROM SEL Check-In 10/20/20
How are YOU doing this week? To ensure that you are getting in some self-love each day consider implementing a self-care practice each day! Some suggestions:
10 minutes of personal interest reading
10 minutes of journaling
10 minute walk outside
10 minute coffee/conversation away from classroom/office space
Listen to 2 uplifting songs before starting workday
List 5 things you are grateful for
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