Educating Super Learners: Monthly Newsletter of the ESL Department of Columbus Public Schools, Columbus, OH. March 2005 Vol. 1 Issue 6

Although the all-you-can-test frenzy of March is relatively new, the doldrums created by this late winter/early spring season is not. Lousy weather, new mandates, antsy students, negative publicity, public education criticism…is it any wonder that 50% of all new teachers leave the profession within five years? (NCATE, 2003).

Unfortunately, difficult situations and time constraints aren't disappearing anytime soon. But the keys to alleviating--and in some cases--avoiding--stress in the future lies in the ability to make minimal but consistent changes in your daily routine. Chances are that you're feeling overwhelmed at this minute. There are a variety of methods to regaining your foothold on sanity--the trick is to discover which ones work best and feel most comfortable for you. Some suggestions include:

Take a walk.
Sounds too easy and too good to be true, right? But give walking a try and you may find that with fresh air often comes a fresh perspective. Walking releases endorphins, the body's natural stress-relieving hormones, which have been proven to increase energy, focus and positive mental processes. In the long run, research shows walking lowers the risk of heart disease and other health-related issues. Best of all, it's free!

Get Up 15 Minutes Earlier
Or, if you're a night owl, stay up 15 minutes later. Use this time to plan tomorrow's activities, read a book, have a cup of tea, meditate, treat yourself to a piece of chocolate and just enjoy the peace that comes with a quiet household. Do NOT use this time to clean house, pay bills, grade assignments or anything which already causes stress during the regular day. You'll have plenty of time for that once the day kicks into gear.

Seek Out Positive People
Often this is easier said than done. We all have colleagues, family, friends and parents who drag us down, regardless of the issue. You know who they are--they leave you feeling empty, alone, bitter, angry and defeated the instant you see them. Managing stress requires that you limit or eliminate the sources of negative energy around you and focus on the positive. It can be difficult if you discover a longtime friend or teacher next door drags you down, but by limiting your interaction with that person you'll open up opportunities for interacting with people who inspire, excite and share your enthusiasm for teaching and life.

Just Say No
As teachers, we're innately programmed to volunteer when others do not. Our guiding mantra--do it for the kids--at times puts more on our plate than we can realistically handle. But being overwhelmed and overscheduled can be detrimental to both you and your students. Make a list of the two or three programs or volunteer opportunities you truly enjoy or believe your students benefit most from and limit your participation to those. Resist the urge to raise your hand when something pops up at staff meetings, even if others claim dire consequences if you don't help. Be flattered, be pleased your involvement was noticed, then say you'd like someone else to enjoy organizing or participating. If you feel pressured, ask for time to think about it (knowing you'll just turn them down in private the next day!).

Create Your Own Oasis
The key to making this a successful stress reliever is choose something you love and allow nothing to intrude on that time you've created. Maybe Wednesday evenings you can plan dinner at your favorite restaurant. Or go to the newest movie every Saturday afternoon. Money isn't necessary, however. Lock the bathroom door on Friday nights and treat yourself to a hot bubble bath. Do thirty minutes of yoga every day after school. Lose yourself in your favorite mindless television show. Plan in advance and honor that time no matter what threatens to intrude. After all, if you don't treat yourself as if you're worth the time, you can't expect others to, either.

Relieving stress and coping with the pressures of teaching requires reflection on how to increase the pleasure of your life with the time you have available. Spend some of that fleeting time determining what makes you happiest and at peace then work toward implementing more of those activities into your daily routine. With practice, your improved attitude and energy might just become contagious enough for others to catch.

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