Mindful Monday: The Invisible Workload

Not sure about you, but I got into teaching because, well, I love to teach. But somehow teaching seems like only a small portion of what we actually get to do on a daily basis. I know this isn’t news to you. And even though I've been at this for two decades, I still find the amount of metaphorical hats educators wear unbelievable. We don't have enough fingers or toes to count all the things that are asked of us, both spoken and unspoken.

Don't let the weight of 'all the hats' crush you. A teacher's to-do list is never ending. And just as soon as you feel like you've made a dent in it, more is added. However, don't let all you have to do take away from the meaningful work you do every day. Focus on one thing at a time, then the next thing. 

While I’m aware that addressing our students' social and emotional well-being can seem like 'one more thing' on your plate, I feel passionately that it is, in fact, 'the plate'. If our students don’t feel connected at school with their peers, if they don’t feel seen and valued by their teachers, if they don’t feel safe, then meaningful learning isn’t happening. As much as we wish we could solely focus on the content, the connection is just as important. At the end of the day, everyone, big or small, young or old, all want to be seen and valued.

I SEE you and THANK you for ALL you do for our students! Thank you for choosing to wear 'all the hats'. 

Mindful Monday: Joyful Rebellion

Joyful Rebellion. I absolutely love these two words! 

Brad Montague, author of Becoming Better Grownups, defines it as rebelling against what is to create what could be. 

What better place than creating what could be than a school. The future is quite literally in our classrooms, and the possibilities are endless. Let’s create what could be. Let’s create what should be. Let’s create a world a little kinder, and a little brighter. Let's create a world we all want to live in.

Here's to us all joyfully rebelling! 

Mindful Monday: Make Room for Joy

I recently read a statement ​that struck me. It said, “​Joy wasn’t something to be chased. Instead it’s something that we need to make room for in our lives.” 

Are you making room for joy in your life or are you letting life’s stresses and frustrations consume you?

It is absolutely easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of stress and negativity​. Between things that happen at work, at home, not to mention all ​we see on our social media feeds, ​it’s hard not to be consumed by it all. However​, we must make room for the joy. We must carve out time and space, both physically and emotionally, to see the bright spots and the good that’s ​all around us. 

Hear me when I say you are allowed to have bad days. You are allowed to let out frustrations. However, if we don’t make room for joy, the negativity will take us over.

Mindful Monday: You Are Worth It (part 2)

I am ​absolutely guilty of living a double life. ​And I am certain I'm not the only one. 

I am one person during the summer month​s​ and a completely different person during the school year. Why do I feel like it’s ​okay to ​put me and my family first when we have breaks​, but feel that I can’t continue to feed ​my needs and do what’s best for me and my family during the school year? 

​Our lives should not stop now that the school year has started back​. 

In order to make it through to May, in order to show up as the best version of​ ​ourselves, ​w​e have to continue to do what’s best for ​​us and our families. It may mean not working on the weekends​, making (and keeping) plans with family and friends, or making time for whatever it is that feeds your soul. I assure you​, if it leads to a better you, ​then, it’s definitely ​g​ood for our students.

I​'ll say it once more, because it's that important. Our lives should not stop now that the school year is in session. While a 50-50 balance is a myth, all or nothing is not sustainable.​ We must strive daily to make ourselves a priority. Because you deserve it, and you are absolutely worth it! 

Mindful Monday-ish: What's Left of Us (part 1)

How often have you found yourself saying something to the effect of, "I feel guilty that I​'m not grading papers tonight​." Or ​"I apologize. I​ have a family obligation. I can’t ​commit to __". ​Why do we make ourselves feel guilty or feel the need to apologize for doing something we should be doing ​more intentionally​? Stepping back. 

In education​, too often​, ​our families get what’s left of us and not always the best of us​.

We should be putting our​selves and our families first​. As the​ saying goes​,​ we are absolutely​ replaceable at work; however, we are not replaceable ​a​t home. Don’t apologize for doing what’s best for you​ and your famil​y.

D​on't feel guilty for not staying until 5:00. 

Don't apologize for not working all weekend. 

Don't feel bad for taking a day off. 

At the end of the day, happy teachers = happy students. 

Last week, after I shared my message inspired by Brad Montague, he shared a "Pep Talk for Grownups that Show Up." While it's a full 20 min video, I highly encourage you to watch at least the first 3 minutes.