We just finished our first three weeks of school and I. Am. Tired. Whether you are a teacher or a mom (or both), you know what I mean about the mental and emotional exhaustion at this time of year.
How do we get our energy back for the important work we do? Here are 5 tips.
1 – Get some sleep. Whether you take naps, go to bed earlier, or sleep a little later, get some sleep. Everything looks better after you get some rest. We give that advice to our kids, but we don’t always give it to ourselves.
2 – Make a success list! Make a list of all the things that went well this week, both at home and at school. Your head might be spinning with all that you need to do or all the things that did not go well, but for this list: focus on the things that DID go well. You’ll probably amaze yourself.
Some examples from my list:
*I went to bed on time every night, even though I had lots more stuff on my to-do list.
*I made my things-to-do list every day, to keep myself focused on what needed doing first.
*I smiled and greeted my students in a positive way every morning.
*I cooked three dinners this week.
*I drank 9 cups of water every day.
*I exercised five days this week.
*I listed five things I am grateful for every day this week.
3 – Read. Spend some time reading something just for you, whether it’s a devotional book, a trashy novel, or PEOPLE magazine. Let your mind focus on something else besides school and kids.
4 – Watch TV or a movie. Let yourself zone out, relax, and get caught up in another world.
5 – Go somewhere. Whether you go out of town or to a local park or to a shopping area you do not usually visit, just go somewhere and get a different perspective.
I hope these tips help you relax and get some perspective! If you have other tips, please share!