This is the time of year when I feel like I’m about to lose my mind. Too much to do and not enough time to do it. Do you feel the same?
Here are some tips I’ve learned from others that are helping me keep things straight and get stuff done this year.
*Keep ONE “to do” list for both work and home. (Confession time: although this is an effective time management tip in general, I don’t always do this throughout the year. I do write some meetings, tasks, etc. on both lists as needed. It may not be the most efficient system but it works for me.) But at holiday time, I keep one notebook with lists for everything, both for home and for school. That way, when I’m at school and think of something I need to do, I can write it on my list right away. It also helps to write work tasks in one color and home/family tasks in another color to help keep it all straight.
journal
*Share your “to-do” lists with family members. I am blessed to have a husband who helps a lot. But he can’t read my mind. So if I have certain tasks that I need for him to do, I make sure to share that list with him. My daughter and I do the same thing for things we need the other person to do.
*Use an online calendar to remind your partner about events. My husband and I use Google calendar and regularly send each other event reminders. When I RSVP for a holiday event to attend, I send him a Google calendar invite so he can remember what we said we would attend and when it’s happening! When I agreed to make treats for his office friends, he added the “due date” for the treats to my calendar along with a reminder for two days in advance! I am often writing these tasks and events down on my paper planner as well (I’m clinging to my favorite “old school” ways), but getting the online reminder helps me keep it all straight.
*Avoid scheduling appointments during the holiday season that can wait until January. With so many other events happening and so many things to do, try to streamline your to-do list as much as possible.
*Take advantage of every timesaving service available. Get groceries delivered or at least take advantage of the order online/pick up at the store, if you have that option. Use your crockpot or Instant Pot for quick meals. If you’re supposed to bring a side dish to some holiday event and you have no time to cook, buy prepared food at a local Whole Foods or Fresh Market and put it in your own dish!
*Build in some buffer time. With more traffic and bigger crowds in stores, it always takes longer to get somewhere than you think it will. So if you think it will take 30 minutes to travel somewhere, schedule 45 minutes for travel instead. If you think it will take one hour to wrap the gifts you just bought, schedule for one hour and 15 minutes instead. Even a simple trip to the grocery store can take longer than you planned. Planning for that extra time will help ease your stress.
*For every stressful task on your list, try to include a task that gives you joy and energy. For example: if you have to do some cleaning in advance of guests’ arrival, plan a few minutes to sit near the Christmas tree, read and sip a favorite beverage. If you have been battling holiday traffic and crowds, try doing some yoga poses when you get home.
*Speaking of joy and energy: schedule time for that too. What calms you down and gives you peace? Make a list of these things so that when you are feeling stressed, you can check the list and find one thing to do.
For me, it involves using my gratitude journal (to keep me focused on all the good that is happening), daily quiet time to read and reflect, listening to holiday music while I’m cooking or in the car.
When you catch yourself feeling tense or rushed, reflect on why the holidays are important to you and what you enjoy about the celebrations. That can help keep you focused on why you are doing all that you are doing!
With all the things to do during a busy winter holiday month, taking care of yourself is likely to fall to the bottom of the list.
Here are some tips for quick ways to get stuff done, take care of yourself, and to stay (relatively) calm!
1 – Plan ahead as much as possible by making lists. I find it’s helpful to keep your planner or a small notebook with you at all times (even at work) and add to your lists whenever you think of things you need to do. If your planner is not handy, send an email to yourself with something you need to add to your list.
It might sound even more stressful to see these long lists of things to do, but it actually calms you because you are taking “all the things” out of your head and getting them down on paper. Your brain doesn’t need to keep obsessing when tasks are written down.
By the way — keep those lists. I made a binder that I use just for Christmas planning and I stick those lists inside that binder once Christmas is past. Next year, when it’s time to start planning, I have those reminders handy.
2 – Pace yourself. Now that you have these massive lists on paper, you actually have to get some stuff done! But pace yourself. If it’s a day with after school meetings or evening events, you cannot possibly get as much done. But look at your lists and see what might be possible to do.
For example: maybe you can’t get to a store today to get certain gifts, but are there other gifts you could buy online?
3 – Ask for help, delegate, and take advantage of every service you can! Who can help do some of the shopping or wrapping or meal prep? Nobody says that you have to be the one to do all the stuff on your lists. Ask for some help! Use Amazon Prime, Shipt, Walmart grocery delivery — whatever is available in your area. No one says you need to be the one out fighting traffic and wading through crowds in the stores.
4 – Stay realistic about what you can accomplish. This is where that delegating part can come in handy. But it’s also okay to eliminate some tasks on your list when you see that it’s just not possible to get them done in the time you have available. No one can do everything!
5 – Speaking of staying realistic — if you are in charge of any kind of holiday meal or event, plan a simple menu. Not everything has to be homemade. Not every recipe needs to involve eighteen steps. Prepare as many make-ahead dishes as you can. Ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert.
6 – Whenever you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, stop and take a deep breath. Just a few deep breaths will automatically calm you and help you to get some perspective on the situation.
7 – Treat yourself. Not by overindulging in sugar or junk food, but in something that makes you happy. Hot cocoa with extra marshmallows? A special coffee drink? Some quiet time alone? Buying a gift for yourself while you’re buying gifts for everyone else?!
8 – Get outside and take a walk. Especially when you’re feeling stressed. But taking a walk and getting some fresh air is always a good idea for getting some perspective and a break.
9 – Take a 20-minute nap or at least go to bed early. I know, I know — how are you going to get everything done if you don’t stay up late? Getting enough good sleep makes you more productive the next day. Just try it and see for yourself.
10 – Create some new traditions with your family that you will enjoy! How about reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve? Or planning a family board game night during the holidays? Going to a movie on Christmas night? Baking cookies after Christmas and delivering to neighbors or to a local shelter?
11 – Relax and just go with it. Nothing ever goes perfectly. Something will go wrong. Just make up your mind to find the joy and the humor in every situation. Stare at the tree. Go outside and take a deep breath. Close your eyes and say a prayer. It’s all going to be okay.
12 – Speaking of relaxing — maybe you’ll be spending the holiday with a relative who gets on your last nerve. This may be someone you would prefer to avoid in any other situation but you’re stuck with them because they’re “family”. Have a strategy for your time with them. Remind yourself that they are basically a young child with issues (as we all are to some extent) and they see the world differently from the way you do. Then, when they say something you don’t appreciate, change the subject or walk away from them. Don’t let them steal your joy!
I hope these tips give you some ideas for how you can relax, enjoy, and take care of YOU this holiday season!
It’s almost December and time to think about holiday gifts! If you're looking for some gift ideas to show that special teacher how much you appreciate having them in your child's life, read on. Here is a list of teacher gift ideas, based on my 30 years of elementary teaching and gift-receiving!
First, what to avoid:
*mugs
*apple objects
*anything made with pencils/chalkboards/crayons
*"my teacher is #1" objects
These types of gifts are cute, yes, but if the teacher is in their second year of teaching or beyond, they already have a lot of stuff like that.
*Baked goods are delicious and appreciated, but much of it gets tossed or given away because teachers get too much stuff like that. Consider giving one or two small pieces of your family’s favorite, but including something else with it, such as a gift card.
GETTING IDEAS FOR YOUR SPECIAL TEACHER - TWO QUESTIONS:
1 - Does your school have a list?
Find out if your school keeps a list of “teacher favorites”. This is a form that teachers complete about some of their favorite things (indulgences, foods, collections, restaurants, hobbies, etc.). If your school does not do this, you might want to suggest it. This is a quick and easy thing for a PTA/PTO to do. The forms can be kept in a binder at the front desk of the school. These lists are a great source of gift ideas.
2 - Does your child have suggestions?
Ask your child for suggestions! Their usual response: “I don’t know what my teacher likes.” But, when given specific questions, they can often come up with great ideas. For example:
*Does the teacher like coffee or tea? Consider a Starbucks gift card or a gift card for a local coffee shop.
*Does the teacher drink any particular brand of water or seltzer? My current favorites are San Pellegrino sparkling water and LaCroix lime seltzer.
*Does the teacher ever say, “I really need . . . “ or “I really get tired of having to . . .” One of my favorite gifts ever was a customized rubber stamp so that I could put my name in my classroom library books. A student noticed that I mentioned how much I got tired of writing my name in all my books!
*Another favorite gift was a colorful clipboard from a student who noticed that I complained about never being able to find my clipboard!
If your child is still stuck for ideas and there is no “teacher favorites” list, read on for what teachers love and appreciate:
OFFICE SUPPLIES
Teachers tend to love office supply products, especially if they are colorful or related to their interests in some way.
*Expo dry-erase markers. Teachers and students use these all the time, but they don’t last forever and can be a bit pricey for schools to replace.
PERSONAL ITEMS FOR RELAXING AT HOME:
*Bath supply gift sets like THIS or THIS. If you’re not sure about favorite scents, go with lavender. Lavender is calming and teachers can always use more of that!
*Cute tote bags. This is a tricky one because teachers often have a lot of these. However, if you see something that is particularly cute and it reminds you of the teacher somehow, it would probably make a good gift. Bonus points for including small, inexpensive gifts inside the bag! Some good options: Scout multi-pocket tote or this bag or maybe this cute bag.
PERSONAL ITEMS FOR FUN:
*Anything related to a favorite “obsession” of theirs (my obsession is the musical Hamilton, but other popular obsessions are Disney, Star Wars, and Harry Potter).
BOOKS OR CALENDARS:
Teachers are readers. However, unless you know what type of fiction your teacher likes, it can be difficult to choose a specific title. It’s often easier to stick to non-fiction or “how-to” books.
Here are some of my current favorites:
*A Promised Land by Barack Obama
GIFT CARDS FOR SERVICES:
*Do you sell something? Are you a fitness instructor, yoga instructor, personal trainer? A personal chef? A consultant for popular brands like Rodan & Fields or Stella & Dot? Give them something from your line of work or your line of products. And who knows? You might get a new customer!
*Consider giving prepared meals from a local restaurant or one free shipment from a meal delivery service such as Hello Fresh, Green Chef, Blue Apron, Home Chef.
AND -- THE MOST POPULAR GIFT -- GIFT CARDS!
*Try giving a gift certificate for a manicure, pedicure, massage, or some other spa treatment.
*Any amount is appreciated. Favorite places are Target, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, wine shops, Starbucks, local restaurants, movie theater, car wash. That, combined with a heartfelt letter from you and your child, make the perfect gift. Which brings me to . . .
THE ULTIMATE FAVORITE GIFT THAT WILL BE KEPT FOREVER:
Have your child write a meaningful thank you letter to the teacher. Consider adding another one yourself. These will be the gifts that teachers will keep forever, long after they have eaten the fudge or shopped at Target. This gift is also a favorite because everyone can do it -- budgets are not an issue. Have your child be specific about things the teacher does that they really like, things they love about the teacher, what they will always remember, how the teacher has helped them.
Please know that teachers appreciate any and every expression of gratitude. While gifts are certainly not necessary, some gifts are definitely more appreciated and needed than others. I hope this list has given you some ideas and options for Teacher Appreciation Week or for end of year gifts!
With the holidays coming up, I’m sharing tips for preparing for house guests.
When friends or family are staying overnight at your house, you want to make them feel comfortable, relaxed, and welcomed. Here are some tips on how to do that.
*Clean bedrooms where guests will be staying. Make sure that sheets are clean and pillows are fluffed. If you need to get new bed linens, you have got to try these sheets from Amazon. I heard about them for months before trying them, but now they are my very favorite sheets. The affordable price makes them even more attractive!
*Include cozy blankets on beds during colder months.
*Consider spritzing a room spray to make your bedrooms smell fresh and clean! I like this lavender scent.
*Leave some empty space for your guests to store their own stuff.
*Speaking of empty space, clear some space in your guest room closet for your guests to hang their clothes.
*Place some favorite books and recent issues of magazines near the bed. Bonus points for including magazines about your town or state!
*If it is holiday time, consider including a small decoration in the guest room.
*Include a small lamp beside the bed. Some possibilities are HERE and HERE.
*Clean the bathrooms.
*Make sure there are plenty of towels and extra toilet paper in the bathrooms. These towels from Amazon are soft, absorbent and affordable!
*If a guest will be sleeping on the couch, get rid of the back cushions if you can so more space is available. Make a stack of sheets, pillows, and blankets to make couch sleeping as comfy as possible!
*Clean up your “piles” of stuff (clutter, books, papers, etc.). Your home will look 100% better just from doing this small step!
*Vacuum your house. Use a handheld vacuum for small messes or small areas.
*Get some fresh flowers from your local grocery store. If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, they have the best and most affordable flowers!
*Bake some cookies! What better smell to make your guests feel welcome? If time is an issue, use a mix to make delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies or my family’s favorite snickerdoodles!
*Have some kind of munchy type foods available for snacks. Ideas: charcuterie board, simple cheese and crackers, Chex mix, chips and salsa, pretzels or potato chips, appetizer type dips and crackers, trail mix.
*Create a card or sign with your wifi password. Consider providing extra chargers.
*Include notepads and pens in case they need to leave a note or write something down.
*Include directions for getting into and out of your house. Is there a garage door code or garage door opener they could use while they are staying at your house? An extra set of keys?
It’s already November and if you’re like me, you’re wondering how the heck we got here so quickly! As I look at my calendar and start thinking about a busy holiday season ahead, it’s time for me to remember to take care of myself. Here are 20 habits to establish (or re-establish) before the next busy season. Choose one or two to try today!
1 – SPEND SOME TIME ALONE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. But taking a few minutes to be alone with your thoughts helps you to focus on your own needs.
2 – MAKE A DAILY TO-DO LIST, BUT SET PRIORITIES.
Keep a list of what you have to do, what you need to do, and what you would like to do. Delegate whatever you can and eliminate or postpone unnecessary tasks, especially during busy weeks.
3 – SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVES.
Read positive quotes (follow me on Instagram for weekly positive thoughts). Make a gratitude list every day. Be thankful for every member of your family, focusing on one thing you love about each person. Try to genuinely compliment at least three people every day. Look for ways to add positivity to your life.
4 – DO ALL OF YOUR “THINKING WORK” TEACHING TASKS DONE AS EARLY IN THE DAY AS POSSIBLE.
This is when your brain is the most fresh, before you get caught up in all the other smaller, administrative tasks you need to do.
5 – COMPLETE THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS ON YOUR TO-DO LIST BEFORE YOU CHECK EMAIL.
Once you check email, you will focus more on other people’s needs and requests rather than doing what you have deemed most important to do during this time.
6 – DRINK HALF YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN OUNCES OF WATER EVERY DAY.
Staying hydrated helps every single part of your body work better!
7 – FIND AN EATING PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU.
It might be keto or paleo or gluten-free or higher carb. What works for me? Intermittent fasting (read more HERE or read my favorite book about how to get started HERE) and limiting processed food. You will need to experiment to see what your body responds to and what you feel best doing.
8 – SET SOME HEALTHY EATING GOALS FOR YOURSELF.
Instead of focusing on all the things you want to remove from your diet, think about what you could add instead. For example:
*eat 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day
*add flaxseed or chia seeds to your diet
*drink a green smoothie every day
*add collagen peptides to your smoothie
*drink 1-2 cups of hot tea daily
9 – FIND A WORKOUT PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU.
This doesn’t have to mean joining a gym. You can stream workouts at home (try Beachbody on Demand), find workouts you enjoy on youtube, or use workout DVD’s.
10 – DO THREE YOGA POSES EVERY DAY. This book will give you everything you need to get started. Also check out Yoga with Adriene on YouTube HERE. My favorite three poses are: warrior pose (in the morning), legs up the wall pose (in the afternoon, when I get home from work), and corpse pose (before bed).
11 – TAKE A BRIEF WALK OUTSIDE EVERY DAY.
It might be on a break at school (I know it’s hard to find breaks), it might be with your dog, or it might be before or after school. But try to find a few minutes to get outside and move around.
12 – LEAVE SCHOOL EITHER EARLY OR ON TIME AT LEAST TWO DAYS A WEEK.
Use that time to do things that you enjoy.
13 – TAKE A BATH OR SHOWER WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM WORK.
This helps you to figuratively wash away the stress of the day (while literally washing away the school germs!). It also helps you transition to a more relaxing afternoon and evening. During the colder months, I usually go ahead and put on cozy pajamas or comfy pants afterward!
15 – SET A BEDTIME FOR YOURSELF & STICK TO IT.
Think about how many hours of sleep you really need (probably seven or eight hours) and determine your ideal bedtime. Start the bedtime wind-down routine at least half an hour in advance.
16 – CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING PAMPERING FOR YOURSELF ONCE A MONTH.
Get a massage, treat yourself to a facial, get a manicure or pedicure, or both! Do something that makes you feel good about yourself.
17 – MAKE TIME FOR SOME HOBBY THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.
It might be participating in a choir, creating some kind of art, a needlepoint or cross-stitch project, cooking or baking, playing a musical instrument, writing, or reading. Think about when you can make time for your hobby and stick to that time frame as often as possible!
18 – PLAN SOME DELICIOUS AND EASY-TO-PREPARE MENUS FOR UPCOMING WEEKS.
Get ahead by planning menus for a week so that you can pull these out during busier times. Two of my recent favorite blogs with great menu suggestions: Rabbit Lair & Stone Gable.
19 – SET SOME GOALS FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
We often set big yearly goals, which is good. But sometimes very little progress is made toward those goals because the “end date” is a year away and we think we have more time. Try breaking those big yearly goals down into smaller goals that can be completed within 90 days.
When I do this, I find that I’m more realistic about what I can actually do in the time available. For example: if my big yearly goal is to organize all my closets, my 90-day goal might be to organize two closets. When I get to the end of the year, even if I didn’t get to all the closets, I can still feel productive and accomplished for organizing several closets.
20 – PLAN SOMETHING YOU LOOK FORWARD TO DOING.
It might be spending an evening out with friends, a weekend away, a dinner party, a family event. Plan whatever makes you feel happy and enthusiastic and hopeful about the future.
What are your go-to self-care tips for especially busy times! I’d love to hear them!
I am in the midst of one of those super busy weeks at work: parent conference week. If you are already finished with parent conferences, lucky you. Tuck these tips away for the next season of super busy weeks. But if you’re in the midst of what can be “hell week”, read on — you need these tips to survive the week!
To clarify “hell week” for parents who are reading this: teachers do find it extremely valuable to meet with parents to discuss children’s progress, strengths, and needs. And we are grateful for any teacher workdays that might be designated for parent conferences. But generally, parent conference week simply means: keep doing all the usual stuff you’re always doing for good teaching but add on meeting with 20+ sets of parents. So it is a super busy week and the first thing to be cut from the to-do list is anything related to self-care.
Big mistake. You have to take care of yourself first and pace yourself to get through the week. If you don’t, you are almost guaranteed to get sick soon afterward and that will cause even more stress.
Here are 10 self-care tips that take 5 minutes or less:
1 – DEEP BREATHING
Step into your office, a closet, the restroom, the hall — anywhere you can be alone for a minute or so. Take a moment for 4 (or more) belly breaths. Here’s how: Place one hand on your stomach (below your ribcage) and one hand on your chest. Breathe in through your nose and allow your belly to expand (the hand on your chest should not move). Breathe out through your mouth, releasing all the air.
Another breathing technique that helps: the 4-7-8 breathing technique. Here’s how to do it: Place your hands on your stomach and your chest, similar to belly breathing. Breathe in slowly for 4 seconds. Now hold your breath for 7 seconds. Then breathe out for 8 seconds, completely releasing the air. Do this for 4 (or more) breaths.
2 – HYDRATE
Drink some water or make a cup of tea. Here are some of my favorite teas: vanilla chai,
3 – MEDITATE OR PRAY OR BOTH!
The apps Headspace and Calm both have short meditations you can do in three minutes or less. Saying a prayer of gratitude and asking for strength, energy, guidance, whatever you feel you need right now will help calm you and remind you that you are not alone.
4 – DO A QUICK YOGA POSE OR STRETCH
Try tree pose, warrior pose, standing forward bend, downward dog or crescent pose. Or all of the above! You don’t have to be in fitness clothes to do them.
5 – GO OUTSIDE
Get a few minutes of fresh air, sunlight, and views of anything outside that cheers you and makes you feel calm. Bonus points for doing some deep breathing outside!
6 – WRITE THINGS DOWN
Make lists of what you need to do or what you want to do this weekend. Write whatever comes into your head. Write what you are worried about. Just write. You don’t have to keep what you wrote. The value is in just getting it out of your head and onto the paper.
8 – LISTEN TO MUSIC
It might be a pump-up playlist, a calming/focus playlist, or any type of music that you enjoy.
9 – PLAN SOMETHING
Some ideas: what you want to do this weekend, dinner menus for next week, some fun things you want to do in your classroom soon, some books you want to read. Planning gives you something to focus on and look forward to while also helping you to feel more control.
10 – LOOK AT PICTURES OF SCENERY OR PEOPLE YOU LOVE
Scroll through photos on your phone or computer, scroll through your own Instagram feed or another Instagram feed that you enjoy. Search for images of whatever kind of nature or scenery that makes you feel happy and calm.
There you have it! Ten tips that take less than five minutes. Try one and let me know if it helps!
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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