Upcoming Freebie & Battling Burn Out

I can't believe I have 48 followers already!! That is (in Farley's words) CRAY-CRAY!! I think I feel a 50 Follower Freebie coming on. Since I am so new to this blogging thing I do not have much to give away that I have created, but I do have something in mind. The only thing is... I need 2 more followers! I can't wait!!

I am so glad the weekend is almost here, because believe you me, I am beginning to feel like...

It's very easy to let craziness of the work week and of life in general get the best of you. You put so much energy into what you do, it's easy for teachers to fall into the "burn out trap". If you look into the research, thousands of teachers with 5 or less years of experience leave the profession each year. Isn't that sobering?

I know I've fallen victim to burn out and it's not a good place to be. With this in mind, I'd like to offer 4 little tips on how you can battle the burn out monster and keep your head in the game while you're teaching.

1. Set boundaries for yourself - Teachers are notorious for being the first to arrive and the last to leave, even if it means leaving at 8 or 9pm! If you decide to arrive early to school, allow yourself the privilege of leaving when the buses pull out of the parking lot (or whenever your principal lets you leave! lol). Conversely, if you arrive right on time, it's ok to stay after school awhile to get caught up. I try not to take anything home if at all possible. My home is my place to be a husband and to do things I enjoy away from school.

2. Know when to say "NO!" - Personally, I am a "yes" man. My first inclination is to say yes when my administrator or a colleague asks me for a favor or to take on a new project or responsibility. I absolutely hate telling people I can't or won't be able to do something. However, I've learned as long as you are respectful, there is no harm in saying no.

3. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! - I am the king of ADHD (my students will even tell you I LOVE shiny objects & squirrels!) and have overwhelmed myself one too many times by taking on too many projects at one time. Try making a list for yourself each day outlining important things to get done. Or you might try setting yourself up on a weekly routine. For example: Mondays - Work on parent newsletter, Tuesdays - Make parent phone calls, Wednesdays: Start lesson planning for the next week, etc.

4. Hobbies - Doing something you enjoy or are passionate about (aside from school, mind you!) is a great way to de-stress and take your mind of the daily grind. I grab a cup of coffee and a book to lose myself in to kill time. You'll find me playing video games and shooting pics as well. Take time for yourself, even if it's just 10-15 minutes.

Again, these probably weren't grand epiphanies, but these are tips that have helped me get through some tough times as an educator.

Thanks for reading!