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Stop Working on Vacations!

 

Well, at least, that’s the goal. Teaching is overwhelming, stressful, and the grading just doesn’t stop—won’t stop. The first few years, no lie, you will take home your job to grade and make lesson plans on the weekends and over breaks. You might even think about canceling events, because you’re now in a full-time relationship with your computer. Hello Dell! You’re pretty warm over there. This will compound and cause you to feel frustrated and irritated. Then later the following day, deal with that really annoying kid in your last period class who is just waiting to press your self-destruct button. Trying to get away from this job is difficult. You will need to make time for yourself, no matter what. Even if it’s for only an hour, “teacher life” needs to be put away and put to bed. Remember, dedicate Friday night to yourself, no matter what. Go out and have fun! You should do the same thing during holiday breaks. Work hard when you’re at work. Don’t get too caught up in the teacher's lounge or going out to lunch; once in a while, do something for your mental sanity. If you’re super stressed, you may need time to sit in your car, listen to music, meditate, read, or play a phone game. Take a lunch break! Another idea is to go into work earlier to set up your day and to do some “housekeeping.” If you play the rush game in the morning, you’re adding a lot more adrenaline and anxiety to your day. Remind yourself in time this will all get easier and eventually you’ll laugh about all these crazy, beginner teacher days.

Still, occasionally, I have to grade over breaks. Recently, both my kids got sick, and being at home as a dad makes it difficult to get more of my job done. #Parentlife. During this upcoming break, I’ll be dedicating my time to grading student writing, just like it happens to you sometimes. You need to learn to work smarter and give yourself free time to keep feeling good. Teaching and life is a balancing act. If you get too absorbed into teaching, it can take over and invade other aspects of your life. Who really wants to talk about teaching when you’re out with your friends? I love being a teacher, but it’s just one aspect of my life. We wear this hat sometimes a little too often, yet you need to remember who you are and what you love to do. Did you just cancel a date? Maybe you just told your friends you can’t see that concert. Did you just forward a friend to voicemail? Balance your life because teaching in the beginning is going to demand a lot of you, and you must get good at finding small windows of time to keep yourself happy. An unhappy and stressed teacher makes managing students a lot more difficult. Students read us right away, and boy are they very good at it. I remember years ago a student telling me how stressed I looked. She was 100% correct. It’s also more fun for students to prod and push your emotions around when you look stressed and annoyed. Your vibe is also contagious. If you’re stressed and angry, your students will catch the vibe, and you may notice your students becoming like how you feel. It’s really odd, but when you’re in a good mood and very positive, you’ll get that vibe in return. Sort of like a karma thing. Positive energy breeds positive energy. As a new teacher, you’re juggling a lot! You’re going to have your meltdowns, tirades, and question this job a lot. You might even go to work with wrinkled clothes because you can’t keep up with life. I definitely did that Lol. Who doesn’t? Meanwhile, everyone around you seems to excel while you’re drowning in anxiety. I firmly believe every teacher needs to work on varying aspects of this art. Some teachers look like they have it all together; they only present what they want you to see. The ones who claim to be masters or who are fully confident aren’t perfect either—nobody is!! To conclude, work hard at work to prevent bringing a lot of stuff home. Find small windows of time to give yourself needed breaks. Eventually, you’ll have your vacations to yourself, unless you’re like me with kids who get sick. Keep your head up and focus on yourself! Give yourself a well-deserved break when you can! You deserve it!

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