Blue Mountain Math

Making Math Fun with Engaging Activities

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Free
  • Videos
  • Links

Self-Care Ideas for Teachers

At the beginning of this school year, many of my colleagues and I discussed how difficult the past two years had been. One common comment was how we were looking forward to getting back to “normal”. None of us have seen normal yet.

Blog Post Image

Instead, we are working more with requirements to “catch up” students. There is a substitute shortage so we are asked to cover additional classes. There is a constant demand to teach better, tutor, help students that are in quarantine from home, provide missing work, provide “extra credit”, work more and do more every day. It is overwhelming and as winter break approached, I felt as though the school year should be ending, not just the first semester.

With additional work requirements, added meetings (it is so much easier to schedule more meetings when they are virtual) and added working responsibilities, we are also told to “take care of ourselves”. I dislike the term self-care. It implies no one is coming to give me a life jacket so I need to find my own if I am to survive and emphasizes just how alone we all are during this time. I especially dislike being told to “take care” after I have been given a list of 30 new things to add to my to-do list.

Since we are required to wear masks and socially distance from others, it is difficult to find opportunities to take a break. It is also hard to connect with colleagues–virtual just isn’t the same. But breaks are crucial to mental and emotional health.

Try some of these ideas.

1. Create firm boundaries–leave work at school and try to leave on time. I arrive early so I can relax before the day begins, but leave on time. Work does not go home with me, EVER.

Communicate to students and parents that you do not return emails after school hours or on weekends and stick to it. I cannot even look at work email when I am at home or I feel the anxiety rising. After distance learning, students think that they should have 24 hour access to teachers.

2. Say No. There are so many opportunities to participate that teachers often feel they are obligated to “do their part” for the school. Become a club sponsor, offer tutoring, join in activities, volunteer for events, or attend school functions. But any other profession doesn’t feel compelled to stay after work and continue working.

If the idea of not being an active part of the school bothers you, try cutting back instead.

3. Check in with colleagues. Send a text, email or leave a phone message for colleagues you have not connected with in a while. Social isolation is not healthy.

Try Gratitude

4. Try a gratitude jar. Place a mason jar on your desk (or in an inconspicuous place if you prefer). Each day add something you are grateful for, a positive message or affirmation to the jar. When you are having a bad moment (or day) pull something from the jar and meditate on it. 

Use a virtual gratitude jar like this or a real mason jar

5. Stop complaining. This is a big one because we all have something to complain about. But complaining does not help, it actually increases the dissatisfaction. It makes things worse. Every time you start to complain, immediately say 3 positive things to offset it.

Find the positive in every situation. when I lost my planning period recently, I was irritated but I immediately told myself that I was getting to take a walk across campus to this new classroom, I could check out the classroom set up and decor and use the time to talk to different students.

6. Sticky Notes. Get a pack of sticky notes and write positive messages and place them all over. This is a good one for students as well. Put them under desks, on back of seats, near the floor or up high near the ceiling. You can also have students write positive messages to each other.

7. Create a bucket list of things to do when life is normal again. Add the places you would like to visit and experiences you would like to have.

Include Students

8. Give your students a 3 x 5 index card and ask them to write a funny thing that has happened in a classroom. We all could use a laugh and students have the most interesting perspective on what happens in the classroom. 

Note: I hear some tall tales but the purpose is to have a laugh, not to report on your colleagues.

9. Give students a break as well. Have some fun in the classroom and try some trivia. Play a game or use a wheel of names to choose student volunteers. Make up new rules just for fun.

Declare  every fifth student who arrives gets to tell an interesting fact. Give a small candy to the first three students.  Put on some music for the class (I only put on music that I know, so I avoid any problems with lyrics).  Appoint a student in charge of enthusiasm. When I teach, the student makes cheerful comments or applauds when I finish the lesson.

Declutter to De-stress

10. Stay organized both in the class and at home. Have healthy meals prepared and planned in advance. Have supplies you need ready. You work outfits should be planned as well so there is no stress when you are getting ready.

11. Minimize screen time when you are not at work. Turn off the computer, hide the phone and try an activity that does not require the internet. Try reading a book for an hour a day.

12. Clear out digital dust. Have more than 5-10 emails in your inbox? Is your computer overfilled and you are using your 5th back up drive? Clean it all up, your computer will run faster and if it dies, you won’t have lost anything. If you need to back up files, get a 14T drive and back up the entire computer.

Organize files so you can find them. Every time I look at my back up files, I find that I have backed up the same files several times. Get rid of duplicates.

Get Out

13. Go for a drive. If you are a coffee drinker, stop at a shop and have a cup outdoors (weather permitting) and people watch. I tend to avoid indoor shopping since we are required to be fully masked, but taking a drive is a nice break. Drive through for a hot chocolate (you can get a peppermint hot chocolate at McDonalds).

14. Sit Outside. Sit in the back yard in the sun and just watch the sky and listen to the birds (unless you have a cat, then scare off the birds because dead birds don’t sing). Think about flowers you will plant or vegetables you can grow.

Get Physical

15. Walk. During planning time, take a walk around the campus. Being outside is therapeutic and walking relieves stress.  I naturally walk quickly, but try slowing down and breathe deeply as you walk. Extra credit if you do not think about lesson plans or your to do list as you are walking.

16. Exercise. Yes, I said it. My friends will laugh at this because I cringe at the idea when someone else says it. But dancing when no one is watching is fun.  Get one of those rocker boards to increase balance, try some hand weights or stretching bands. Put on a Zumba   or salsa dance video.

17 Get a massage. I have a reflexology massage once a month and it takes the stress right out of me. If you like pedicures, get a foot massage as well.

Hobbies

18 If you have a hobby that you haven’t enjoyed in a while, get it out. Try crocheting or knitting, play a musical instrument, or draw. If you have other talents, use them now. It helps to take a mental break.

19. Music. Make a playlist of your favorite songs and sing along as your drive. Sing loud. I’ve always thought that if you sing really loud, you are more likely to be on key. And pay no attention to those on the road around you. If you want, roll down the window and really sing out.

20. COLOR! Yes adult coloring is popular to help relieve stress. It only works if you are not worried about coloring outside the lines. Try some coloring sheets with affirmations and really think about them as you color in the images. Need some?

Get this as my gift to you to help you relax.

21. Take a mental health day. Use one of those emergency lesson plans and take a day for yourself. Sleep in, have breakfast in bed, read a magazine, watch Maury Povich (that will cheer you up), take a nap and have a meal delivered. Just make sure when you call in for a sub that you note that you are “sick”. And you don’t make a habit of this…..

If you notice that you are having a difficult time for extended periods, you may need to talk to someone.  Long term anxiety and depression are harmful to your physical health as well.

Try this 30 day challenge with colleagues and see how you feel in a month. Download the challenge and print out.  While they are numbered, think of this more like a scavenger hunt and do them in any order you like.

Get the Challenge here

Try something new and change up your routine. Create a balance between your work and home life to become less stressed. I would love to see your finished coloring to add to a future post. Share them on Instagram or Facebook just for fun. As always, if you have suggestions, drop me a comment or email at bluemountainmath@gmail.com

Filed Under: teaching stress Leave a Comment

« 18 Ideas for Teaching Slope
10 Ways to Celebrate Pi-Day »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Categories

Boom Learning

Teachers Pay Teachers

Amazon Disclosure

Blue Mountain Math is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The links that are indicated as "affiliate links" mean I will be paid a small sum at no additional cost to you. Blue Mountain Math uses links to provide a service to the reader about products that have been used.

Latest on Pinterest

  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this deck, students practice finding combination and permutations. This set of Boom Cards features 35 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)
  • Students practice using the distributive property, both in distributing and combining like terms, in these 2 puzzles in google slides. There are 2 puzzles--one in each simple level and challenging level. In the simpler level, the outside edges are blank, so if students are having difficulty, have them arrange the pieces so the blank sides are on the outside.
  • Sector Area in a Circle Paper Chain is a fun, engaging  activity that is self-checking, collaborative. Set of 15 problems that need to be cut apart, reassembled in the correct order and fastened together like a chain until the end is reached. Great worksh
  • This is a twisted trivia game where students (either in groups or playing individually with white boards) practice identifying solutions and writing inequalities from graphs. Check out the video preview to see the type of questions included.
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this deck, students practice tipping using a percentage and finding the total meal cost. I use this in my teen finance course during the budgeting unit. This is great reinforcement of rounding and using percents. This set of Boom Cards features 35 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!) #bluemountainmath #boomcards
  • Great practice, worksheet alternative, formative assessment for students that you can HEAR if they are successful.  No printing, no laminating.  A Lifetime tool for the classroom.
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice solving one step equations and assessing their understanding. This will give students a challenge in solving equations. Students will see 6 different equations and need to select the two with the same answer. This set of Boom Cards features 40 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this deck, students practice adding expenses from a budget, finding savings on budget choices and finding budgeted amounts. I use this in my teen finance course during the budgeting unit. This is great reinforcement of rounding and using percents. This set of Boom Cards features 35 different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)#bluemountainmath #boomcards
  • Boom Cards™ are a great way for students to practice every day skills In this 20- card deck, students practice solving quadratics using the quadratic formula This set of Boom Cards features different Digital Self-Checking Task Cards. (No printing, cutting, laminating, or grading!)

Latest on Instagram

Bow Ties send a signal that you are smarter and mo Bow Ties send a signal that you are smarter and more tech savvy than people who wear neck ties.....just a thought..... #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
My cat is upset that dogs have a day until I expla My cat is upset that dogs have a day until I explained that National Cat Day is October 29. So Happy Dog Day to all your fur family. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
And for my southern relatives, have some fried chi And for my southern relatives, have some fried chicken with those waffles #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
AT last, a day for those of us who are over a cert AT last, a day for those of us who are over a certain age. Although, the picture does not reflect many of us. We are not sitting with our hands folder, we are still active and making a difference. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
I still love radio, mostly music. I used to listed I still love radio, mostly music. I used to listed to a lot of talk radio, but it got so negative that I noticed it was influencing my day. Are you a talk radio person and do you notice that? #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
Did you know that the Wright Brothers who are cred Did you know that the Wright Brothers who are credited with the first airplane flight were not funded by the government? The government had funded several others, who failed. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
Why can't we have a fajita day each week like Taco Why can't we have a fajita day each week like Taco Tuesday?  We could have Fajita Friday each week  So today enjoy the fajitas and think about having them weekly--like tacos. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
We have already used our colored markers and penci We have already used our colored markers and pencils.  Yeah, I love color. #teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt
Did you know that left handed people have brains t Did you know that left handed people have brains that work differently? Their brains communicates differently and have greater verbal skills....⁣
#teachersfollowteachers  #teachersofig #iteachtoo #iteachmath#mathteachers #mathteacher #iteachalgebra ⁣
#iteachgeometry #highschoolmathteacher ⁣
#highschoolteacher ⁣
#mathteachertribe#teachersofinstagram  #secondarymath #secondarymathteacher  #secondaryteacher⁣
#geometry⁣
#teachertribe⁣
#tpt ⁣
#teacherspayteachers #algebra #teachersoftpt

Latest on Facebook

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
You have to do what makes you comfortable, however it is not feasible or even necessary to grade line item on every single paper and still remain sane.Read more 👉 lttr.ai/rkwv#minimizeclassroomdisruptions #savetime #seatingchart #seatingcharts #routines;TimeSavingTips #completenoncompletedassignment ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
Engaging Activities for Math Class after Spring Break: lttr.ai/vBby#familiaractivities #feelsafe #activities #famousthinghappened #blanktaskcards #doesntbelongworks #familiarclassroomstructure ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
It takes a long time to get a bingo, sometimes the entire class period is spent trying to get just one.Read more 👉 lttr.ai/jVPW#greatpractice #increasesengagement #bingo #playbingo #reviewmathwithbingo ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
Algebra tiles offers a great way to see an expression or what makes a variable different from an integer.Read the full article: Ways to Get Started With Algebra Tiles▸ lttr.ai/tLkj#concreteexamples #algebraicconcepts #algebratiles #manipulatives #activities ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blue Mountain Math

10 months ago

Blue Mountain Math
After students finish the worksheet, and the work is shown, have them scan to see if their answers were right.Read the full article: Save Time Grading▸ lttr.ai/sjen#homework #collectedclasswork #grading #selfcheckingactivities #partneractivities #activities ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Insert/edit link

Enter the destination URL

Or link to existing content

    No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.