In a funk? This may help.
Have you found yourself in a funk lately?
If so, you're not alone.
(If not, read on because this may be helpful to you the next time you are in a funk.)
Maybe you're a new teacher and you're doing your best not to show how nervous you are as you comprehend all the paths you have to navigate for the first time.
Maybe you're an experienced teacher presented with challenges you never thought you'd have to face in your career, and it's leaving you disheartened and demoralized.
Last week I was in a funk, too. But this weekend I had a revelation, and I'd love to share it with you.
Along with millions of teachers entering this bizarre new school year, I went into our school's professional development virtual meetings last Monday with high hopes and plans to bring lots of positivity and compassion. Maybe you can relate. Because I have so much respect and appreciation for my colleagues, I strive to be an encouraging force at our school. In the virtual meetings, I tried my best to have a positive attitude but quickly discovered that there were only so many comments in the chat box and video head nods I could give. I wanted so much to be in an energy of ease and fun but couldn't shake the negative vibes within me. Things just were not the same, and trying to pretend like they were just wasn't working for me. It didn't help that some of my colleagues shared with me that they were feeling the same way. And being in front of a computer for hours on end (even with breaks) is not exactly conducive to helping us feel less isolated, irritable, and disconnected.
The truth is that I actually had a choice to shift my mindset from one of resentment into one of gratitude...but I was having a hard time seeing that it really was a choice.
The good news is that this week, as we start our second week of back-to-school PD, the "positive vibes" finally are back--but only after I paused and considered self-care. Here was the revelation:
Self-care cannot always be achieved by ourselves.
Sometimes it means reaching out for help.
When I reached out to a few friends who helped me reframe my thinking, I started feeling better. Then I was able to show up for my colleagues, family, and clients and serve them from my heart instead of trying to "fake it 'till ya make it."
Then I was able to feel motivated to get outside for some fresh air, make time for exercise, and cook some healthy meals (You can view my live cooking demo here!)
Not so long ago, I wouldn't have considered how important self-care is to our teaching profession and to our quality of life. I would have defaulted to letting negative emotions run the show and derail my goals.
The big difference between what I was doing before and what I've been doing over the last recent years was that I've stopped trying to "just snap out of it.' When I can just acknowledge the truth of my feelings instead of judging myself for having them, and when I can share real feelings with trusted confidantes, that's when healing the angst within can begin so that I can better show up for others.
Do you know this feeling, *|FNAME|*?
Maybe you can identify with one or all of the following:
...you want so much to start reaching out to every one of your students personally, but the thought of contacting all of them feels daunting, so you just sit there looking class roster on your computer screen, paralyzed?
... you wish you could find the energy to craft an incredible unit plan, but you get so overwhelmed with all the ideas out there that you just stay stuck??
... you long to collaborate and connect, but getting overwhelmed with so many ideas leaves you feeling drained, so you just shut down?
Nodding to any of these? Maybe to all? :)
Here's the hard truth: you DON'T NEED to make everything happen all on your own. We may be conditioned to feel like we have to do it all alone, but we are actually wired for connection, even with all our imperfections and vulnerabilities.
Telling your truth to a trusted friend/mentor can free you from all the "should"s that are often part of negative thinking.
Your only "should" --your only responsibility-- is to take everything one step at a time. The energy of burnout, stress, and frustration that others embody doesn't HAVE to be your story. You can make the biggest impact for your students and loved ones this year with less DOING and more BEING.
So how exactly do you do that?
Check in with yourself.
Start your days by asking yourself this very simple question:
How would I love to feel today, and what can I do to create those feelings in my life?
Maybe the words relaxed, focused, organized, productive, or positive will come to mind.
So what action steps do you need to take to achieve how you want to feel? Write these baby steps in your planner, and take at least one of them.
Try this today and let me know what shifts!
To help you further with this, be sure to download my Teach With Less Turbulence Toolkit.
It comes with my Video Training: "Turbulence-free Teaching: 4 Keys To Feeling More In Control This School Year." This training is all about how you can put simple steps in place during your day so that you can liberate your passion and purpose as a teacher and a woman.
And don't forget about your additional gift: a 1:1 private strategy session to help you put a plan in place for this upcoming school year. During this session, we're going to troubleshoot one area of least satisfaction in your life and/or your teaching so that you can feel less stressed and more invigorated--no matter where you are on your journey as an educator.
(Here's what others have to say after experiencing one of these sessions: "Before my call with you, I was feeling disheartened, demoralized, and on the way to burnout. After our call, I now feel like my passion and purpose have been reignited. I have a real plan moving forward. I can't thank you enough!")
Want to grab this for FREE? Book your session below.
Here's to you thriving with less stress and more joy! If nobody else tells you today, you rock.
with love,
Meredith