9 Ways to Tackle the Crazy Overwhelm
It seems like many teachers are very overwhelmed right now. Whether you are completely online with your students, in a hybrid situation, or in class with masks and other accommodations, teachers are dealing with so so so much right now. So here are 9 ways you can tackle the crazy overwhelm.
So, of course many feel overwhelmed. How to tackle the overwhelm?
Here are a few strategies that I want to offer to all of you that might help you out. You may only need to try one or two to become less stressed (or more relaxed), or maybe all of them.
-1- Take a Breath. – Sometimes we all just need to stop and take a deep breath. Close your eyes and try to empty your brain by doing some deep breathing.
-2- Stop and Take a Break. – When you start to get panicked, stop what you are doing and take a break. Of course, I’m not advocating that you stop in the middle of teaching, but during some of the other things going on in your life and at work. Just take a moment, walk outside or get a beverage; just take a break and tackle the crazy overwhelm.
-3- Make a List. – Often, just listing out on paper the things you need to do, or what you are trying to remember, what to tell someone, what parent you need to call and what you will be telling them. These are just a couple of examples of “putting it down on paper.” For me, anyway, just the process of listing it out makes things-to-do seem much more do-able and provides a visual cue of what I am currently working on.
I have been making lists for over 30 years (I know that dates me…oh, well). Even when I have changed careers…from teacher, to school administrator, to community college director, to online blogger… I’m looking over my list as I’m working on this article.
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More Suggestions for You
-4- Talk to a Friend – Sometimes, it’s just nice to talk things over with a friend. Your friends can be a good sounding board for your gripes and also might be able to offer suggestions for making things better. Give it a try, TALK TO A FRIEND. I’m in a group of friends that regularly texts each other (in the group) with little tid-bits of information. Just this regular communication boosts my mood. TRY IT OUT!
Not long ago I wrote another article about things teachers can do to avoid the overwhelm. You can read it here.
How to Avoid Teacher Burnout; a Little R & R!
-5- Get Help From a Colleague – Teachers often feel they need to shoulder everything themselves, which is not always the case. Can you ask a colleague for some help with what has you upset or troubled? Is there a way you can share tasks with this colleague to make it easier for both of you? Think about it, there just might be someone you can ask.
-6- Reach Out to Others – This is similar to the item #5 above, but in this instance, the person you reach out to doesn’t necessarily have to be another teacher. Perhaps a neighbor can help you watch your kids in a pinch, or a good friend can help run an errand (like get you some groceries when she is going to the store anyway).
Have You Thought About These Ideas?
-7- Take a Weekend Off – I know this one seems like a hard one. Many of you can’t even imagine trying to take a whole weekend off, but if you need to for your sanity, then do it. During my years as a teacher I used to take a “ME DAY” off. My own kids got used to it since I did it at least once a year. I would drop them each at their school, have sub plans ready, and just take a day for myself. Some days I took a long bubble bath, other times I went to a movie or shopping. Just being alone with no kids and no class was just what I needed to become “ME” again.
Here are a few quick ideas for a weekend get-away! Inexpensive Weekend Get-Aways for Teachers.
-8- Decide What Items You Can Drop From Your “Plate” – Are there any items you can drop from your busy schedule? Can you delegate things at home to your partner or an older child? Are there some things that can wait until later – when you are not feeling so overwhelmed?
-9- Find a Soothing Hobby to Distract You – Another suggestion I want to give you is to try to find a hobby that relaxes you. I like to create digital photo books. Another hobby of mine is coloring in those adult coloring books. I like to use colored pencils for it. It is fairly mindless, but it relaxes me.
Before I end this article, I want to be sure to offer you a FREE downloadable list of 10 Ways to Impress Your Principal (and this is coming from a past principal). I will zip it right over to your email when you add it below.
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Well that’s it, my teacher friends,
Until Next Time,
