Stress Relief for Teachers during Covid-19 Online Instruction
So many “temporarily-at-home” teachers are wondering how to get organized for their covid-19 online instruction. And also relieve some of the stress they are feeling about teaching remotely online. It’s completely understandable since we were thrown into this new format completely unexpectedly without any prior preparation.
Many teachers are having to learn to navigate new online platforms without any technology training beyond what they can find on the website or YouTube. For the younger teachers, this is not nearly as challenging as it is to the older ones. Teachers nearing retirement are pulling their hair out right now, wondering, “Is this really worth it?”
I have a few other articles about this covid-19 time of teacher, you can read them here:
Covid-19; Tips for Temporary Home Schooling
Teachers, Are You Missing Your Students?
Some General Tips for Covid-19 Online Instruction.
On one of my social media sites, there was this letter quoted by JJ Hirsch, I am sharing it here because it has already been shared widely and it has some awesome words of support.
“A parent wrote this for his local teachers about distance learning.
Here is the letter:
Hey teachers, I just wanted to let you know that however, this week goes down – it’s all good. We’re on your team. This wasn’t what you signed up for, and I sort of can’t believe you’re actually going to attempt to do this. Your life is about to become one giant conference call with two dozen nine-year-olds who have no set bedtime and are hopped up on Captain Crunch and whatever their parents have been stress-baking for the past 12 days. What could possibly go wrong?
In light of this, our family is giving you blanket permission to do this however the hell you want for the next two months.
Does your kid want to sit on your lap while you teach long division? That’s great. Need to stress eat half a bag of Cheetos while you’re trying to explain how to calculate Experimental Error? Go for it. Feel like having morning meetings in your pajamas – all month long? It’s a judgment-free zone here. Lord knows that’s what I’ll be wearing until at least noon.
Don’t Panic!
Having a panic attack because you need to check in on your parents and wanna point that Zoom camera at three straight episodes of Sponge Bob for an English assignment? Excellent plan. Want to just sit there and ask them how their days were for 40 minutes without mentioning a single thing about MLA formatting? Please God do that.
See, I don’t care if you teach my kids one more thing this semester, and this is why: just by showing up, by checking in, by caring enough to do this freaking IMPOSSIBLE job – you’ve already taught them the only things I really want them to get out of school.
You’ve taught them that people are flexible – they adapt to new things. You’ve taught them that people will show up for them even when it’s hard. You’ve taught them that communities work together for the greater good. You’ve taught them the world is a good place. That even when circumstances are scary, people are good. You’ve loved them enough to be there – and that’s all any of us can dom is love each other through this.
Our kids will be ok. Take care of yourselves too.
We love you. You’ve got this – and if you don’t; I’m not telling.”
Some more tips
Here are a few general tips for making your “at-home” teaching unfold smoothly:
- create a workable schedule
- get dressed (especially if you will be on camera)
- have your morning coffee/ breakfast
- gather your supplies before you go on camera
- review the daily happenings first thing before logging in to the computer.
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These general tips are for all teachers, whether you are a parent of little ones, a parent of high schoolers, a single teacher, or a grandparent. Below I will provide specific tips for a few of these.
If you have your own young children at home
Now there is a whole other world of challenges if your own kids are at home too. If they are older than third grade, you can probably manage, but if you have primary age children or toddlers, it is a whole other challenge.
Hopefully, many of you have a spouse or older teen at home to help with the little ones, but if you don’t you will need to utilize some creative strategies to navigate your way through this covid-19 online instruction. If you have more than one child under four (with no one at home who can help you) I suggest that you speak with your principal about how to accommodate your schedule around your parenting needs.
If, however, your own children are first-fourth grade, you will also need to communicate with their teacher for an understanding of your work situation also. It’s highly likely that they already know you are a teacher and I’m sure they will be understanding of your circumstances, just as they are for other parents as well.
Communication with teachers is KEY!
For any of your own children under 15, look for some pre-set activities to keep them busy at certain times in order to free up your time for teaching. There are numerous online sites that make learning appear to be a game. And you can always have them play an actual game if it will give you some undivided time.
As mentioned earlier, you should seek assistance if at all possible. Perhaps you have a sister, cousin, or another adult relative who can (safely) come to your home to help OR take one or two of your children to their home for a few hours. If your spouse or partner is also working from home, find a schedule that alternates who has “work” time and who has “child supervision” time.
My last tip for parents of young children who are also teaching is to insist on some “alone time” once your partner or spouse is finished working. If you are a single parent-teacher, see if you can get help from another relative or friend. You need to establish a little “alone” time each day. If there is no one that you get to help, either wake up early before the children are awake or stay up after they go to bed to get your alone time.
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If living alone or with only adults during Covid-19 online instruction
But, your reality is much different if you live alone or with only adults. You may find that you need to find ways to make more connections with your friends, grade-level colleagues and family.
Your challenges most likely won’t be centered around time-related issues but about connections to other adult people (since I’m sure you are connecting with your students).
Have You considered getting a Pet?
Lately I have been seeing articles and pictures on social media of people who are fostering or adopting pets during this time. If you’ve been considering getting a pet, now would be a GREAT TIME since you are home to work on the training involved.
For cats you need to teach them to use the litter box and to not claw on your favorite sofa or chair. For dogs you need to train them to hold their pee and poop until you walk them outside. If you have a doggie door, you’ll need to teach them how to go in and out. And of course what furniture they are allowed to climb on (if any). And the good part is that YOU ARE HOME NOW TO DO THIS!
Another good idea to occupy your time if you live alone is to keep a journal. We are living in historic times right now with this world-wide pandemic. Human life throughout much of the globe has been drastically changed. Wouldn’t it be awesome to keep a record of what is going on with you and how all of this is affecting your life, and what you are thinking throughout all of these changes?
We may be back to our normal activities within the year (hopefully), but lots of things in our culture will be forever changed. You can add your insight into all of this by keeping a journal.
And the last tip for single teachers is to find an indoor hobby that interests you. People underestimate how enjoyable a hobby can be. I enjoy creating digital photo books of my family and some of my trips when we travel. I find a lot of enjoyment and stress-relief by working on them.
Here is a list of 101 teacher tips that you can download for FREE. Just complete this info and I will zip it right over to you.
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Some ideas to relax
Below I have listed just a few things that can help you relax. I’m sure there are a dozen or more other ones also.
- watch fun shows
- read a good book
- take a bubble bath
- cook a fancy dinner
- try baking – cookies, bread, cakes
- spruce up your yard (if you have one)
- study something you’ve always wanted to learn about
- plan a trip for when this ends (link to articles)
As I just said there are probably many more ideas. As a matter of fact, here is an article by another education blogger, “Upper Elementary Snapshots” with 50 ideas.
50 Self-Care Ideas for Stressed Out Teachers
I hope this article gave you some ideas to relieve your stress during this Covid-19 online instruction era. Let me know if you try one of these and have tips, or if you know of other ideas I can add as well.
Until Next Time,
