Teacher Stress Tip Number 1 - Understanding Stress

Teaching can be one of the most stressful careers. Normally, the stress does not come from the students that you are teaching, but the before school and after school meetings and overwhelming paperwork. As teachers, we have so many responsibilities and so little time to accomplish them. When we can't complete our daily tasks and responsibilities, this can often translate into failure, stress and teacher burnout. Let's take a moment to understand stress that you as the teacher may be experiencing.

When you look at this picture above, do you instantly think, "That is horrible. Those kids should be sitting flat on their bottoms. That is so disrespectful."

PAUSE...Don't Get All Stressed Out!!!

Take what would normally be a stressful situation and turn it into something positive and fun! This does not mean, however, to be lazy and have no discipline. It's just an example.

Let's go over the feelings associated with stress, thoughts that go along with stress, and behaviors that you may be experiencing if you are stressed. Then we will discuss 10 ways to reduce teacher stress.


Feelings Associated with Stress:

• Anxious
• Scared
• Angry
• Frustrated
• Moody

Thoughts You May Have If You Are Stressed:

• Forgetfulness
• Fear of Failure
• Low Self-Esteem
• Worrying About the Future
• Can't Concentrate
• Complaining About Work

Behaviors You May Show If You Are Stressed: 

• Crying
• Grinding Your Teeth
• Increase of a Normal Habit or Addiction
• Losing Your Appetite or Overeating
• Increased Heart Rate, Breathing or Sweating
• Trouble Sleeping
• Headaches
• Neck and Lower Back Pain

Ways to Reduce Teacher Stress

1. Become Aware of How You React In Stressful Situations
2. Be Positive, Speak Positive, Think Positive
3. At the end of the school day, think about all the things you achieved and finished rather that what you didn't have time to get done.
4. Learn to say NO to certain requests and after school duties. You can't do EVERYTHING, and you shouldn't!
   
5. Understand and Accept that a teacher is not a SUPER HERO and we do have limits. (Well, except for that crazy teacher in Kindergarten who stays until like 6pm every night!)
6. Find a Hobby and Ways to Relax at Home.
7. Exercise Regularly.
8. When you talk about your problems or issues regarding school, students, staff and administrators, make sure you are not complaining, but rather trying to figure out a solution.
9. Use Your Time Wisely. Evaluate how you spend your day, then make a weekly schedule and try to STICK TO IT.
10. Set Priorities and Realistic Goals.

Here are some helpful teacher stress resources:

• Pure Moods CD - Seriously...remember those old pure moods commercials. This may help calm your nerves.
• Is There Life After Stress? - The short chapters focus on one problem or issue.