Managing Stress as a Teacher

Teachers face all kinds of stress.

•  Stress about curriculum (hello? new common core!)
• stress about getting it all done
• stress about performance (Danielson evaluations)
• Stress about student performance
• Physical stress from being on your feet all day
• Stress of dealing with difficult students
• Stress of dealing with difficult parents
• Stress about meeting each child's individual needs
• Stress about your students' well-being (home problems)
• Stress about wearing multiple hats (teacher, nurse, social worker, parent, spouse, etc)

Let's face it.  Stress isn't going away from a teacher's job.  So how can you manage it to perform at your maximum potential?

Here are a few ideas to get you started.  Please add your own de-stressifyers in the comments!

• relax at some point during the day
• enjoy a lunch or coffee with a friend (no work allowed!)
• call a friend for a good talk
• take a yoga class to calm your mind
• meditate or engage in prayer
• read a good book
• turn off all electronics
• take a bubble bath
• take a walk

• reward yourself for a job well-done-go shopping or get a pedicure
• schedule your workload in a doable way
• build a support system of colleagues, friends and family 
• surround yourself with positive people
• leave work at work; try not to bring your worries home
• be compassionate with your students
• Center yourself before entering the class
• laugh with your students!
• remain positive about your job and make teaching fun!

Here are a few other articles on the topic of managing teacher stress:
http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2012/mar/12/managing-teacher-stress

http://www.stress-relief-choices.com/stress-management-for-teachers.html

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin413.shtml

Above all, remember that we chose this profession for a reason.  Take time to reflect on that and know that you can't get it all done and it's OK!