LAST DAY OF TERM in NSW schools…. Most Teachers are literally holding on by a thread. The alarm goes off, is it Saturday yet???? Nope… just one more day! The inner voice starts commentating… “You can do it, you just have to get through until morning tea, you are having end of term celebrations and Mrs Daily is bringing in your favourite cheesecake… then you just have to get through till your release time, the kids have a music lesson so you can breatheee annnnd then it’ll be 3pm… Wine/beer o’clock!! End of term drinks”
The standard thought process of a teacher who is feeling completely drained on the last morning of term.
Teachers wake barely being able to get out of bed, eyes hanging out of their head, brain fog, and a list of the tasks on repeat in the mind that need to be completed before being able to finish for the day. Programs annotated and signed off, programs evaluated, rolls reconciled, classrooms cleaned and tidied, assessments marked, recorded and filed… the list goes on! And this is without throwing in teaching 30 emotional, tired kids all day in the mix.
A teacher will often get to the end of the school term feeling stressed, overwhelmed, burnt out, little energy left to even think whilst bordering sickness (the dreaded holiday flu) that strikes at the end of every school term during the holidays… why??? Because the adrenaline that has been keeping a teacher functioning and in their fight or flight response finally stops and the body can stop fighting the germs, bugs and sickness it has been around all term, it can rest! This usually means forced rest!
I understand this process far too well. I would often crawl into my Reiki Practitioner/Reflexologist’s treatment room every holidays and say ok let’s do this, help me restore… SO I can do it all again!
Hmmmm this wore thin and my body’s health was being jeopardised. It spoke to me (through pain, sickness, illness) and I finally was forced to listen….My relationships with self and others were at rock bottom and I was at complete breaking point…. I am sure if you are a teacher you know exactly what I am talking about…
WHY AM I SHARING ALL OF THIS????
Throughout the past 3.5 years of studying yoga, mindfulness, reiki – energy work, mindset, communication and NLP I have realised that life didn’t “have” to be this way!
I was the one CHOOSING this life and the only way it would CHANGE was for me to make different choices.
Now I hear what your saying… easier said than done, right?? Well I am going to paint a different picture.
To be the best version of yourself and enjoy life. To be truly happy and healthy. YOU need to put you first. YES you are more important than your students, their parents and your colleagues!
If you do not put yourself first then you are pretty much useless to others. Your mental, physical and emotional health suffers. The children are receiving the second hand version of you… One with less patience, tolerance and creativity because you a merely surviving…
I have worked with many teachers since stepping into the world of well-being, healing and coaching. The limiting beliefs and blocks that come up when we discuss this are huge… (you may or may not relate to these, but I can assure you, I have thought every single one of them at some point in my teaching career)
-I have to stay on top of things or I won’t keep my job next year
-The other teachers will think I am a “crap” teacher if my room doesn’t look good so I get in early and stay back late to make it sparkle and shine
-I don’t have ‘time’ to look after myself, I have too much to do
-I’ll make time for me when I have ticked everything off on my list (that doesn’t stop growing)
-I am too tired and can’t bothered to do anything after work
-I can’t have a sick day, people will think poorly of me and I won’t keep my job
-I finished my programming so to celebrate I’ll have take out… wine…. Chocolate….
-It’s more work for me to prepare the day when I am off work sick than if I just turn up
I could continue… but you get my drift!
These beliefs (and limits) stem from ONE CORE LIMITING BELIEF “I AM NOT ENOUGH”
I am not a good enough teacher… Or I won’t be a good enough teacher if I….
GUESS WHAT???
I’M HERE TO SHAKE THAT BELIEF AND RE-WRITE IT WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ENOUGH!
YOU ARE ENOUGH AND YOU DESERVE TO BE LOVED AND CARED FOR… YOUR JOB IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT JOBS IN OUR WORLD.
YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL FOR EVERY CHILD YOU TEACH.
AS YOU ALREADY KNOW... CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH MODELLING.
SO, YES THAT MEANS THEY SEE AND HEAR EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE, DECISION YOU MAKE AND THE WORDS YOU SPEAK…..
IT’S TIME TO LEARN AND MODEL BEHAVIOURS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE….
ONES THAT LEAD US DOWN THE PATH OF HAPPINESS RATHER THAN BEING A SLAVE TO A JOB.
LETS SHOW CHILDREN….
-That we must put ourselves first or we are no use to anyone
-To set boundaries and say “NO”
-To love and nurture themselves and their bodies
-To be vulnerable and express themselves without wearing a mask
-That it is ok to stop, to breathe and to be still
-To play, to laugh and to connect
-That our health is our wealth
-How to communicate their needs
-To manage their energy and emotions better
-To have balance in their life
-To value themselves and their unique gifts
-To manage their time and prioritise
-To collaborate and be more efficient
-To be problem solvers
-To believe that they are always enough
IT’S TIME FOR TEACHERS TO BE RECOGNISED FOR WHO THEY ARE AND THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO… DON’T YOU THINK???
THIS MEANS LOVING AND APPRECIATING YOURSELF FIRST.
BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO HAVE REFLECTED BACK TO YOU……
I support teachers to go from surviving to thriving in my 6 week online program.
To find out more click through to my website: www.theheartofliving.com.au/online-teacher-program
Term 2 online program commences: Tuesday 7th May 7:30-9:30pm
Any questions??? I would love to hear from you.
REST UP, ENJOY THE WELL DESERVED BREAK AND SPEND TIME LOVING YOU xx
