During the global pandemic, we have all been affected by COVID-19. Many teachers changed their teaching styles overnight to continue to meet the educational needs of their students. While teachers rose to the occasion and finished out the 2019-2020 school year strong, it has also created a great deal of stress for those same teachers getting ready for the upcoming school year.

Here are 3 things you can do when you are feeling stressed about starting the new school year.

Break…….Breathe…..Begin Again

Take a Break

There is a misconception that all teachers enjoy the summer months without doing work for their classroom and school. Many teachers use their summers to get caught up with or create new lesson plans, revamping curriculum, providing tutoring sessions, take professional development classes and the list could go on and on. All of those tasks are important, but at some point, you must take a break from it all. Research shows that an overworked employee can lead to burnout. It is important to take a break from the never-ending list of to do’s. Go for a walk around the neighborhood or enjoy a nice picnic in the park. Getting a nice change of scenery can not only improve your mental well-being but it can also boost your productivity when you are ready to work again.

Breathe

Many health professionals agree that breathing exercises help reduce:

• anxiety
• fatigue
• hypertension or high blood pressure
• migraines
• stress

Deep breathing helps to regulate the body’s fight-or-flight response. Taking deep breaths also increases the amount of oxygen in the

bloodstream. As a result, the brain receives a signal to relax. After you begin a breathing practice routine, you will also begin to notice your stamina increasing while your blood pressure levels decrease. Practicing breathing exercises increases endorphins. This hormone, along with others, triggers a positive feeling in your body thus, reducing stress levels.

Begin Again

After you take a break and do a few rounds of breathing exercises, it’s time to begin again. One of the first steps you should take is to create a plan. You must have a clear goal of what it is you must accomplish. If you have a list of several things to do, be sure to prioritize them in a manner that is efficient and aligns with accomplishing your other goals. Once you are in work mode, be sure to minimize distractions. Turn off the notifications. It is easy to be distracted by the sound of a text message or the notification of a new post on a topic you are following in social media. Limiting your screen time will increase the time you get to spend on accomplishing the task at hand.

It is easy to feel stressed about the new school year. You must rest in knowing that while you may not be able to control the situation itself, you can control how you react to it. There are no on-and-off switches for the many different circumstances that will affect the 2020-2021 school year. Rest in knowing that you will be as prepared as we can, given the situations. Focus on the things that you can control. Rest in knowing that your students understand that you may not have all the answers and you may not be able to fix the problem but they will know that you are there and ready to help them conquer the 2020-2021 school year.

Disclaimer:

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.