Tips For Staying Positive

The testing season has begun!  It is time for state testing, plus all of the sudden I have six special education evaluations to do, how did that happen!?  When things get tough it is so hard to focus on staying positive.

My evaluation information is due tomorrow, we’re getting close to the school play performance, and the kids are just not cooperating, and it’s the time of year that we’re all just completely overwhelmed.

But, I still love my job, I still enjoy what I do.  It’s easy this time of year to forget that.  Keep reading for some tips to help you stay positive during this difficult time of year.

Make a list of why you do this

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves why we do this.  You have that tough day where you feel like no learning was done and you suck at this!  But you don’t!  No matter what job you’re in, what you do, you’re going to have a bad day.

There are going to be days where you feel incompetent.

Make a list of all of the reasons you enjoy being a teacher.  Make a list of all of our successes.  Write down all the reasons you wanted to become a teacher in the first place.

Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves why we are here and why we choose to come to work every day.

Keep your weekends for you

If you can avoid it, don’t bring any work home on the weekends.  Weekends are your time to recharge your batteries, and constantly spending your weekends doing school work is going to make you feel like you didn’t have a break.

Don’t bring any grading or paperwork home with you.  Don’t spend time on Pinterest lesson planning, make your weekend about you!

There are going to be weeks that we can’t avoid this.  A big project or deadline.  Don’t be too hard on yourself when you break this rule.  But make an effort to follow it as much as possible!

Do something that you enjoy

Find time during the week to treat yourself to something that you enjoy.  As teachers, most of us are not rolling in the dough and can’t afford lavish spa treatments on the regular.  But, find something that isn’t going to break the bank and treat yourself.

Put aside some money to get a pedicure or manicure, go for a hike with your dog, check out that new restaurant with your hubby or bff that you’ve been eyeing.

Make sure that you are taking time to treat yourself once in a while.  You work hard, and you need time to relax if you want to get to the end of the year in one piece!

Take time to meet personal goals

We all set professional goals.  Make sure you are setting some personal goals.

Teachers tend to be givers, you spend your time helping others, and sometimes you forget that you are also important.

Set personal goals to better yourself and take the time to put in the effort to reach them.  Working towards these goals, and seeing results is going to give you a boost that you need.  Do you want to lose 10 lbs?  Learn to play the guitar? Or do you really want to read more?  Find the time to do it.

There are so many ways that we can take care of ourselves, leave a note in the comments if you have a different idea!

Also, Check Out:

Keep Yourself Motivated During Breaks

How I’m Building My Dream Life