Author Vicki Davis surrounds herself with sayings and thoughts to help her stay positive. Photo credit: Vicki Davis
“Our very lives are fashioned by choice. First we make choices. Then our choices make us.” – Anne Frank
A tired teacher is a powder keg waiting for a match. In my bouts with burnout, I’ve learned that stepping back from the brink is about choice. These 12 choices have helped me recover and be a better teacher for my students.
Choice #1: Choose to Be Happy
First, happiness is a choice. Choose to be the first one to smile at everybody you meet. Choose to greet your students by name.
Use happy triggers to boost your mood when you get upset. I have a Pinterest Board called Happy Thoughts and another called Things That Make Me Laugh. The “Atta Girl” folder in my desk holds nice notes.
Choice #2: Choose to Disconnect
We are making a dumb use of our smartphones. Instead of freeing us up to go anywhere anytime, they’ve tethered us to a hamster wheel. Usually, I check email twice a day. I deleted my school email off my smartphone after several evenings because of an angry email. (We all get them.) Unplug once a week. Be a human being, not a human doing.
Stephanie L. Gross, MSLIS 