Feeling #teachertired? Of course you are! We all know that teaching is a tiring job. Between the kids, the parents and the other adults in the building, there is ALWAYS something that needs to be done. On top of that, this is the time of year where teachers start to feel exceptionally tired. It’s that weird stretch between Christmas break and spring break. There’s very little daylight hours and, boy, is it cold. I know that this is a hard time for me, and I bet it’s true for you too.
There’s a few things that I’ve learned along the way to help me to stay energized. Even when I wake up in the pitch black, and have to go out in the freezing cold, work all day long, inhale a bag of chips for lunch, just to work all night, and do it all again the next day. I’m here to help you put a stop to the madness and get ahead so you aren’t falling asleep at your desk.
Caffeine
Caffeine: This one is a double edged sword. The timing of this in your day, as well as the amount can make or break you. I usually start my morning with coffee and have a tea in the afternoon for a small boost. My favorite tea is Buddha’s Blend from David’s Teas. If you need a good coffee machine, I like this Keurig Mini I keep at home, and this electric tea kettle I keep in my classroom.
Sleep
Get the right amount of sleep for your body. Not everybody’s number of hours is the same. You’ll have to treat yourself like a science experiment for a while to figure this one out. My husband really likes these sleep headphones to help with his insomnia. (Plus I don’t have to hear the white noise.)
Teacher Fuel
Watch your diet & hydration. When you put the right fuel in your body, your body will perform better. According to a book I read and recommend, The One Thing, you only have so much decision making power in a day. So as much as it pains me to say this, skip Taco Bell and go to the grocery store and grab that salad bag when you’re feeling frustrated about dinner.
You Gotta Move
Exercise or move your body. Whether it is walking the school track in your glitter sneakers, watching Netflix on an exercise bike or doing some actual exercise, you need to do something to move your body.
Self Care for Teacher Tired Teachers
Self care comes in a lot of different forms. For me, it’s never been bubble baths and face masks, or bubbling face masks. I even resisted the thought of self care because of the reputation it’s gotten from instagram. For me, it’s usually alone time. This shiatsu back massager helps a lot. I have a blog post on things that help to keep me sane during distance learning. But, I know they can any tired teacher.
Planning Your Lessons
Have a Plan. Having your curriculum outlined and having an idea of what you’re teaching each day, means that when it comes time to write your plans, you can simply sit and write them. All of the thinking is already done. So you, tired teacher, can get your plans done quickly. If you need help getting your curriculum plans done, sign up for my All Star Planning Masterclass. My method can get you moving and get the plans down on paper. This way you can get back to sleeping, exercising and getting all of the above done.
