Let’s face it – teaching is hard work! From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed, you have thoughts of your next lesson plan, your struggling student, and the way you want to decorate your next bulletin board dancing through your head. As any teacher knows, it can be challenging to shut off the worries and just have fun. If you are worried about burning out by mid-September (and who isn’t?!), take a look at the five tips below to help keep you sane and happy throughout the school year.
How to Have More Fun This School Year
1. Plan, Plan, Plan
This may seem counter-intuitive – after all, planning is not all that much fun. However, when you make a plan, you take away the worry of what you need to get done. Whether it is creating a substitute teacher packet or preparing for Back-to-School Night, you know exactly what you need to do and when you need to do it. Which leads us to number two.
2. Execute Your Plan
Now that you have a plan, work it. If you need to give yourself a mental wake-up to get yourself in gear, do it! Set your timer, work your plan, and you will be amazed how much time you actually have left in the day to do the things you want to do.
3. Get a Wonder Twin
Remember that old cartoon with the Wonder Twins? They’d put their fists together and say, “Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!” Together they could battle any evil force, because they were a team. Get yourself a Wonder Twin this year! Find another teacher in your building, in your district, in your state, or online and get excited about beating the Evil Mr. Lack O’Motivation together. Remember, it’s more fun with a friend!
4. Exercise
I know, I know. Exercise ranks right up there with “Execute Your Plan”, but you will feel so much better. Not only will your body be healthier, but so too will your attitude. If you don’t have time to run a marathon before or after school each day, try some some simple exercises that you can do during the school day like calf raises. There’s nothing more fun than multi-tasking! (Okay, maybe there is, but for this post there is not.)
5. Laugh. And then laugh some more!
Laughter heals the soul and can instantly turn the day around. When you’re having one of those days in the classroom, stop, take a deep breath, and tell a kid-friendly joke, sing a silly song, or take a two minute dance break. Not only will it make your day go better, but it will change your students’ day too.
How do you plan to have more fun this school year? Share with us!