Teacher Stress? 7 Tips for Relief

Experiencing teacher stress?  You are not alone.  Just about every teacher I know is experiencing a high level of stress this year. As a former virtual teacher AND as a breast cancer survivor, I understand feeling stressed to the max.

But how can you overcome stress and keep living your best life?

Read on to snag my best tips.

Let that teacher stress out

When I am stressed the worst thing someone can do is to say, “Stay positive!”  I am all for positivity.  I am a very optimistic person especially when it comes to my job.  

But sometimes you just have to embrace your feelings.  Let it all out.  Cry. Scream.  Complain to your spouse or best friend.  Vent in your journal.  Teacher stress during a pandemic is unlike any other. Make sure you don’t keep your feelings bottled up.

Get enough rest

Obviously, you can’t crawl in bed for a month.  

But you can for an hour or an afternoon or even for a whole day!

Some of you are probably thinking, “I am a mom!  I don’t have that luxury!”  I totally get it.  But have you heard this saying?

“If you don’t take time for wellness, you will have to take time for your illness.”

Chronic stress can make you physically ill.  When I found out I had cancer the doctor told me that there is often a stressful event that precipitates diagnosis.  Yep.  Virtual teaching and a global pandemic were major stressors for me, and I was not getting enough rest.

Ask for help from a partner, friend, or family member, so you can get some sleep.  Your health is worth it.

Spend time in nature

Have you heard of forest bathing?  I have read several articles about this recently. It involves relaxing in the forest for at least two hours.  The health benefits are amazing!

 According to Greater Good Magazine,  “After years of careful study, (Dr. Qing) Li has found that spending time in a forest can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and anger; strengthen the immune system; improve cardiovascular and metabolic health, and boost overall well-being.”

You can click here to read more about this fascinating research.

I am definitely trying this in the spring.  Send me an email if you plan on trying it too!

Get organized

One thing that always sets me back on track is getting organized.  If life is feeling too overwhelming, I usually take a time-out to organize myself. 

I start with a brain dump. I take a blank piece of paper and write down absolutely everything that I need to get done. Then I grab one of my to-do lists and map it all out. This always helps me feel more in control.

If you need help with this, I have some products that you might want to check out here and here.

Set limits

For years, I wanted to be Wonder Woman.  I wanted to be the best teacher, most amazing mother, and an incredible wife.  IT. WAS. EXHAUSTING.

I never made time for myself, and then I couldn’t show up as my best self for anyone else.

It was hard, but I eventually learned to limit how many things I could take on at one time without burning out. 

Part of setting limits was not giving every bit of my time to others.  Taking time for self-care is critical.  You can read more about self-care in my post, “How to Start a Teacher Self-Care Routine.”

Belly laugh

You might not feel like laughing. But did you know that laughter causes physical changes in your body? According to the Mayo Clinic staff, laughing can stimulate organs, relieve your stress response, and soothe tension. Isn’t that amazing? So call up your bestie or take some time to watch your favorite rom-com because you will be reaping some major health benefits! Click here if you want to read more.

Practice gratitude

This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to let go of stress.  Start keeping a small notebook near your bed and first thing each morning or right before bed each night, write down at least three things that you are grateful for.

It is really that simple.  No matter how stressful life gets, there is always a reason for gratitude. 

When I was going through chemo, I felt awful.  I had almost every single symptom in the binder provided by my doctor.  There were days that silent tears would flow down my face, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.

BUT, I was grateful that my husband cooked anything that my chemo-altered tastebuds required.  I was so happy that my kids came and checked on me whenever they had a break from school.  I enjoyed watching giant snowflakes fall outside my window.

That isn’t to say that I didn’t have those stressed out or even angry moments.

 However, when you divert your energy to gratitude, it helps to put life in perspective.

If you need to vent, drop me an email or send me a DM on Instagram. I am happy to listen.