About a year
ago, I decided it was time to take care of myself and start working on my
bucket list. (Therefore, a very long break in blogging.) Little did I know at the time, I evolved into
a better person and educator.
After years
of spending excessive numbers of hours preparing lessons, grading papers,
taking classes, pursuing additional licenses, facilitating professional
development, the toll was visible through high levels of stress and excessive
weight gain. I was exhausted.
Reflecting
on the past year, several key changes/events made the greatest impact.
First, I began
working out and eating healthy. Trading excessive amounts of chocolate and wine
for fresh foods, lifting weights, and running provided me with new energy. An
energy which is visible in everything I do.
Second, I sought
out to conquer a fear which had held me back. I always dreamt of traveling the
world, but always hesitated. Traveling to Paris, Munich, and hiking in the Alps
of Austria and Italy, provided me the experience needed to overcome this fear.
I even developed a deeper appreciation for understanding culture. Taking an
impromptu train trip by myself to visit my son’s host family was the day I put
my fear to rest. Previously, I never would have done this. Now, I ensure a
better balance between the emotional health of my students and colleagues with
the academic learning. After this life changing experience, I am excited for
the next adventure.
Finally, I
looked carefully at the causes of my unhealthy stress. While I can’t eliminate
every element, I have been able to significantly reduce it. I feel better and have
a new balance in my life. In return, I have gained more time. A few changes I
made as an educator include:
- Quit grading everything – Now students check much of their work providing them instant feedback. (At Edcamp this weekend, another educator suggested grading essays for one or two rubric indicators instead of everything. I look forward to trying this tip.)
- Cooperative work groups – Letting students work with partners and small groups on the majority of assignments. They complete the last few questions independently which I use for assessing their conceptual understanding and growth.
- Using technology for assessment – This has simplified my grading and updating my grade book.
- Letting go – For things I have no control over or cannot impact, I refocus. My time and energy is spent supporting my colleagues which is much more fun.
I learned,
to feel better, I needed to make changes which would have a long-term impact. If
your stress levels are up or your motivation is dropping, what can you change
which possesses a long-term impact?
