work/life balance
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Leaning into what brings me joy
I got a little vulnerable with you on Monday – this time of year is tough. The pressure to jump back into a routine after the holidays, when I’m not really ready for that, causes some friction. Add the dreary weather and joy can be a little hard for me to come by. I’m working through it by leaning into the things that I know bring me joy – a “Joy List” if you will! Whenever I’m feeling a little down – whether it’s because I’m burnt out at work, clouds and cold are impacting my mood, or I’m just in need of a pick me up – I like…
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Finding the Joy
This is the time of the year that’s the most difficult for me – the happiness of the holiday season is over and I feel like I’ve been thrown back into work without actually getting the rest and relaxation that I’d been so looking forward to. It’s burnout at it’s finest. Plus the weather is gray and dreary, which never helps. This is the month when I have to be truly intentional about finding my purpose in the work that I do so that I can enjoy it. The real question is, how do I do that??? There’s not an exact science to it – I’ve tried a variety of…
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What I’m Working On
I thought I’d pop in and share what I’ve been up to lately, these more personal posts are some of my favorites! Here’s what has been keeping me busy: Making felt food for my little one – so far I’ve finished 4 donuts Editing and formatting a leadership training for work Searching for cute and easy 4th of July play activities – last night I dyed pasta red, white and blue Preparing for a HOT weekend, it’s supposed to be 110 degrees here on Saturday, so I’ve stocked up on popsicles and water toys Designing a massive bulletin board Catching up on Southern Charm whenever possible Trying to stay off…
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Teacher humor
It’s a yucky rainy day where I am, so I thought I would brighten it by sharing some of my favorite funny teacher quotes. Enjoy! Source Source Source Source
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My Current Obsessions
At the end of the year I love to share my favorite things from the previous year as ideas for potential teacher gifts, the only problem with that is that a year is a long time and I have a hard time remembering all of the things that I love. I thought I’d share just a few of the things that I am currently obsessed with so that you could get hooked too! (All links are affiliates) It’s common knowledge that I have an deep love for Papermate Flair pens, but now I’m adding these Papermate InkJoy pens to my collection. Someone left one in my training last week and…
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Under the weather
I’m pretty sure that it is the weather this week, but I have been in a nasty funk. This never-ending migraine and consuming desire to crawl back in bed have really put a damper on my holiday-loving attitude. When I’m not feeling well (but not quite sick enough to stay home), I’ve found that it generally best to let my students in on the fact that I’m a little under the weather. Preschoolers are just beginning to understand empathy – there are plenty of adult issues that they just can’t comprehend, but they know how awful if is to feel sick. When my students know that I’m a little under…
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Strategies for getting excited about work again
I love my job. I tell people this all the time because it really is the truth – but that doesn’t mean that I always want to be at work. There are definitely days when I’m irritated, days when I would love to stay in bed and hibernate, and days when I feel completely unproductive. This is normal, we all feel this way occasionally, but if you’re like me you can’t always take a vacation just because you want one. When I’m feeling like I need some new energy, when I really need to re-focus and find that excitement again, there are a couple of strategies that always work for…
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Friday Freebie – Inspirational Ideas
Happy Friday! These first few weeks of the year often seem the longest, I’m hoping this week’s posts will life your spirits and inspire a little positivity! Today’s freebie is an Encouragemnt List that includes wonderful ideas for self-care and embracing joy. Download your copy from Add On To Learning and go plan the activities that you’d like to accomplish!
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Take care of yourself!
If I learned only one thing in 2017, it was the importance of taking care of yourself. In this field, so much of our time and attention are demanded. We must be present at all times and consistently observing and recording, all while preparing for what will come next. We have to do this with a smile on our face, while dealing with difficult behaviors and unrealistic expectations. It’s exhausting and it can really take a toll on you. I firmly believe that you can’t care for anyone else until you have cared for yourself. Unfortunately, it can feel selfish to tell others no in order to do something nice…
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Strategies for balancing work and personal life
I just typed that title and started laughing – who am I to write about balancing my work and personal life?! I definitely don’t have it all figured out. I spend more nights typing this little blog than I care to admit – and that’s on top of working a full time job, so I feel you! Honestly, I think we’re all just doing the best that we can. I know that might not sound helpful if you’re really looking for some strategies, but my mantra over the last six months has been “Give yourself some credit.” Seriously, I bet there are a ton of things that you’re doing really…
