Alpha Delta Kappa
Collegiate Clubs Network
AlphaDeltaKappa CollegiateClubs&Alumni
Welcometoourmonthly newsletter!Wearehereto provideyouwithsome helpfultips,connections, andnetworking opportunities.
Thecalendarsaysabigbreakiscoming!Toomuchtodotoreallythinkaboutor enjoyit?Assessments…statetesting…behavior…jugglingwaytoomuchwiththe pressurethatgoesintobeingaTEACHER!(Butyouhavesummersoff…yeah… right.)Yourmental,physical,andpsychologicalhealthistooimportanttoNOT thinkaboutthebreak.Inlookingatinformationyoucanfindontheinternet, alongwithpersonalexperiencesof40springbreaks(allinthemiddleofband UILconcertcontestseason,bigspringmusicals,andeverythingthatgoeswith ourcareersasteachers,thisiswherethefoundationofyourthoughtsis:AmI workingajoborbuildingacareer?Careersmustbesustainable.Careersmust besafeguardedbytheeducatorforthelong-termimpacton hundreds/thousandsofstudents.
Thisisthetimetorecharge.Thisistimetofocusonyou!Thisrequiresplanningso thatyoucanINTENTIONALLYDETACHtoavoidburnout,stress-relatedissues,and youasapersonnotmovingtothefrontandcenter.Icompiledashortlistofitems before,during,andafterthebreakforyourthoughtsastowhatfitsintoyour personalandschoollife.
Planyourenergy!“Donotcommittonew,intense,or long-termprojects”.Sometimesthiscannotbe avoided,butforalong-lastingcareer,trytobalance yourtimewhereyoucanfocustotallyonyou,family, friends,hobbies,andwhatfulfillsyouasaPERSON, nottheTEACHER.
Planwhatiscalledasoftlanding.“Planalow-stakeslessonforthefirstdayback toeaseintotransitionratherthanjumpingimmediatelyintohigh-pressure content”.Ofcourse,thishastoworkwithinyourschool/statetesting, assessment,andothercriticalbenchmarksthatarebeyondyourcontrol.But intentionalplanningduringJanuaryandFebruary,aswellasthereturnfromthe break,canmakethisasdistressfulandenjoyableasyoumakeit!
Makeaharddisconnect.Setyourboundaries relatingtoschoolemail,lessonplans,andthelike. Makeyourphysicalhealthacentertargetinaway thatcannotbedoneduringtheschoolweek.Get outside,walk,exercise,sleep…rechargeandreset yourself.SocialReconnectionmeansspendingtime withfamily,friends,andmeetingupwithfriends
HaveItYourWay… BurgerKingStyleBreak outsidethefieldofeducationtoswitchyourfocusandperspective! Giveyourselfachangeofscenery.Planastaycationexploringyoureveryday world.Youmightbesurprisedatwhatisrightunderyournose!Planatrip whetheritisadaytriporafewdayswithmoretravel.
Anddon’tforgetnothingrechargesyourbatteryaswellas“Me-Time!”Taketime forhobbiesyoudon’thavetimefor,drinkyourcoffeeuninterruptedonthepatio, haveaspaday,orjustdonothing!
Thisseemseasyandsomewhattrite,butitis importantforafullcareerasaneducator.You poursomuchintoyourstudents,your colleagues,andyourschool…noonewilltake careofyou!Andnoonewilltakecareofyouas wellasyouwill!!Stop,disconnect,breathe, move,andenjoythemoments!Welcome, SpringBreak!
