Six Habits of all Happy Teachers

How is that some teachers seem so happy and fulfilled with teaching and others struggle just to make it through each week?

Written by: Dr. Reneé Albert

Have you ever noticed how some teachers are able to handle whatever comes their way and others seem to be hanging on by a thread? In my 21 years of education, I have observed many teachers and there is a common theme I notice with educators. The ones who love their job and thrive at it and the ones who seem miserable and are just surviving.

So, what is it that keeps the teachers going each and every day who seem to thrive with their job no matter what stress comes at them...especially during a pandemic?

Six Habits of All Happy teachers

• 1. They practice self-care –

~This can involve anything that you would think of a treat for yourself….something that brings you joy.

Some examples of self-care are read a book outside when it’s not raining, get dressed up and take yourself out on a date by yourself or with others (socially distanced, of course), go listen to live music one night, go on a hike…anything you can think of that you would enjoy doing if you were told to go have fun. This can be with family, friends, or just spending a couple of hours by yourself.

I grew up an only child and while I love being around people and hanging with friends, there are also days, I simply need some time alone. Fortunately, my husband gets this about me and every once in awhile, when our schedule allows it, he will take our daughter to do something fun with her and give me some down time. I realize this is not as easy for some people who have multiple children or limited resources for babysitters, but try to work it out in your schedule to at least take a break for yourself once a week or every other week. This makes a big difference in your mental state. If you type "self-care" in Pinterest, they have tons of ideas to help you get started.

2. They have a routine

~Finding a routine each night to help you get ready for the next day is key!

I cannot tell you how many times I have not been able to do any meal prep or plan for the next day due to unforeseen circumstances and the whole day feels rushed and off-balance. Here are some of my suggestions: First, try to plan out meals for the entire week on the weekends including purchasing all your groceries. I have found, for our family, the lucky number to be three meals a week to actually prepare. I find recipes in cookbooks, on Pinterest and just the Internet in general. I choose three meals, figure out what groceries I will need and then build my grocery list around that . This makes the nights seamless as I already know what I am cooking and have all the ingredients in my house.

Second, clean the kitchen sink. I know this one sounds crazy, but it is amazing what it does for mental health. Years ago, I read a blog by flylady.net and she said that every night before you go to bed, you need to clean the kitchen sink. At first, I remember thinking, "How in the world is this going to make any difference?" But, you know what? I cannot tell you how nice it is to wake up the next morning and walk into my kitchen and see the sink and counter beside it clear of dirty dishes! It's amazing what that simple task does to help you not feel overwhelmed in your own house.

Third, each night before bed, go through the house with a laundry basket and pick up anything that doesn't belong in that room and transfer it back to it's place. If you do this regularly, it shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes. It keeps your house clear of clutter and helps your mind to be cleared of clutter as well.

Fourth, pick out your (and your child's) clothes for the next day. Each night before I go to sleep, I make sure that I have my (and my daughter's) outfit ready to go....meaning it's laid out ironed and all my jewelry, purse, and accessories are also pulled out and ready to go. This makes my mornings so much easier to get up and just put everything on.

3. They get adequate sleep.

~Did you know that we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping?

There are so many benefits to getting adequate sleep each night, yet as educators, many of us struggle with this on a weekly basis. According to scientific research, the same hormone that releases in your body when it is deprived of sleep is the same hormone that is released when it is hungry. So, you actually end up eating way more when you are tired than you normally would. Other issues with lack of sleep are:

~ Makes it easier to get sick

~ Makes dealing with depression and anxiety more difficult

~ Reduces your brain power

~Disrupts your internal clock so your brain is confused on when you need energy, when

it needs to heal and when to feel tired

The bottom line is that we need to make sure that we are going to bed at a decent time (before 11) and doing whatever it takes to get 6-8 hours a night.

4. They find a hobby or something they enjoy outside of work.

~This might coincide with self-care, but this is actually a separate idea.

This idea involves finding something that peaks your interest and doing it on a regular basis. Some suggestions would be gardening, exercising, reading, shopping, paint by number (they have these on Amazon and they are awesome!), baking, sports (like tennis or golf), or community service. Community service or "the act of helping others actually activates the part of your brain that makes you feel pleasure. It also releases a hormone called oxytocin that helps modulate social interactions and emotion — the higher your oxytocin levels, the more generous you may be" (2018, Mayo Clinic, How sharing kindness can make you healthier & happier - Mayo Clinic). Pinterest has hundreds of ideas to do this and if you are able, involve your family in this and do it together. You will be amazed at how much joy you will feel.

Finding a hobby allows you to get your mind off teaching for a little while and truly enjoy life. I realize this is not possible to do every week for some people due to hectic schedules and extracurricular activities, however, if you are able to schedule this at least twice a month, you will feel more fulfilled through it all.

5. They stay positive, smile and are kind to others.

"Research has shown us that our thoughts — positive and negative — don't just have psychological effects, they also have physical effects on our body. Advantages of positive thinking include less stress, better overall physical and emotional health, longer life span, and better coping skills" (2017, U.S. Preventative Medicine, Positive Psychology | The Power of Positive Thinking | U.S. Preventive Medicine, Inc. (USPM)).

Teachers who are able to stay positive in their thinking (despite all the negativity surrounding education and schools these days) will find themselves feeling better physically and emotionally. This, in my opinion, is one of the most challenging things teachers will face considering that they don't always have a control over the team they teach with or the climate of the school. However, I believe that if teachers can push back the negative thoughts and not allow themselves to get E.D.D. (Education Distraction Disorder), then they can stay positive despite the daily obstacles. By not losing sight of why you began to teach in the first place, you can ensure that you won't lose sight of the ultimate goal...the students! If you find yourself getting cynical, sarcastic and having an overall negative attitude, then it is probably time to step back and nourish your body and your mind.

6. They learn to say, "No."

~Know your limits and what you can handle.

Because teachers are in a profession that is constantly helping others, they have a difficult time saying, "No" when their plates are getting full. Having a servant's heart is noble, but when it comes at the expense of your health (mentally, emotionally and physically) then its not worth it! Just being honest and telling others, "I'm sorry, I have too much on my plate right now," is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of you knowing your body and making sure you are taking care of it. If you don't take care of yourself, then you won't be able to do what you were called to do.

I'm sure at this point, you are asking yourself why none of these points have to do with the classroom. The truth is, forming habits so that you can truly be happy in education starts with you. If you are ready mentally, physically and emotionally, then you can be the teacher you need to be for your students. I've always said that students only remember two kinds of teachers: the really good ones and the really bad ones. Sometimes, it only takes a single teacher to turn a child’s life around. Some children will come to school today because of that teacher. Be that teacher, every day.