Working with children all day every day is very challenging. And many of us go home from work to our own kids, who also have needs and want our attention! For these reasons, we need to learn to manage stress as a teacher.

Not only are you dealing with small people every day, but you also want them to learn, and you have to do it all with smaller and smaller budgets each year.

Fortunately, there are ways to manage stress as a teacher without quitting your job or losing your mind. From education technology to where to find advice, here are some tips!

Take Steps to Stay Healthy

Kids get sick a lot, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Yes, diet and exercise is important, and so is drinking a lot of water.

But you can take one simple step that makes a huge difference – have a lid on any drinks you keep for yourself in the classroom!

Germs have a tendency to float around, so protect your food and drink as much as possible. You’ll be amazed at how less often you’ll be sick.

And if you do start feeling a little bit under the weather, take some vitamin C. It does wonders! If you don’t have a vitamin C you love, here is the vitamin C my whole family swears by!

Stress takes form in many ways and sickness is sometimes the first sign that something is going on in your body.

Set Balanced Goals In and Out of the Classroom

Perfectionism is a huge cause of managing stress as a teacher, both at work and at home. So give yourself a break and set balanced goals.

The best advice I’ve received, that has served me well, is to remember that “My work will still be there tomorrow.”

Before I go to bed at night I create a list of the three most important things I need to do for work the next day. If I don’t get those three things done, I just add them to the next day.

Maybe you want to stretch yourself and set additional goals – I would advise against it unless you are setting goals to spend time with family, start a new healthy lifestyle, or plan that new business you’ve been dreaming about for years.

Implement Education Technology Solutions

There are so many things you can do with Chromebooks, interactive notebooks, and other education technology. Don’t be shy about using those resources to save you time and stress when creating lesson plans!

You can get ready-to-go lesson units or learn how to create your own using technology. If you enjoy designing things, you may find it therapeutic to create something on the computer.

However you decide to create your lesson plans, always remember, we are far from the days where you, the teacher, has to create everything from scratch. There’s so much help out there. Take advantage of it!

Take Time For Yourself

This may seem like the most impossible task of all, but the truth is you need it.

Yes, you have a lot of responsibilities at home and at school. You probably work long hours. But no one can pour from an empty cup, and if you don’t take care of yourself you won’t have anything to give to others.

Sometimes these little moments can be simple – a cup of hot coffee or tea in your car before you get into school. A few minutes with a favorite novel before bed. A warm bath during cold nights.

Or, you can plan bigger things. Get a massage, or take a weekend trip. Whatever you do, make it meaningful to you. You’ll be amazed at how renewed you feel!

You CAN Manage Stress!

No teacher is an island, and you’re not alone in this work that you are doing. Stay healthy, get advice, use education technology, take advantage of resources, and be gentle with yourself.