It's easy to let stress take over and control our daily lives. A post by Laura Milligan titled 101 Ways to Cope with Teaching Stress caught my eye this morning, and I'm glad it did. Wow! There are so many great ideas and links for reducing stress on this post that I am bookmarking it so that I can go back and try something new each week.
The "101 ways" are separated into categories that include helpful organization tools, inspirational podcasts and sites, and getting the support you need. Of course, ways to stay healthy and happy are also on the list, along with goodies you will want to have in and on your desk.
It's easy to get caught up in stress, especially at the beginning of a school year. There is just so much to do. Taking care of yourself usually winds up at the bottom of the list. One thing that always works for me to reduce stress is to practice deep breathing (number 70 on the list). I don't mean the kind of breathing that makes people stop and stare wondering if they need to fly into action with a little CPR. I'm talking about just breathing deeply. It's amazing how well this works, especially when kids are misbehaving. I can usually stay calm and deal with problems quietly instead of getting angry.
If you have anything that works for you to reduce stress, let me know. I love trying new things.