When you’re feeling tired, rundown, or just plain feed up, do you find yourself heading for the teachers lounge? The lounge is known as a space for teachers to vent their frustrations, but it’s also a place to get a quick sugar rush when you’re feeling low. As much as we all love the birthday cake, cup cakes and muffins, they are not doing us justice. Once we grab those donuts, danishes or mini chocolate bars, we feel so much better, right? At least for the moment, but it’s only a temporary fix. Although administrators often ply us with food when morale is low, we can’t find all of our stress relief and happiness in food. Do you find that food is becoming your main source of happiness? How’s it working out for you? Chances are, not very good.
We want to be happy and healthy teachers, so it’s critically important that we move away from using food to increase our happiness or numb our emotions. There are much better ways to find happiness. Start implementing the tips below to find happiness in the real things in life, and not be held hostage by food any longer!
Re-acquaint Yourself With Nature
When is the last time you spent real time in nature? Living in a concrete jungle, we spend less and less time camping, hiking or just going for walks in the beautiful forests. Mind you, we’re not advocating you go get lost in unfamiliar territory, but a light walk in nature is sure to give you a deeper appreciation of the beauty in the world.
Better yet, how about picking up gardening? Knowing that you nurtured something from a seedling and watched it grow everyday can give you joy like raising a child. We can’t always see the growth of the seeds we plant in our students in the classroom, but we can almost instantly see the fruits of our labor in a garden.
Go Out With Friends
We know, sometimes you believe that as a teacher you don’t have time to socialize, but there is always time. Reconnect with friends you haven’t spoken to in week, months or even years.
You will be amazed how time flies when you’re out with your friends, and how sharing laughter with those you love exponentially increases your level of happiness.
Practice Meditation
Meditation is no longer some obscure practice followed by just a few, but has spread to the mainstream population thanks to its proven benefits on health. Meditation can help you break unhealthy food habits by increasing your appreciation for other things in life, and bringing profound happiness. Mindfulness increases present moment awareness, and you become truly happy and thankful for everything in your life.
Get In Your Workouts
Exercise is so much more important than making you look good. In fact, the health benefits are far superior, with looking good coming as a pleasant bonus. Exercise promotes the production of feel good brain chemicals, known as endorphins, which boost mood, productivity, and sense of wellbeing. In fact, exercise is a very important therapy in treating depressive illness, and may in some cases be the primary management technique.
For best results, get in your exercise sessions at least three times per week, up to a maximum of 5 times weekly. You will be surprised how good you feel after 6 short weeks of starting a new plan.
Get A Pet
A pet can deliver tons of happiness in your life, motivating you to break free from using food as your motivation. Having someone (yes, your pet) that loves you infinitely is a powerful motivator of happiness, and works in most cases. Adopt a puppy or kitten, and you will have tons of fun and happiness for years to come.
Food needs to resume its true function- being used for fuel and subtle pleasure. It was not meant to become a source of happiness or stress relief. Get out there and find your true happiness.
Here’s to being a happy, healthy teacher! Join the Teacher Wellness Movement at http://www.myteacherwellness.com