Ease Back In
Ease Back In
I’m conflicted–I often am this time of year. I’m one of the folks who lives for Friday. I mean, I often make plans for the weekend on Monday afternoon. I love my free time. I love feeling the cushion of time when there is no agenda. Here’s what I’ve come to realize about myself though: I thrive on routine. I’m a creature of habit. I’m my best when there is structure. And, here is what I’ve always known about myself. I love the work I do. I’m one of those people for whom work is more of a vocation than a job. And, yes, all of these things can be true. And because they are true, I feel conflicted this time of year.
The work cadence of an educator is like no other. Summer months stand in stark contrast to our school-year routine. Summertime is less constrained. Relationships with family and friends can be more present. Sometimes it feels like chaos when the rigid schedule of the school year falls away. And now we are on the threshold of it all coming back together. It can feel like everything all at once.
Whether you crave it and look forward to this return to routine, or dread it and feel like you are clinging to your alarm-free mornings, we will all feel the transition. Here are a few practices to give you ease to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Practice present-moment: It is easy to jump ahead to the school year with excited anticipation and/or anxious overwhelm. Present-moment practices keep us grounded and the nervous system regulated so that creative ideas can flow and our brains can more easily organize and plan. This present-moment grounding meditation may resonate with you.
Do one thing, then the next: There are many ways to organize time and tasks. It brings ease to the mind to write it all down. Do a brain dump of all things on your to-do list, including personal and professional tasks–get it all out! Then train your brain to just do one thing at a time. Take notes on your progress, but when taking on a task, be mindful to do one thing, and then the next. Remember to allot most of your time to the most important things, and protect a small amount of time for the inevitable urgent things that will come up. Be mindful of the unimportant OR urgent things, which may be the easiest to get done, but may not be the best use of time.
Find a gratitude practice: Gratitude practices allow the mind to seek out optimistic states. Regular gratitude practices mitigate anxiety and depressive thoughts. Take time each day to log moments, people, and experiences you are grateful for. You can honor those treasured summer moments without clinging to them. You can remember the things you love about your work that give you resilience and joy.
Reconnect with your Why: I know I’m not alone in my sense of education as a vocation. Most if not all educators connect their core values to the reason why they do their work. This transition to the new school year is a great time to revisit our core values. Coming back to our core values can inspire us and guide us. Use this Core Values exercise to reignite your passion or use it to set your intentions for the school year.
In all things, self-compassion: We all will experience this transition in different ways, but as educators, it is a familiar and inevitable experience for us all. Regardless of how you navigate these next few weeks–with whatever measure of grace or lack thereof, be kind to yourself. Try this self-compassion practice as a reminder that you are not alone in your experience. You do a hero's job! I’ll close with this quote from Jennifer Stone which always permits me and turns me toward more grace:
Go easy, and If you can’t go easy, go as easy as you can!