I spent my first 27 years in education saying, "I don't know if I'll ever retire" and this year, my 28th, saying, "Can I afford to retire in June?" The burnout is intense. My break starts Thursday and I'll put aside some time to read and reflect on everything you've shared here.
Hang in there! You are close to retirement (and even closer to Spring Break). How do you decompress once break starts? I’m grateful that you plan to read and reflect on some of my writing. Thank you for giving me some of your precious time! Let me know if you ever want to chat more about teaching or anything I have written.
Thank you for being so human and so honest about how it feels. Part of what's so hard is that the world is so scary, changing so fast, a new crisis every day, noise noise noise. So even when we're resting, we have these little rectangles of anxiety squawking at us every moment.
It's not a silver bullet, but I did start enjoying my breaks more once I started doing a brain dump session of everything on my mind and then an intense exercise session on the first day of break to regulate my nervous system. (I wrote a bit about this here: https://regenerativeschools.substack.com/p/the-great-exhale)
I also totally resonate with your need to sit in silence and maybe escape to the woods for the next 30 years. Non-screen-based reading and long walks or hikes help me a lot, too.
You’ve read my mind! I tend to do my brain dumps in the evening (hopefully, no one will ever read my crazy journals!). I’m not as good about the exercise thing, but I do love a good, brisk walk in the sunshine.
I went back and reread your Great Exhale piece. Your suggestions for completing the stress cycle are great! Here’s to a regulated nervous system!
Hi! First - thanks for the endorsement. We’d love to get you and your colleagues and your rad educator followers in a Good Natured Learning program. ❤️🦋🌱 Our approach is PD that brings back joy and humanity and connection IRL. This is more than can be said about most PD opps.
Second- your writing here is so poignant. I hope you can take care. You matter and your work matters and it is hard. This reflection is why I love working with teachers. It’s why we meet teachers as experts. It’s why we focus on TEACHER wellbeing. Because it matters. You matter. 🍎🌱❤️
I appreciate your comment! I definitely plan to get outside once all of this snow melts (it’s supposed to be near 90 degrees later this week!). Even if I am unable to take advantage of your PD, I plan to keep recommending it to others. What you offer is unique, but also so important to rehumanizing public education.
I spent my first 27 years in education saying, "I don't know if I'll ever retire" and this year, my 28th, saying, "Can I afford to retire in June?" The burnout is intense. My break starts Thursday and I'll put aside some time to read and reflect on everything you've shared here.
Hang in there! You are close to retirement (and even closer to Spring Break). How do you decompress once break starts? I’m grateful that you plan to read and reflect on some of my writing. Thank you for giving me some of your precious time! Let me know if you ever want to chat more about teaching or anything I have written.
I, too, am sitting here dreaming of Walden...as I enjoy my week of quiet peace.
Sounds amazing. My dream log cabin is on an island on Priest Lake, Idaho. Just me and the bears :)
Thank you for being so human and so honest about how it feels. Part of what's so hard is that the world is so scary, changing so fast, a new crisis every day, noise noise noise. So even when we're resting, we have these little rectangles of anxiety squawking at us every moment.
It's not a silver bullet, but I did start enjoying my breaks more once I started doing a brain dump session of everything on my mind and then an intense exercise session on the first day of break to regulate my nervous system. (I wrote a bit about this here: https://regenerativeschools.substack.com/p/the-great-exhale)
I also totally resonate with your need to sit in silence and maybe escape to the woods for the next 30 years. Non-screen-based reading and long walks or hikes help me a lot, too.
You’ve read my mind! I tend to do my brain dumps in the evening (hopefully, no one will ever read my crazy journals!). I’m not as good about the exercise thing, but I do love a good, brisk walk in the sunshine.
I went back and reread your Great Exhale piece. Your suggestions for completing the stress cycle are great! Here’s to a regulated nervous system!
Hi! First - thanks for the endorsement. We’d love to get you and your colleagues and your rad educator followers in a Good Natured Learning program. ❤️🦋🌱 Our approach is PD that brings back joy and humanity and connection IRL. This is more than can be said about most PD opps.
Second- your writing here is so poignant. I hope you can take care. You matter and your work matters and it is hard. This reflection is why I love working with teachers. It’s why we meet teachers as experts. It’s why we focus on TEACHER wellbeing. Because it matters. You matter. 🍎🌱❤️
I appreciate your comment! I definitely plan to get outside once all of this snow melts (it’s supposed to be near 90 degrees later this week!). Even if I am unable to take advantage of your PD, I plan to keep recommending it to others. What you offer is unique, but also so important to rehumanizing public education.
90! 😬 So glad you’ll be getting outside with your students soon. Send peeps my way if you get any pushback. 🦋 For now, enjoy your eremition.