Ways To Shake Off Anxiety Before a New School Year.
New school year announces itself as a familiar soundtrack: TV commercials of back-to-school deals.
Really? It’s still August, isn’t it?
Am I running out of time or have I wasted hours giving my mind a break instead of planning and preparing? Is this going to be a repeat of the previous year? Unnecessary panic attack…
If this sounds familiar, then you need to know how to shake off the unwanted fear or anxiety of having to do everything or start working when your summer vacation is still in a full swing mode.
2019-2020 will be my 4th year as a public school teacher. If you ask me whether I know what to expect from the new year, I will honestly say: I have no idea.
All three previous years were very different from each other: different age groups, different subjects, various assignments. This coming year I start anew too: 2nd-grade elementary school teacher with elements of ESL. I feel like a total beginner. However, a few pointers I set for myself seem to keep me calm and on track about what I need and don’t need to do.
I still search for efficiency, I’m open to seeing where my creativity can take me, I will follow my professional instincts, I will choose whether it’s in my favor to adhere to an arbitrary set of rules or break them.
Simply put, I will create my own year again, with mistakes and experiences to learn from, getting stronger in teaching practices and growing more robust as a person. Besides, more happiness and financial freedom are still on my radar to keep exploring.
In addition to this, my list of ways to shake off fears and meet a looming school year like a pro will add more look-forward-to moments that can infuse variety and relaxation into my seasonal routines – all this seems like a worthwhile pursuit:
1. Plan a project or two to look forward to.
Summer is never enough to fit in all the projects. First 2-3 weeks after the school year is over, my mind and body are resting. I take time to sleep long hours, cook, observe, share moments with the people I love.
Then, comes the creative stage when house- or hobby-related projects become a priority. This summer, I thought about how sad it would be to give up those projects over the school year. My best bet, I reckoned, was to incorporate them into my routine so that I could have things to anticipate with joy.
School- or leisure-related, projects can be an excellent refresher to an intense school year. Making time for the projects you love will push you to plan your work efficiently and avoid spilling of your work into your family, personal, creative time.
Think of something you would love to start this year with and accomplish. How about:
- growing a succulents garden in your apartment,
- revamping a wall in your room to create a book library with a place for a comfortable armchair to help you disappear into the books
- creating your collection of pottery from clay
- printing out those photos from iPhone and compiling an album
- learning copywriting or building your blog
Choose a project you would love to dive into and make space for it in your calendar.
2. Find 2-3 areas to master.
Every teacher would agree that each school year is different. Every new group of students, new rules, administration, a new position, or just a new colleague will make a school year quite different.
Don’t be tempted to become a pro in everything. Choose 2-3 areas of your work to master and persevere in it:
- do you plan to make this year the year of perfect document keeping?
- do you plan to master Domain 4?
- will you emphasize technology infusion into your teaching or
- will you reorganize the way you assess?
Don’t go crazy. Stick to 2-3 goals and stay with them till the end.
3. Compile a list of books to read (school or leisure related).
Reading is a big part of my relaxation routine. School or not school-related, I always find things to read.
This year is no exception. A great book may take you away to the sweet faraway, teach you cool stuff, or open your eyes on things that can become part of your reality.
Hunt on the Internet or in a magazine for some great recommendations, compile a list of 5-10 books, schedule when you plan to read them (1 book in 2-3 weeks).
Here is my list if you are curious:
- Quiet by Susan Cain
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
- The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
- Principles by Ray Dalio
- The One Thing by Gary Keller
- You Are Badass by Jen Sincero
4. Compile a list of movies to watch.
Visual stimulus is one of the strongest ones. A great movie sets you in the mood that stays with you for some time or creates an atmosphere appropriate to the season. New or classic, a film on your list needs to be anticipated.
Check out my list:
- Another Year
- The Peaceful Warrior
- Legends of the Fall
- Stranger than Fiction
- Moonlight
- Julie and Julia
- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
5. Create a list of season-related activities.
My school year often reminds me of a Groundhog Day. Unplanned trips and visits, although rare, bring a much-needed change.
This year, I decided to spice up my routine by trying activities that would alleviate possible overwhelm and anxiety. The possibilities are endless:
- make fall pie from scratch
- walk in the park to collect yellow and red autumn leaves
- created fall inspired door wreath
- cook apple jam from picked apples at the local farm fall fest
- drink coffee at Rockefeller center close to the Christmas time
- plant seeds from the local farm
- visit an Indian restaurant in NY city
- find a book sale and shop some rarities
6. Start a wishlist.
Many projects and ideas are often pushed to the summer break. The school year seems so intense at times. New beginnings may add more pressure.
This year, however, I’m making a wishlist of things I want to have or projects I want to accomplish. Written down, ideas are retained by our brain and are more likely to happen.
Here is my wishlist:
- Start a yoga routine
- Read with my kids in a pile of pillows on the floor
- Find a Russian champaign for New Year’s Eve
- Create art with my kids
- Take my husband on a date
- Enjoy a relaxing bubble bath with candles at least once a week
- Remind myself that I have everything to be happy
- Compliment the people around me
- Make pastries in fall
Don’t forget to take care of yourself!
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