You know how sometimes you hear or read something that just sticks with you and rattles around in your brain? Something that was initially just a random find, but it keeps coming back to you?
About a month ago I saw a post somewhere that said “You’re not stressed because you do too much, you’re stressed because you do too little of what makes you feel alive.”
The idea really struck me because as an educator, a parent, and just a person, I often am trying to manage stress and anxiety. I’m often trying to find ways to lower my stress and recognize when I’m feeling less stress.
Some answers to dealing with stress seem obvious like trying to avoid stressful situations when you can. But what I really liked about this quote was that it wasn’t about avoiding the things that might give you stress, but about focusing on the things you enjoy and that make you feel alive.
Ever since I read it, I’ve had a new lens to examine how I am choose to spend my time both in and outside of work.
At work there are, of course, things that I will need to do whether I want to or not. Thankfully I really do like most of the things I need to do.
In my current role I have some flexibility with my time, and it could be easy to let certain more mundane tasks (email, vetting, ClassLink tickets, etc.) overwhelm my days.
But with this new (or maybe just renewed) outlook, I have been making a conscious effort to spend more time doing the parts of my job that bring me joy while still accomplishing my goals. I’ve found that spending more time connecting directly with people is at the top of that list.
I coach instructional coaches throughout the district and have been prioritizing going to their schools and talking with them more often. While this brings me more joy, I also think it’s positively impacting them and the work they do.
I’ve been talking to administrators in the schools I support and finding out what’s on their minds and what their priorities are. This too brings more joy to my work.
And I continue to look for ways to get into schools and classrooms so I can connect directly with students and teachers. If you want to feel alive, a classroom is a great place to be!
I’m thankful for work that allows me to find joy and to help others. I recognize that the flexibility and opportunities I have are not something that everyone gets, so I try to appreciate them as much as possible.
I’m also thankful for having options to find joy in my time away from work. I love spending time with friends, seeing my family when I can, being outside in nature, reading, walking, learning and so much more.
I hope that everyone is able to find at least one thing to do this week that makes you feel more alive!
Reflections of an Instructional Coach 