Coping with Stress - Tips For Educators
Before educators can help students cope with their problems and be ready to learn, they must first take time to care for themselves. The following are ways educators can take control of their lives and manage their own stress so that they will be available to assist their students.
- ________ Accept yourself as an imperfect human being.
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________ Believe that you have value and that you can make a contribution to humanity.
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________ Accept responsibility for yourself and your behavior
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________ Exercise,
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________ Eat well-balanced meals
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________ Get enough rest
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________ Avoid using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs
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________ Cultivate a hopeful attitude by saying encouraging things to yourself
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________ Develop effective communication skills
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________ Foster a sense of humor
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________ Seek out and maintain at least one close personal friend
Make a list of things that you enjoy doing that are good for you. Arrange to do one a day.
Write down how you see yourself a year, five years, or ten years from now. Share your ideas and goals with someone you trust.
Write down at least five of your worries. Rank order your list by their importance in your life.
By each worry write ACCEPT, CHANGE, or REJECT. For each worry decide what your first step will be toward accepting, changing or rejecting it.
Carry out the steps you listed.
Leah Davies received her Master's Degree from the Department of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Auburn University. She has been dedicated to the well-being of children for over 44 years as a certified teacher, counselor, prevention specialist, parent, and grandparent. Her professional experience includes teaching, counseling, consulting, instructing at Auburn University, and directing educational and prevention services at a mental health agency.
Besides the Kelly Bear resources, Leah has written articles that have appeared in The American School Counseling Association Counselor, The School Counselor, Elementary School Guidance and Counseling Journal, Early Childhood News, and National Head Start Association Journal. She has presented workshops at the following national professional meetings: American School Counselor Association; Association for Childhood Education International; National Association for the Education of Young Children; National Child Care Association; National Head Start Association; National School-Age Child Care Alliance Conference.