Prepared for the Weekend?
Monday morning needs to find teachers vitalized, refreshed, energized, vibrant, dynamic and recharged as they return to school.
Teachers need to face the workweek with high-intensity happy smiles...made possible because the weekend was delightful, stress-free, and devoid of school-task drudgery.
Your task, Mission Possible, if you choose to accept it, is to replace patterns of weekend stress with relaxation and enjoyment.
Changes Needed?
Figure out a way to move, schedule, and contain all classroom-related labors to the weekdays...place that "overweight workload" on a diet.
If you were told that you would be fired unless you found a way to do all your work during the "work week", you would find a way.
So, now is the time to develop strategies for placing school work "off limits" for the weekend. Your eventual goal is to develop habits and procedures that allow you to leaving all school work at school where it belongs.
Timely Tips
Here are some tips to get you started in converting you weekend into the relaxing resource that it was designed for...
- Visit a museum, cultural center, or the tourist attractions that everybody but the locals frequent
- Go outside to a park. Picnic next to a pond, lake or stream
- Do something nice for yourself, get a haircut, buy some new clothes
- Take a "spur of the moment", "get up and go" trip
- Sleep late, if you can. If not, get up at your accustomed time, breakfast, then take a nap (See Footnote below)
- Give yourself an "Exempt from Homework" certificates, and cash them in
- Note: Do Not log in and check your district's E-mail
Productivity Paradox
The "Math" doesn't add up, but the stress does.
You can complete more work in five days than you can in seven.
But, as you string together week after week of seven-day work Marathons, you become WEAK.
Other Suggestions
- On Sunday, get your clothes ready for the work week. Shine your shoes
- Minimize weekend planning and make choices spontaneously
- Exercise, take a walk
- Keep televised sports watching under control. Set a reasonable time limit
- Avoid binge drinking and late-night partying
- Keep your use of caffeine and nicotine under control
You will find that you have more energy at the end of the workweek if you start fresh and refreshed on Monday. Enjoy your weekend.
Footnote:
Some people find that they experience a headache and feel groggy if they sleep late on weekends. If this is you, you can easily circumvent the headaches by getting up at your habitual time. You should be ready for a nap in about 90 to 120 minutes. Give in to the urge, and indulge yourself in some quality sleep. Pleasant dreams...
