If you’re anything like me, you feel caught up in the day-to-day of teaching. The days are marching on, your plan book is filling up week by week, and the stacks of papers are starting to accumulate on top of your desk.

Let me paint a picture for you:

When the last student leaves the classroom, you look at the clock and see it’s about 10 mere minutes before contract time is up. You look around your classroom and think, “How can I look organized and be semi-prepared for tomorrow in a really small amount of time?” Your brain says – ummmm hello??? You still need to make copies for the next day, reply to the email about your next whole-class counseling lesson, make the parent phone call about the recess incident, ask your teammate about the upcoming Science assessment, and check on those accommodations for district testing…the list seems endless. There’s no WAY I can get all of this done and still make it out of here at a decent time.

You quickly prioritize what you can do in those dwindling minutes before contract time is up, jot down a few reminders for yourself for the morning, and race out of your classroom door. You may tell yourself that you’ll deal with it tomorrow, knowing full well that it will induce that all-too-familiar feeling of overwhelm. 

Sounding Familiar?

Are you reading this while nodding your head? Heart racing because you’ve been in that exact position? Saying “YES” outloud? If so, then you’ve been living like I have been for too long: living in the future of to-dos, and worries, and unable to be fully present in the moment. 

While there may be nothing wrong with that rushed feeling here and there, over the long term it really starts to effect your mental and physical well-being.

In order to combat this endless cycle of stress, I’ve found myself turning to and leaning on some mindfulness practices to conquer my day-to-day endless to-do list that comes along with being a full-time teacher. I’m here to share with you my morning meditation practice that changed my life as a full-time teacher, wife, friend, and mom to a toddler. 

If you’re looking for a way to soothe your mind and body, compartmentalize your day, and arrive to and leave work feeling clarity, keep reading for reasons why meditation will be your new BFF. 

Some Background

At first, I was skeptical about meditation. Truthfully, I would roll my eyes and dismiss the idea. All the “woo woo” (shout out to Kayse Morris, CEO Teacher for bringing this term into my life) was not for me. I could not see the value because it was never shown to me in a way that made sense in my life. I’m a teacher, I simply don’t have any extra minutes to spare!

However, one day the stress of the classroom became too much and I needed to desperately find a way to restructure how I felt about my job as a teacher. Those first 5 minutes of meditation in the morning before I started my day changed my life. My perspective at work shifted. I felt a calmness internally that I had not felt before. I was aware of the present, was able to communicate more clearly, and was able to structure my day more productively. Not only that, but I began to feel comfortable with leaving work at work. I started to be more present at home with my daughter.

For the first time, I felt supported in my role as a teacher. 

If you’re wanting to truly make changes in your professional life as an educator, it has to start with you. You will be surprised at how just five minutes of meditation each day can begin to make a world of difference in your personal and professional life. 

Still on the fence? Let me share just five quick reasons why starting your day with meditation can make a huge difference in your teacher life. 

Here are 5 reasons why you should start your day with meditation as a teacher. 

1. Set the tone for your day.

How many times have you pulled into the parking lot, walked into your school building, turned the lights on in your classroom and are immediately inundated with to-dos to pile on top of your pre-existing to-dos? 

There is so much that is out of our control as teachers day-to-day, that finding any time to breathe feels impossible.

When you take 5-10 minutes to yourself in the morning, you will begin to bring awareness to the energy you choose to pour into the day’s tasks. You will also notice a more powerful inner voice telling you that you ARE in control of your day and your attitude will begin to shift.

Prioritize a sense of being grounded. Meditation will guide you in that direction. 

2. Cultivate a grounding mindset.

The physical relaxation induced by meditation has a ripple effect, soothing not only your body but also your mind. 

Teachers are some of the most stressed-out professionals. The stress you feel begins to settle and manifest itself in your physical body. When you carry that extra stress in your body, the effects can be felt internally. Simply being aware of your body and releasing the muscles can help relax your mind and allow you to take a deep breath (or 5). 

You may not realize it, but often times small parts of your body are tense throughout the day. Do a quick body scan right now. Drop those shoulders, unclench your jaw, wiggle your fingers and toes. How do you feel after making those small adjustments? 

After a few days of meditation, your mind will begin to remember to tell you to relax. Adjust your posture. Relax your shoulders. These small changes contribute to your overall well-being over time. 

3. Respond to your classroom challenges instead of reacting.

According to research, teachers make an average of 1,500 decisions each day. A chain reaction of decisions in which we are reacting to a stimulus in our environment. 

IYKYK – am I right?

Meditation introduces you to the pause. A time to take a breath, and respond to that challenge instead of react to that challenge. Notice the difference?

Not only will your responses to student behavior be more intentional, but so will the responses to the demands of your workday. That last-minute request to submit a data collection or assessment grade? No big deal. Learn how to handle each task as it enters your day and let go of it when it’s completed. 

4. Your relationships will improve.

Meditation allows you to be more present throughout the day. In each interaction with a colleague, you will notice more engagement on your end in the conversation. Another surprising benefit of meditation is being more aware of what others may be going through, which allows for more empathetic communication between you and your colleagues or you and your students.

Not only that, but you will see that you can choose who to give your energy to. Is there a colleague whose personality conflicts with yours? Learn how to allow that person to be themselves without robbing any of the joy from your day.

5. Actually enjoy teaching.

Every teacher knows that our days in the classroom fly by. It seems as though there is never quite enough time to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Our minds are always thinking about what’s being taught next, what parent needs to be contacted, papers to be graded, etc. Meditation allows you the ability to slow down and be intentional with all parts of your day. When you intentionally approach your day, you will be surprised at how much more you can get done.

Plus, we all got into this profession because we like to teach, right? When is the last time you really paused to think to yourself, I love this job?

Happy teacher = happy classroom.

Will meditating just one time completely change your life?

I can’t promise that. What I can promise you though is this: bringing awareness to yourself and your mindset will allow you to look at your life and your classroom through a different lens. 

The teacher burnout you’re feeling is very real and we need to start shifting to practices that will truly support teachers in their careers. Your students deserve a better version of you. Your family deserves a better version of you. YOU deserve a better version of you!

Ready to dive deeper and get started with the first step of your educator evolution? I offer personalized coaching –  Sign up for a FREE consultation call with me. Together we can create true balance in your teacher life. I’ll help you set up a better mindset, systems, and routines to prepare you for your educator evolution.

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