ARE YOU ON INFORMATION OVERLOAD?

woman asleep with head on laptop; phone and notebook to her side

Agree or disagree - the world is moving at a faster pace.

The amount of stuff we as teachers HAVE to learn, combined with the stuff we WANT to learn, is astounding. Sometimes, it's just too much. And, that's okay. Have you ever felt the overwhelm? You are not alone. Here are some tips to help you with the overwhelm (especially technology overwhelm).

1. Prioritize your needs/tools

Take a breath - maybe two or three. Try to discern what are the major tools and/or needs in your studio. Focus on small ways that you can either improve in these areas, or maintain status quo.

What is serving you well? No need to reinvent the wheel. Keep it simple, and you and your students will be smiling at the end of every day.

2. Schedule Regular Professional Development

I'm not talking about Facebook groups or following influencers. Nothing wrong with that, but it can be too much. Find a small group of teachers that are your "vibe." Find ways to meet up with those folks, either in-person, online, or both.

The Bible says in Proverbs 27:17 - "Iron sharpens iron, and one man (or woman) sharpens another."

That means that by regularly hanging out with "our people", we become refreshed and renewed.

3. Don't forget self-care.

It's the buzz word these days, but self-care is essential. For me, it looks like taking a long walk in the country every morning. I also love barre workouts, yoga, and Pilates. Having a cup of tea and a moment to pray/meditate also helps me mentally and emotionally.

Finally, on Fridays, I have a group of local ladies that meets together for a book club. The group has few rules, a sweet spirit, and a lot of friendship and love.

Self- care includes taking a break from the things and/or people that stress you out. (Easier said than done!) Where are you on the "overwhelm" spectrum? What do you do to cope? Which of the above is most important to you right now? Take a few seconds to comment, I read each and every one. And, I want to know!