Coping with Stress - Tips For Educators

By Leah Davies, M.Ed.

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.

________ Believe that you have value and that you can make a contribution to humanity.

________ Accept responsibility for yourself and your behavior.

________ Exercise.

________ Eat well-balanced meals.

________ Get enough rest.

________ Avoid using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.

________ Cultivate a hopeful attitude by saying encouraging things to yourself.

________ Develop effective communication skills.

________ Foster a sense of humor.

________ Seek out and maintain at least one close personal friend.

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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.