Category Archives: Wellness

You Need to Find a Hobby!

You Need to Find a Hobby

“You need to find a hobby?” Has anyone ever said to you,   If so, what was your response? It probably went something like this. “ I know but it’s never enough time.” Or your response was, “I’m too busy taking care of everyone else. I don’t have time to take care of myself.” Well, those responses are not uncommon, but you really need to stop for a moment. However, you often wish that you had more time to do things to make you happier and more relaxed. Therefore, it means carving out some time for you. During that time, find a hobby that fits your needs and personality.

A Hobby is Not Work

A hobby is an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation. Remember, work is not a hobby! Don’t get it twisted. Frequently, people will say, “Work is all I do.” That will be a big, NO! Work is something you do for a living. It is something you do for pleasure. So, you’re still asking yourself, why do you need a hobby and how do I find one. Here are a few reasons why you need a new pastime.

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Bouncing Back from the Bottom: Learning from Failure

What is Failure?

At some point in life, everyone experiences failure. Yes, failure and hitting the bottom is a part of life. While looking up from the bottom, I’ve learned a few lessons. However, failure means different things to different people.  According to Dictionary.com definitions include:

  • Lack of success or proving unsuccessful
  • Non-performance of something due, required or expected
  • A person or thing that proves unsuccessful

As an educator, what does failure mean to you? Does it mean not meeting a goal? Or does hitting the bottom mean your students not meeting expectations on the state assessments? For me, failure really took me for a loop when was fired from a job that was very important to me. I was totally blindsided and defeated by the loss. I didn’t see it coming and couldn’t understand how or why it happened. After, all I gave the district and students years of loyalty, hard work, and dedicated service. Was this the reward I received for being a good employee? I was devasted! The opportunity to say goodbye to my students, parents, and staff was lost. I needed closure. Then I hit the bottom. In my eyes, I was a failure.

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Calm Yourself Down! Five Easy Tips to De-Stress

Time to Calm Down

Stress showed up early! It’s one of those days. You need to calm yourself down. Getting out of the house was a hard sale. Your own kids didn’t want to get out of bed this morning.  Traffic was jammed pack and a thirty-minute drive turned into an hour. Stepping into the school, you hear the office secretary call you over the intercom system. Walking to the office to see what’s going on, you’re stopped by a coworker. He wants to know if he can borrow some books from your classroom library. Sure, it’s not a problem and you continue to the office. You feel your shoulders tense up and your head hurts.

Finally, you arrive in the office. The principal and a parent wait to meet with you. The parent is upset about her child’s grade on a test and wants an explanation of your grading process.  The students arrive in ten minutes! You are cramped for time. During the meeting, you look at your watch several times.  The parent is irate and you can’t seem to appease her. The meeting ends on a negative note. Now, you’re feeling flushed. Your students are coming in the door. Somehow, you need to calm down!  Continue reading →