Teaching is one of the most stressful and difficult professions on the planet.  These blogs have been designed to offer you ideas and tips on how to take care of yourself while you are making a difference in the lives of children.

The information has been simple, easy to implement and effective in helping you to reduce stress and realize your own personal power.  You can see the past blogs under TEACHERS at   lysscentral.com

Over 60 years ago, Dr Edward Bach, recognized the need for an emergency treatment to help people cope with such everyday stressful situations and created Rescue Remedy.

http://www.rescueremedy.com/

Taken from the website:  RESCUE

If you feel like you’ve “had enough”, follow these simple tips to restore focus and regain inner calm wherever you are:

Relax – Take 10 deep breaths. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.

Exercise - Learn some basic yoga techniques or just take a 10 minute walk.

Smile - Think of a happy time. It is near impossible to keep frowning while smiling and laughter stimulates the production of mood enhancing endorphins.

Calm - Let your imagination take you to a calm and tranquil place that exudes peace, serenity and beauty.

Use Your Lunchbreak – Take time out for yourself. A walk in the park, especially if it is sunny, can do wonders for your mood. It will help you work more efficiently in the afternoon too.

Escape – If you are able to, walk away. Removing yourself from a stressful situation can give you time to restore some perspective.

Know that you are one of the most significant people in the lives of the children you teach.

Practice “Excellent Self Care” …for your sake and for theirs!

Eating turkey, especially at Thanksgiving, does not make you sleepy. In fact, there is just as much tryptophan in chicken, beef and sunflowers to cause the drowsiness.  The amount of food and drink at the holiday meal, the relaxed atmosphere and the ease with which to catch some zzzzzzzzzzzz’s makes turkey a perfect excuse to catch a nap.

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2010/11/24/the-myth-of-the-turkey-crash-tryptophan-and-thanksgiving-dinner/

Napping is definitely an activity  to consider as you practice ” Excellent Self Care”!   There is new research and evidence which supports the fact that as human beings we were meant to have a mid-afternoon nap.  I remember as a youngster having to “put my head down on my desk” in school,  not as a punishment, but just to rest.  Maybe we knew more back then and should return to doing what worked!

Here are  five  good reasons to nap!

1.  Increases alertness and productivity!

2.  Less stress!

3.  Improves memory and learning!

4. Increases cognitive functions!

5.  Better health!

Check out the article and click on the “power nap”  for more ideas!

http://ririanproject.com/2006/09/12/5-reasons-to-take-naps/

Pretty Dreams!

Do you remember the last time you cleaned out

the cabinet or pantry and threw away the less

than crispy crackers, cobwebby rice, rubbery chips,

tasteless cereal or moth-eaten cookies?

Yuck!

Unless your perishables are packed in air tight

containers, they go stale.

Let’s consider the stale air you carry around

in your lungs.  The air that never gets recycled

because you don’t consciously do anything about it.

Here is an exercise to practice everyday that will

help keep your lungs and your breathing in

top notch condition.

In a relaxed state of mind, and remembering to

expand your belly, breathe in as much oxygen as

you possibly can.  Sip in the last few breaths and

hold it at the top of the “in breathe”.

Grasp the breath for  five seconds (one thousand

and one, one thousand and two…etc.).

Now, slowly blow the air out of your mouth

as you exhale.  Push as much of the air out as

you can and force a big exhale at the very end.

Hold the “out breathe” which is your unoccupied

lungs, empty longer than you did when you held

your “in breathe”.

Just before you turn blue, gradually, gingerly, and

ever so slowly, allow the air to enter with grace and

gratitude. Your lungs will fill with the fresh amazingly

sweet life force of breathe.

You can return to normal and natural breathing

and congratulate yourself for practicing “Excellent Self Care.”

P.S.  Sign up for the FREE REPORT

http://loveyoursignificantself.com

Teachers are making their lives easier by taking the time to practice “Excellent Self Care”..

My daughter shared a phrase she and her supportive circle of friends have adopted as a way of recognizing the energy and people you choose to surround yourself with.

You want only “Front Row Friends”.  

This idea demonstrates the importance of surrounding yourself with the kind of people who would sit in the front row during the performance of your life.  

The concept comes from a phrase  author Susan Taylor uses in her book, In The Spirit.  She writes “Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front-row seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.”

Take time to be aware of who you have chosen to sit in your front row and pay attention to how you can take care of yourself by choosing the audience carefully. Who is in the front row matters!

This link will take you to an article that emphasizes the challenges self care presents to all of us.
http://bit.ly/c9lecb

Be well and stay that way,
Gena
P.S. Help us pass along these FREE REORTS
and send your friends to the sites!

loveyoursignificantself.com (for self care)

loveyourslimself.com (to be your own best friend)

“When you see a great teacher, you are seeing a work of art.”
Geoffrey Canada, Harlem Children’s Zone

“Waiting for Superman” is a must see for everyone.
You can check out the trailer and the website at
www.waitingforsuperman.com/

Send me your comments about the film. . Education is changing, and we want to be able to make it talkable for teachers, administrators,parents and even children.
FREE REPORT:  www.loveyoursignificantself.com/

YOU are someone who can make a difference and YOU are one of the most significant people in a child’s life. That is why the title for my next book is:
Love Your Significant Self for Teachers

We want to help you take care of yourself and
“Excellent Self Care” is vital for your health and
well-being.  You play an important part in what is happening for children today..

Consider yourself a work of art and stand for a moment in awe of what you do for the children in your world.  Send yourself a silent bouquet of gratitude and appreciation. When you look in the mirror, you can say to yourself::
“thank you, I am so glad that my effort is showing”

Be well and stay that way,
gena

p.s. Please share the website and the
FREE REPORT
www.loveyoursignificantself.com/

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves”
Dalai Lama

We appreciate all the new ideas and resources coming in and thanks for sending friends to the site:  loveyoursignificantself.com for a FREE REPORT and weekly coaching tips.

CARE for Teachers: Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education www.garrisoninstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemed=79

Through the Garrison Institute, teachers are learning about “Excellent Self Care” and making a difference in their own lives.
One small technique is to mindfully focus on someone in your life wishing them well and peace.  Using this strategy will improve interactions with anyone.

I wish you a glorious today so that tomorrow will be laced with the gratitude of yesterday.
gena

P.S.  Send friends to www.loveyoursignificantself.com/
for a FREE REPORT
and lysscentral.com

The ability to maintain a calm and positive attitude can be compromised when stress becomes too intense.   Are you beginning to feel like you are running in circles and dancing in a ring?   Rather than ripping up the couch, and juggling too many balls in the air, reassess your commitment to “Excellent Self Care”.

This amazing video, will remind you that balancing everything can be easier when you put yourself first.

http://vimeo.com/11659495

Your priority is to practice personal power by simply taking time to breath.  When you slow down, everything comes into balance.

Dancing with a ring becomes grace in motion.  Keep your breath flowing and remember you are also just as awesome, astonishing and awe-inspiring!

Be well and stay that way,

gena

Send collegues to http://loveyoursignificantself.com

for a FREE REPORT

Thanks for your willingness to share this website with colleagues and friends.
www.loveyoursignificantself.com/

Teachers have been sending some creative ideas to help you practice “Excellent Self Care”.

Zentangle is a technique to encourage relaxation, reduce stress, and calm your spirit  This simple process can help with focus and even improve dexterity.  Doing a Zentangle will enhance  hand to eye coordination,  inspire the ability to turn mistakes into positives, support problem solving skills and encourage creativity and innovation.

www.zentangle.com/index.php

Check out the website and let me know what you think.  You can do this relaxing process anywhere, with no artistic talent needed.  Just imagine how it might help your children!
I would be happy to share how this simple activity can assist your commitment to taking  care of yourself.

Be well and stay that way,
Gena
P.S.  Please send your friends to the website to sign up for a FREE REPORT and these weekly reminders to practice “Excellent Self Care”.
www.loveyoursignificantself.com/

In an attempt to take “Excellent Care” of ourselves it is

important to consider the option of fun in the planning.

Being silly, foolish, frivolous and childish is not necessarily

something you think about when intending to practice self care.

Plan some pleasure and delight, amusement and joy in your days.

The creative side of you will be grateful.

Take a look at Adora Svitak,
http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak.html
she is a “child prodigy who says the world needs

“childish” thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism.”

Adora is an inspiration with a hopeful message.

When you take good care of yourself, the world becomes be a better place.

Now go have some fun!

Be well, gena

Check out the website:

http://www.lysscentral.com/