For all of us teaching through a pandemic, even the self-care can feel wildly, insurmountably difficult.<\/p>\n
Let’s do something about that.<\/p>\n
This year, the beginning of the school year — a time that is typically filled with joy and excitement — is fraught. It’s complicated. Some of us are doing alright, others are working hard just to keep it together. Sometimes we\u2019re doing alright one minute, and not okay the next. Then the positions reverse.<\/p>\n
But… we\u2019re in uncharted waters here. We\u2019re all doing hard things. I mean, it\u2019s hard to know the right thing to say to you right now.<\/p>\n
This week I\u2019ve been trapped in the cycle too. Feeling like \u2018I\u2019ve got this!\u2019 one moment, then later collapsing in a puddle from the overwhelm and\u00a0 the exhaustion.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a lot.<\/p>\n
Luckily I have friends and strategies. And while neither \u201cfix\u201d my feelings or solve the world\u2019s problems (though I do have some amazing friends), both help me navigate and find my balance again.<\/p>\n
So in case you are in need of navigation help or rebalancing, here are a few things that have brought me some solace. Maybe they’ll work for you too.<\/p>\n
Sometimes there are so many things on my mental to-do list that I\u2019m exhausted just thinking about it. And I spend an incredible amount of energy keeping track of all of those things in my brain.<\/p>\n
Which I why I was so excited to hear Brene Brown talk about \u201csettling the ball\u201d on her podcast Unlocking Us<\/a>. She describes the frenzy of watching kids play soccer; when they wildly kick at the ball while it\u2019s still in the air.<\/p>\n And she suggests that right now, responding to life this way: by wildly swatting at everything that comes at us.<\/p>\n But what if instead, we gained control of this pandemic ball by settling it? By grounding it. And then by *choosing* how to respond rather than just reacting. Having watched my share of kids soccer games, this resonates.<\/p>\n For me, settling the ball looks like me sitting down with my notebook making a list of all the to-do\u2019s and loose ends filling my brain. The things I\u2019m carrying. Once I\u2019ve put them down (on the paper at least), I can step back, prioritize, plan. I\u2019m slowly making this a daily habit. It\u2019s helping bring some order to the chaos of our current reality.<\/p>\n What might it look like for you to settle your metaphorical ball?<\/p>\n A few years back there was an urban myth about a professor demonstrating priorities by putting rocks, pebbles, and sand in a jar. The big idea was that if you fill the jar with sand first (the little things) then you wouldn\u2019t have room for the big rocks (the important things).<\/p>\n While oversimplified, the message holds: we need to prioritize the big rocks.<\/p>\n When it comes to self-care, my big rocks are sleep, movement<\/strong>, and food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Self-care isn\u2019t always yoga and journaling (although it totally can be!). Sometimes self-care comes in a more boring form. But it\u2019s so important. So if I\u2019m feeling wobbly, that means I may need a snack, a walk, and\/or an early bedtime (or even a nap).<\/p>\n You already know the one about putting your own oxygen mask on first. Figuring out your big rocks helps you do this.<\/p>\n Stop. Sit. Look out the windows and feel your breath in your lungs. Feel the way your body knows how to push it out again. Now, what are your big rocks?<\/p>\nBig rocks of self-care<\/h4>\n
Make it smaller<\/h4>\n