EDUCATOR'S GUIDE - THRIVING DURING THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO WINTER BREAK
Be honest with me…have you started the countdown to winter break?
It felt so nice to be home for a few days—staying in jammies for longer than usual, spending time with those you love, having a little more time to do the things you want to do—it’s no wonder you have started counting down!
Let’s acknowledge that it can be HARD to go back to work after a holiday break. A countdown to the next break can feel therapeutic and fun, especially if you are sharing the experience with your colleagues.
Between now and winter break, let’s make a commitment to THRIVE instead of just surviving these next few weeks.
Take a few minutes to reflect on the following…
How can you flip your thinking to a positive mindset? Our mindset shapes our attitudes and actions. Sometimes when we are in “countdown mode” we get into a mental space of “dread,” which we want to avoid. Instead of thinking “how many days do I have left of work?” shift to “how many more days until I get to (insert what you’re looking forward to during your next break e.g. sleeping in, being with family)?” Instead of focusing on what you’re dreading, focus on what fills your heart or what makes you smile about your job.
What boundaries will you set for yourself? This is the time of year where extra events are aplenty! Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you…YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SAY YES TO EVERYTHING! You’re hearing this from a recovering people-pleaser who didn’t have “no” in her vocabulary until a few years ago. If I can say no, so can you! Make sure you have a list of your values so that you can prioritize what’s most important to you. Say no to the events that pull you from your values. Pause before you volunteer for extra tasks. Decide ahead of time how you will spend your lunch and planning times. Politely tell the colleague who needs to chat during your planning time that you can chat at a later time. Determine what time you will leave work every day and how much time you are going to give to work at home. Once you set your boundaries, make a commitment to yourself to stick to them.
Who will be your accountability partner? When times get tough, it helps to have someone you can trust hold you accountable to your commitments. Your accountability partner should be someone you’re comfortable sharing the boundaries you’re setting and help steer you towards your goals with no judgement if you fall back to old habits. Some turn to a spouse or partner, while others count on a friend, others a professional certified coach or therapist, and some do a combo with more than one accountability partner to support them in implementing these healthy habits. Whoever you select to have this important role in your life, make sure to check in with them weekly—celebrate your successes and talk through any setbacks to determine what you can do differently so that those setbacks become successes.
I can’t wait to see you thriving and hearing about your experiences over the next few weeks! Tag me in your social media posts or contact me directly at edcoach@drpaula-recentered.com. You’ve got this!
