Hope everyone enjoyed Part I of Marjan Glavac’s How to Stay Motivated in Teaching series.

I thought of a few of my own “movies that inspire”…

1. Dangerous Minds
2. Dead Poets Society
3. Remember the Titans

Feel free to send me yours…

Now here’s Part II…
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How To Stay Motivated In Teaching (Part II): How To Avoid Burnout
by Marjan Glavac

“Hard work, of course is critical. But you have to balance that with time for your family and friends. One-dimensional people are rarely successful over the long haul.” – G. Richard Thoman

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and burned out, putting in long hours without seeming to get ahead, becoming irritable with your students, then there are things that you need to do to take care of yourself:

· Enroll in a fun workshop, seminar or conference or personal, non-teaching interest.

· Change teaching grade assignments in the school.

· Change schools.

· Go into a different teaching role such as resource, administration.

· Take on a new task such as a school or district committee.

· Avoid the negative attitude of your colleagues. Be more positive.

· Cultivate a hobby.

· Take a leave of absence.

· Eat healthier.

· Get exercise.

· Enroll in a yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, aerobic course.

· Take up swimming, jogging, walking, rowing, cycling.

· Get a physical checkup.

· Get enough sleep.

· Use deep breathing, meditation techniques, music to relax.

· Attitude is a choice, choose your attitude.

· Pick your battles: your hill to “die” on.

· Keep things in perspective.

· Have realistic, attainable, and measurable goals.

· Cultivate allies among students, staff, and parents.

· Find friends outside of teaching.

· Go to out-of-town conferences.

· Give Pat On The Backs, and send thank-you notes, cards, and compliments to others. Why not send one to yourself.

· Send yourself some flowers.

· Develop positive self-talk, self-control, and self-confidence.

· Cultivate a sense of humor; laugh and smile more.

· Join a professional reading group.

· Participate in a noon hour walking club.

· Give yourself a gift of time to reflect, relax, and recharge.

· Define what success is for you, not for others.

· Believe in yourself.

· Practice random acts of kindness.

· Read motivational quotes, and stories.

· Collect and mount motivational posters in your classroom.

· Take a vacation, a week-end getaway, or go to a spa retreat.

· Find a significant other who can support you in good times and bad.

· Get involved with your professional teacher groups.

· Learn how to say no–you don’t have to do it all.

· Replace the words can’t, try, and problems with can, will, and challenges.

· Be flexible, or you’ll be permanently bent out of shape.

· Focus on the positive.

· Join a sports league or a charitable volunteer group.

· Get a pet (rabbit, cat, dog…).

· Do your best. Perfection is the enemy of excellence. There is a very wide range of good, acceptable, yet valuable work. “Perfect” teachers are a burden to everyone-even themselves.
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Stay tuned next week for Part III of the How to Stay Motivated in Teaching series, where Marjan shows you in 10 seconds or less how you can re-energize your mind and stay motivated!

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If you’ve enjoyed the How to Stay Motivated in Teaching series so far, then you’ll love…

Marjan Glavac’s How to Make a Difference

To learn how to make a difference in the lives of your students and inspire them to do their best for the rest of their lives with teacher tested techniques you can use immediately in your classroom…make sure to read How to Make a Difference @ www.howtomakeadifference.com

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