What recharges and energizes you?

We are in week 6 of our school year here (for teachers, 5 weeks with students) and you can feel the energy starting to wane.  We had an interim deadline last week, parent conferences and emails are in full swing, it’s homecoming week, athletics are crazy busy and about to head to post season, the “honeymoon” is over and the real work has begun.  And many of us have come down with the first germs of the season.

And we are dragging.  It’s absolutely exhausting – even when you love what you do!

All year, but especially in times of the year like this when we are feeling so drained, it’s important for educators to take time to do what recharges and energizes you professionally.

I hear you – you don’t have time for one more thing! But trust me on this, if you can identify what it is that flips that switch for you, the payoff will be worth it.

For me, I usually dread “giving up my time” and struggle to get started, but when I do, it’s powerful.  It’s almost like I come out of the experience with 2 or 3 times the energy!

• Twitter Chats – I LOVE when a good chat comes along.  I share ideas, connect with new people and find other great ideas to make my work more meaningful
• Voxer groups – making use of the time I’m commuting is critical for me.  Sitting in traffic, snarling at the people who cut me off and hold up traffic by not being in the proper lane just aggravates me to no end.  I found my solution! Listen and talk with my #EduMatch Voxer peeps!  Before I know it, I’ve arrived at my destination and engaged with other awesome educators along the way! I don’t even dread the long drive across the county to meetings any more!
• Read – for me this can be books or online.  I follow many blogs (I use Feedly to curate and keep up with them) and love the new ideas and perspectives I gain from just a few minutes.
• Go for a walk (or a jog) – this can be some of the best time for reflection for me. Especially if I’m in the midst of a particularly rough week, I feel better after this time, and BONUS if I can do it in the sunshine!

What helps you recharge?

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