Being a teacher is a huge responsibility, and being a good teacher certainly requires a lot of work, energy and stress. All daily activities with children should be optimistic, but sharing your positive energy with everyone around you can be overwhelming at times. Therefore, it is important to set a rhythm and lifestyle that will help you feel good in your own skin and fulfilled with your mission of shaping future generations. To be a happy teacher. A state of well-being helps you achieve both professional and personal goals, much faster and more efficiently.
We all have days when nothing seems to work properly. In addition, the job of a teacher comes with many challenges. Being a teacher can inspire you, but it can also demoralize you, it keeps you connected with the evolution of society, but it can also isolate you. Working with children can energize you but, at the same time, children can consume a lot of your energy. With a class full of children whose condition is constantly changing, maintaining a positive attitude can be a bit of a struggle. But remember that your state of mind reflects on everything you do, and children especially can be influenced by your behaviour.
To help you be a happier teacher, we have a few simple but effective tips:
Be creative
Creativity is at the core of a teacher’s job. Whether it’s the way you decorate your classroom, the way you structure your activities, the resources that you use, the way in which you teach or integrate technology, it all comes down to your unique perspective, which creates something original every day and is worthy of sharing. You will see that each creative idea generates a new one and that the positive will soon follow.
Set up a welcoming environment
To be a happy teacher, it is essential to establish a friendly environment for both the children and yourself. Displays and decorations in your class can make you come back there with love, and the atmosphere you set in the classroom dictates the tone for each day. Observe and praise children’s qualities, encourage them to be friends, to embrace, sing and dance together. Try to bring positivity in every action and day spent in class. The educational process should be a happy, enthusiastic one.
Know your strengths and set realistic expectations
Be aware of yourself, what you can do, what you know, but also what you can work on and improve. Learn constantly, but don’t be too critical of yourself when things don’t go the way you want. You may be an extremely creative person, but classroom management could be a challenge for you. Accept this. If a lesson didn’t go smoothly or if things didn’t go as planned, don’t let this wear you down. Learn from your mistakes and stay focused on your goals.
Avoid comparing yourself with others
Comparing yourself with colleagues is the first step towards professional failure. Each person has his own resources of time, energy, material or inner resources. Stop comparing your life or activities with those of others. Focus on what you have to do, what you want to achieve, take things to step by step, and cherish each achievement in your path. Being involved and persevering to succeed should be enough to support your happiness.
Celebrate each success
No matter how big or small, every success should be celebrated. Each success is the result of your involvement, of the time, energy and resources you have put into your activity, so don’t miss any opportunity to celebrate your achievements.
Become a good listener
Teaching can encourage us to communicate, encourage children and provide them with all the resources they need to develop, but sometimes we forget to listen. Try to listen more, find out what those around you think, what their needs are. Only after you have fully understood a situation, should you speak, act or intervene. Take time to analyze, to search within yourself and do not rush to take action. The desire to control everything around you can deplete your energy.
Give yourself time
Much of an educator’s free time is usually occupied with planning for future classroom activities, and personal life tends to be neglected. Once a week, give yourself time and do something that makes you happy. Maybe you want to watch a movie, start a dance class or visit a museum. Whatever it is, remember that you deserve this moment of relaxation.
Appearance matters
It is proven that the way we dress influences both our state of mind and that of the people around us. Because educators are physically active, comfort can matter to us more than aesthetics in choosing our outfits. However, a nice outfit can boost your confidence and make you happier. In the mornings when your happiness level is low, choose your favourite outfit. You will notice the influence that clothes can have on you.
Invest in experiences, not objects
Fiecare experiență ne îmbogățește, fiecare ieșire din cotidian ne ajută să ne cunoaștem mai bine. Investește în experiențe din care înveți ceva nou, în obiceiuri care te dezvoltă și te fac fericit. Comparativ cu obiectele, amintirile nu se demodează niciodată.
Every experience enriches us, every time we go beyond our daily routine and comfort zone helps us to know ourselves better. Invest in experiences from which you can learn something new, in developing habits that help you grow and make you happy. As opposed to objects, memories never go out of fashion.