This has been the hardest year of my teaching career.
I thought I would retire in 2020, but the pandemic changed everything. I’ve stayed in the classroom and walked the same walk you’ve been on…and it has been hard.
That’s not to say that there weren’t a million little things to love about being in-person and making music again, but there have been a million other things that are new and different and hard.
Now that summer is upon us, there’s time to reflect on where you’ve been, where you are, and where you are going. If you’ve been left unfazed by the past three years of teaching, then that’s great, but if you’ve found the past three years to be hard on your mental and physical wellbeing, then I invite you to check out this blog by my new friend Katrina Proctor of SheTheTeacher.
Katrina and I met through our shared interest in supporting music educators in doing this work in a more sustainable way. We both struggled with our mental and physical health due to stress from our jobs. And we both believe in sharing what we’ve learned so you amazing music educators have the tools you need to find the healthy balance.
Katrina’s latest blog is from our conversation about the four key areas on which I focused in taking myself from unhealthy and struggling to healthy and happier. Maybe an idea or two will resonate with you and help you take a step toward a more sustainable work/life relationship.
THANK YOU for all you’ve given to your students and your communities as we have experienced so much loss, trauma and grief during a pandemic and so many other issues we are facing. You’ve undoubtedly upheld others even as you struggled yourself. You’ve given grace time and time again even when you’ve needed to be given grace. And you’ve shown up and used music to help your students process their emotions during all of this, even when you’ve been beyond exhausted yourself.
This. Has. Been. Hard … so what do you do now?
In Katrina’s blog, she outlines The mPower Method, my signature program from my first book, specifically geared toward assessing and addressing the areas where small changes can have a big impact in your life. I think you’ll find it to be helpful if you aren’t sure where to even start recovering from the past few years.
I offer this blog in hopes that it gives you whatever you need in order to feel a little happier and healthier.
With you on this journey –
Lesley