Full Description
Teaching is an extremely stressful job and while stress can never be completely eliminated it should not be accepted as inevitable. There is much that can be done to remove the unnecessary stress caused by excessive workload, paperwork, and indiscipline. The author deals with four major topics to reduce stress:* A clear and concise explanation of the essential nature of stress* Reducing your stress with ARC (Avoid, Reframe, Cope)* The basic essentials for good physical health and resilience* The basic essentials for good mental health and resilience.
Contents
Part 1 About Stress: What is stress?; How do we get stressed? What's particular about teaching?; How does stress affect us?; Acute stress and chronic stress; What are the dangers of chronic stress?. Part 2 Reduce your stress with ARC: The meaning of ARC (Avoid, Reframe, Cope); The 80-20 law (80 per cent of the trouble at school is caused by 20 per cent of the pupils); How to avoid stressors - problem children, huge amounts of paperwork; How to reframe stressors - seeing pupils, colleagues and workload in a different light; How to cope with stressors - being physically and mentally prepared. Part 3 Physical resilience: Introduction - how to use the below techniques while continuing with a busy lifestyle; Breathing; Nutrition; Weight; Excercise; Rest; Deep muscular relaxation. Part 4 Mental resilience: Introduction; Creating a calm switch - in the staffroom, classroom, car park etc; The sanctuary - finding a place to really relax; Self-speak - have a positive self attitude; Music - music in the classroom can be calming for everyone; Mental imagery - think positive; Meditation - letting go of school; Journal keeping - get problems into perspective.
