The In-Between

These days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of the hardest days of the year for me. Dark days and super cold nights just make me want to crawl under a blanket and hibernate. My high school students seem to be the same way.  They are just not coming to class ready to learn and that mindset sure makes for some difficult days in class. 

During a time of the year where everyone is thinking about presents, our students simply need our presence. But how do we bring our best selves to the classroom when we are as tired as the students are? Creating some daily habits can be the key to dealing with these in-between holiday days. Having a daily mindfulness practice can help us filter out the noise of our days and cultivate more positive feelings. It is imperative that we continue to take care so that we can be the best version of ourselves for our students.

There is a simple mindfulness activity that I do to help re-center myself and my students. This 3-3-3 Method is a good way to reset and begin fresh when everyone is feeling out-of-sorts.

1. I close my eyes and take 3 breaths. Inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly.
2. I name 3 things I am incredibly grateful for today. (or 3 things I want to accomplish today, or 3 things I am looking forward to about today, or 3 things I learned yesterday. The positive thoughts are limitless.)
3. I move my body in 3 ways. This may be as simple as neck rolls and shoulder rolls or I may stand and do some standing poses.

This activity just takes a couple of minutes, but you will feel refreshed and ready to start again when you are done. 

If you have time for extra movement, take a look at this Friday Flow. Just remember to follow your breath. Lengthen as you inhale, expand as you exhale. Try a few of these moves (or all of them) with your students. They may think it is silly to begin with, but they will secretly enjoy it! 💓

Have a fabulous weekend!!!