4 STRESS MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR TEACHERS

Teaching as a profession is not an easy job. It involves constant talking and standing on one’s feet for the most part of the day. It is loaded with challenges and big responsibilities of helping shape a child’s future.

Due to this, teachers are bound to feel stressed sometimes and may inadvertently carry it out on their students. It is therefore important for teachers to know how to manage stress so as to carry out their duties ease. Below are a stress management tips that teachers could adopt in order to cope with stress.

• The Ministry of Education in Guyana in an article, “titled Stress Relief Tips for Teachers” proposes that teachers could manage stress by practising short breathing exercise during break time. The article states that  “ Close your eyes and inhale. Feel your belly and chest expand. Hold your breath for about five seconds and exhale. Repeat it 10 times. This will surely help to rejuvenate you”.
• Teachers can also request to go on their annual leave in order to replenish lost energy. Just like every other profession, teachers are entitled to an annual leave which varies from school to school. This leave period can be used to relax or undertake activities that relaxes the body and relieves stress.
• Listen to cool music when class goes on break. Although not everyone enjoys listening to music, cool music is believed to help calm nerves.  In addition, cool music also has therapeutic properties that helps to relax some people.  Therefore if you are someone who listens to music then this tip is perfect for you.
• It is also important to learn how to manage one’s mood swings so as to not take them out unnecessarily on students. Almost everyone goes through terrible mood swings sometimes but the trick is the ability to manage it so that it does not affect others.

Ability to manage stress can make a lot of difference in how effective you are as a teacher in class.  It is therefore important that you manage your stress in order to give your best in class.