We previously mentioned that April and May tend to find more negativity in the halls, classrooms, and teachers lounge. Don’t get sucked in. Remember to stay positive and when you feel yourself slipping into the negative realm, think about the following tips and revisit our post on positivity for some awesome quotes to bring you back to positivity!

Have you been doing your reflection? While daily seems best, it’s not always doable, especially if you are not into journaling. But, you do need to reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

What do we suggest?

• The Good.
  • Write it down in a notebook, on a notecard, or on a sticky and put it where you can get to it easily when you have a bad day or just need some encouragement.
• The Bad.
  • Write it down.
  • Record what you learned and how it could be different next time.
  • HIGHLIGHT the lesson so you focus on that!
    
• The Ugly.
  • Write it down.
  • Breathe.
  • Figure out if there is a lesson to be learned or if you just want to be done with it.
  • Done with it? Throw it away. It’s over.
  • Learn from it…put it with the ugly and HIGHLIGHT the lesson learned so it’s your focus.

• Have you taken time for YOU? Remember, you need to put your oxygen mask on first. Have you taken tie to read, walk, workout, craft, fish, drive, etc?
• If the answer is yes, you are on the right track.
• If the answer is no, please schedule your ME time for the following month. Put it on the calendar. Block that time out.
  

• Have you been strict with your boundaries? Do you have a set time to leave the school? I mean, really leave it. If you enjoy grading at home, fine.
• But, do you have limits on how much you work at home? Set work time boundaries.
• Teachers are one of the few professions that take work home and where other kids are focused on the same and sometimes more than our own. Those kiddos move on.
• Focus on your life. Your family. Your sanity. Set the boundaries.
  

Have you been getting sucked into the negativity that can be found in the teacher’s lounge or the teacher’s workroom? It’s so easy to do do, especially at this time of year when standardized testing is priority and spring weather is here and no one wants to be inside.

Don’t get sucked into it! Do you find yourself complaining? Complaining without a solution is just plain whining and that’s for negative Nelly. Don’t be that person.

What do we suggest?

• Find solutions.
• Find the happy side.
• So, you can’t have a margarita at school; stock the bar at home. But in all seriousness, this is vital to your emotional health and sanity.

Stay away from the negativity and if you are being negative, find the solutions. Take the tech-free walk so your brain gets a break and the solutions start flowing in!

Are you looking at your vision board monthly or more often? It should be where you can see it daily.

• Remember your why.
• Remember where you want to be.
• Don’t just dream it. Make it happen.

That’s one of the purposes of your monthly compass check…to make sure you are on track to what you want in life. Don’t let go of that vision!

Finish the year with a contagious positive attitude many will love and some will probably hate you for. Hate? Why? They don’t want to be happy. They want to complain and sulk. Don’t let that phase you. Do you. Be your best positive self.