Ways to Minimize Stress at the End of the Year

These four, easy-to-implement ideas will make your life easier.

As summer approaches, every teacher is filled with equal parts excitement and anxiety. Before the reprieve hits, it is a whirlwind of grading, double-checking the standards, and cleaning up your classroom. Here are some suggestions to minimize your stress heading into the final stretch so you can enjoy signing yearbooks, instead of dreading packing.

1. Start now. Spring break may not seem like the time to start thinking about summer vacation, but it should be. Break down your end-of-year tasks into small pieces every week. Reorganizing substitute binders and cleaning out the crayon bins will seem a lot less tedious if you check it off your list now. Scholastic has great checklists you can reference, arranged by grades!

2. Declutter and let it go. As teachers, we often have a bad habit of holding onto things (namely, papers and boxes). If you do not use it, it’s time to let it go. (Maybe you’ve read the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up? It should be required summer reading for educators!) Recycle it, offer it to another teacher, or sell it. Consider using LetGo or Offer Up to quickly take a photo and post your item for some extra summer cash!

3. Be realistic with your time management. We expect this of our students and it’s time we practice what we preach. Make a check-list, and know what your limits are. Can you get three things done? Go for it. You’ll feel more accomplished hitting attainable targets each day.

4. If your classroom needs a good cleaning, consider asking for help! Think about reaching out to the National Junior Honor Society or National Honor Society for a bit of extra help. These are students who are just looking for ways to benefit their school campus, plus it will probably be fun for them (and you). Just remember: Pizza is always a good idea.