The adage “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is a reminder to not rush out the door in the morning without having a balanced meal. This idea of starting the day off right isn’t regulated to just having breakfast.
Teachers are often up earlier than many other professionals and it can be easy to let those mornings become cluttered and rushed. The rest of the day however, is dependent on how you begin. Don’t overlook the magnitude of positivity and massive amounts of productivity that stem from successful morning rituals. The most productive people in any field tend to have a few rituals they do every morning to help start a day built for success. Why should teachers be any different?
We’ve compiled a list of morning rituals that will help teachers start their day motivated, energized, and engaged.
A LITTLE EXERCISE
Some people make this a staple of their mornings. But even if you’re strapped for time or not a morning person, doing just 10 – 15 minutes of a workout can help wake up your body and mind. It can be stretching, yoga, jogging, or even some push ups and sit ups. Or do a combination of all five! This doesn’t have to be your main source of fitness training, just a little warm up for the day!
WRITE OUT YOUR GOALS
While you make your coffee, heat up your tea kettle, or just take a moment to get your supplies for the day in order, sit down and journal for a few minutes. Focus on goals you have for the day. Try to keep them obtainable, though feel free to do a little wishful thinking as well. This is just a process to help you clear and focus your mind on the tasks you need to accomplish during the day.
MINDFUL MEDITATION
All it takes is a few minutes of sitting, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breathing. A little time spent in the moment and being present in your body can help focus your mind, as well as energize your body.
HEALTHY BREAKFAST
That’s right, breakfast is still the most important meal of the day, so make sure you give yourself a little time to eat a healthy, well-balanced meal to help start the engine of your body. It doesn’t have to be a feast, as you hopefully have planned some healthy snacks for the rest of the day. Keep it simple, tasty, and healthy, and you’ll be ready for anything the day throws at you.
CURRENT EVENTS
Take a few minutes to listen to the radio, read a newspaper, or check the news headlines on social media. Filling yourself in with some of the more important current events of the day will help remind you of the bigger world you live in and could even trigger some lesson plan ideas. You never know!
When you wake up with a plan, and have a few rituals that will help you prepare for the day of teaching ahead, you’ll help alleviate stress and know that no matter what happens, you’ll be ready.