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Stress = personal growth
Leveraging first-day jitters for the best school year yet
Read time: 2 minutes and 41 seconds
The first-day jitters never truly go away. Whether it’s your first year or your twentieth, it’s normal to feel anxiety, excitement, and stress as you enter into a new year with a new class list.
But did you know that stress is valuable?
Stress = Growth… but only if you leverage it right.
Stress can be a good thing?
When you think ‘stress,’ what comes to mind? Perhaps setting up a Pinterest-perfect classroom just in time for the first bell to ring, building your lesson plans, or getting familiarized and organizing your new students' paperwork?
While stress is typically not enjoyable, research shows that low-to-moderate stress can result in increased personal achievement, a more positive state of mind, and improved brain function.
But this doesn’t mean all stress is good. Quickly, if not processed correctly, it can turn toxic leading to burnout and negative mental health impacts.
So how can you make sure the stress you’re handling creates positive impacts for your life and career, and not the opposite?
How to put your first-day jitters to work for you
Step 1: Accept that there will be unknown challenges.
Maybe the things you had under control last year might not work for this group of students. Maybe you may have curriculum changes or new initiatives — regardless, you will face challenges you haven’t before.
Step 2: Recognize this anticipation of change signals personal growth.
If you enter into a new year with full confidence and without any questions or jitters… you might not be challenging yourself enough to spark personal and professional growth.
Being nervous and experiencing those butterflies in your stomach is normal and okay.
Step 3: Build your plan.
Without a plan, nervousness can quickly cascade into anxiety. Create a step-by-step plan for facing challenges and adapt only one change at a time.
Step 4: Leave room for flexibility.
You might not have the solutions to this year’s challenges just yet. Leave room for your students to input ideas and for problem-solving and adaptation. Your classroom and approach don’t have to be 100% solidified on the first day of school.
Step 5: Tap into your community.
It’s okay — and important — to ask for help. Not sure how to approach a problem? Reach out to other faculty members with similar experiences or insights.
Start the year by identifying three things you can improve on this year — technology use, classroom management, tackling a new and challenging topic, you name it — and connect with other teachers who can help.
As an educator, you are busy. But you don’t have to have the answer to every question. The stress or jitters you feel entering into the new school year can actually help you grow and thrive, both personally and professionally.
P.S. We want to hear from you! Respond to this email and let us know what topic you’d like to see us break down next. How can we help you make this the best school year yet?