Is your stress coping strategy working FOR or AGAINST you?
When we experience prolonged negative stress our body consumes Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins and potassium phosphate at an incredible rate. If we are not regularly consuming adequate amounts of these nutrients through our diet, then the resultant deficiency increases our stress response which in turn causes a greater deficiency in these protective nutrients. We tend to make poor food choices when we are under stress. Have you found yourself doing or consuming any of the following? Caffeine:- 2.5 cups of coffee a day [250 mg caffeine] will exhaust the adrenal glands, lead to poor concentration and decreased effectiveness, cause sleep disturbances and increased levels of cortisol [stress hormone] in the blood. Eating the Wrong Foods:- stressed people tend to crave…
How to Feel F.R.E.S.H. at Work Every Day
Have you been through a tough period lately? Too much to do and not enough time? Feeling a bit low on energy but not sure what to do about it? What you need is a F.R.E.S.H. approach to work. It starts with understanding where you sit on the engagement matrix: Green – When most people start a new job (even if they have prior experience elsewhere) they have lots of enthusiasm but may lack the skills to do the job. Keen – As they develop their skills they move towards the ideal combination of ability and enthusiasm . . I like my job and I know how to do it. Mean – They still have the skills to do the…
How to DESTRESS Your Life
In today’s economic climate, there are an ever increasing amount of responsibilities and social pressures which can often lead to feelings of stress. To help manage these situations below is a quick DESTRESS strategy for you: D – Do the ‘Urgent AND Important’ things first Prioritise those things that are not just urgent, but also important. Things that seem ‘urgent’ but really won’t impact your day are often the things that keep you ‘busy’ rather than ‘productive’. E – Exercise every day The body can deal with stress effectively as long as it is dealt with quickly. How? By exercising! Aim for at least 15 minutes every day. S – Stop and think about your health During stressful times our…
GROW Model for Goal Setting
Try the GROW model for a simple model that is easy to use and helps give clarity around what you want to achieve. The model also helps you consider your options. The model also helps convert goals into actions. As well as using it for goal setting, it is also an excellent tool for coaching and problem solving. This is a practical tool that you can use for yourself and in the classroom. Students understand this model easily and as a teacher you can empower students to apply the GROW model to their own situation and take ownership for their actions. GROW stands for Goal, Reality, Options, Will / Wrap-up. See below for a break down of each step. GOAL…
Email Madness
Keeping it under control We need to consider how and why we are using e-mail. Whilst it can be an effective communication method if used well, used poorly, it wastes a lot of unnecessary time. Think before you write, not when you write – Remember that a face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication. If that’s not possible, use email to set up a telephone call and use email as a record of agreed outcomes. What can be discussed in minutes often takes hours in the creation and transmission of a series of emails between two parties. Don’t confuse Important and Urgent – When sending an email that requires action by a specific time, consider including this in the…
Communication – An Essential Investment!
It’s “Tax time” for every individual & organisation whether Company, Community, Clan or Church. These magic words present an opportunity to finalise projections for the next 12 months, complete financial returns and report to stakeholders. Similarly, it is an ideal time to consider the effectiveness of individual and organisational communications over the past 12 months. Consider the people we work, live and play with. Let’s start with a few questions: Do your relationships feel ‘out of balance’? What sort of ‘return on investment’ are you seeing? Have external factors influenced performance outcomes? Does it seem that expectations just aren’t being met? Time to take responsibility and be part of the solution! Are you ready? Choose two out of the following…
10 ‘Commandments’ for Work, Leadership and Life
We all know the story of the 10 commandments. Recently I was inspired to reflect on my own personal commandments and how they influence my life. Through reflecting on our personal values we can all contribute to the world being a better place. Be here now – Being present, fully awake and focused on what is occurring at the moment enables you to respond most resourcefully to what is happening. Breathe – By consciously breathing deeply and fully and becoming aware of your natural breath, you will maintain your self-awareness and ability to flow with life. You also lower your stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, when you breathe deeply. Listen to your intuition – By listening to your inner voice,…
Seven Ways to Engage Students
Have you noticed that “on-task” does not always mean engaged? How do you achieve both? We know that engagement is the key to learning but we also know that some of our students are bored with the curriculum and activities being offered in classrooms. To battle this problem, much focus and attention has been placed on getting students to be “on-task.” Indeed, the link between on-task behaviour and student achievement is strong. However, just as a worker at a company can be busy without being productive, a student can be on-task without actually being engaged in the learning. True, long-lasting learning comes not merely as a result of being on-task, but being deeply engaged in meaningful, relevant and important tasks. We see…