Sometimes, It is Good to Push Yourself

A Mini-Coaching Lesson for Educators

Dr. Linda Karges-Bone

“Ch Ch Ch Changes…Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.” David Bowie

Change. Is it a challenge for you? It is for me. A few weeks ago, I signed into a three day training for a new teacher evaluation model. Thirty -five years into the field, and here I was in the mix with novice assistant principals and cute, millennial kids talking about teacher observation and feedback, something that I had literally written textbooks on. It was an interesting experience. Here’s why: I was not really confident about the training. I was nervous. As the senior professor in the room, was I too old, too cynical, too set in my ways? Can an old academic dog learn new tricks? Was I comfortable with a new challenge?

           Perhaps you have become set in your ways as an educator. Even a few years into the game, one becomes comfortable with routines and expectations. It can be easy to ease into a “sweatpants” mentality about work. Loose, soft, no surprises. That is good in many ways. Routines are great for staying on task and for getting things checked off a mental list, but do they challenge you and your residents? Can an experienced or even novice educator- dog learn new tricks? Are you up for a challenge?

           Here are some suggestions for challenging oneself in the workplace, for remaining fresh and focused. I will use the word CHALLENGE as an acrostic for your stressed-out  brains.

C….Check in with professional organizations in and around the field. Organizations for health, wellness, activity, and mental health professionals are on this list. Monitor the professional websites for interesting blogs or articles. Attend a local conference. Network and mingle. Often, seeing others push themselves will challenge you.

H…. Hang out with people who make you think, laugh, and challenge you to grow and change for the better.

A…Ask for feedback from colleagues. Ask how you can improve. Ask how you can provide a more interesting and lively program. Ask others to join you in trying new things. Asking quality questions challenges your brain and your routines.

L….Listen to audiobooks or podcasts on your way to work. This is a good way to use time wisely and you can gather motivational strategies and ideas not simply for planning events and activities, but for staying creative and intuitive. Listening to a teacher whom you admire is a great way to challenge yourself.

L…Label yourself as a learner. Think of yourself as a professional who “isn’t done yet”. That’s how I successfully navigated the three-day training mentioned earlier. I sat with a table of 30 somethings and ate lunch with them and laughed and imagined myself as young and just starting in the field. It can be good feel young and new again and to challenge your self-image.

E….Expect change and do not fear it. Mental agility is honed by an open mind. Fear closes one’s mind. Remaining open and interested in change challenges boredom and invigorates creativity.

N…Never say never. Don’t limit yourself. Never say “I would never try a field trip to the beach.” Or “I’d never bring in a therapy dog or cat, too messy!” A negative mindset may be your greatest challenge.

G…Get and stay physically active. The connection between energy and mental acuity is well documented. Challenging both body and mind results in lasting change.

E…Embrace one new activity, event, or experience at least twice a year. Perhaps one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Build it into your long-range plans. Planning for challenge makes one accountable.

Three Easy Challenges for Educators

1.    Add an outdoor experience. If you find yourself and the residents stuck indoors, a healthy challenge is to move things outdoors. Oktoberfest Field Trip? Pumpkin Patch? Corn Maize? Get outdoors to challenge boredom.

2.    Include new sensory experiences. If your program is strong on the auditory modality, lots of talking and reading, then include a different modality. How about more texture for Fall? Pressing leaves? Making homemade dog treats with peanut butter and donating them to the animal shelter? Including a formerly excluded modality challenges neurons to fire.

3.    Observe a different program and colleague. Looking at someone else do what you do and keep an open mind. You may notice small, simple changes or additions that challenge your perspective.

Conclusion

           Are you up for a challenge? Why does it matter? How might a challenge affect your work, your health, or your sense of joy? Challenges are vital aspects of professional growth. It’s not about running a marathon, but about staying active and mentally fit. Perhaps, like me, a professional challenge might mean a workshop or training? Getting better at what one does feels good, especially when one pushes out of a comfort zone. It is exciting out there!