One of the health problems that Teachers face that can be accredited to their jobs is stress. It is a silent enemy that does not manifest physically until it is already severe.
The reason why stress can be undetected is because the symptoms are so common that it can be attributed to a simple bad day or a not so cooperative week. Then as it progress it will only then that physical hints will be visible, such as; deep eye bags, loosing eight, paleness, haggard dispositions and so on. Stress is can bring more damage than most common sickness out there, and in some acute cases, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart illnesses and nervous breakdown.
But why does it have to be that way? Why suffer something that can be avoided at the first place?
In our line some may think that stress is a common staple, but it is not. There are ways to avoid stress and make teaching more enjoyable for both the students and the teachers.
The first challenge that one may encounter in trying to avoid stress are overly stubborn and troublesome students. Remember, children intend to ask for attention, but the more you indulge them, the more they crave it. The only rational way for this is that, let them be. It is true that this may contradict our job description, but unless you are a pre-school teacher this is out of your league. By time those troublesome students will get tired of their own antics and just stop. But if they still do not, well, it is time to give them some referral to the guidance counselor; there must be something wrong with them.
Next thing that stress teachers out will be their lesson plans and logs. This one is easier than it seems. Today it will be just a breeze to type in and do those lesson plans in one go and just follow through it rather than do it daily. PowerPoint presentations can also be made before hand to reduce the last minute stress. Research proved that cramming kills a greater amount of brain neurons rather than activate it. It is like giving them steroids then letting it wear off. By these, one can just considerate in discussing and presenting the lessons to their students.
But the greatest stress factor that teachers face is the juggling of chores, along with what they need for their jobs; teachers are also parents and bread winners. They handle the houses’ budgeting and all other errands that they need to do. There is no way to avoid these though. It is a factor that we all have to live with. The only solution for it will be good time management and as wishful as it seems, to leave the problems where they are; if it’s at home leave it there don’t bring it to work, if it is at work don’t bring it home. That way you can concentrate at the task at hand.
And if all else fails, just remember why you became a teacher; the reason why you were standing in front of your students, teaching and mentoring them. Sometimes because of all the hardship and hassles we face head on, we forget the very reason why we teach.
Remember that and no stress can bring you down.
By: Medori Laxamana | Teacher III | Lucanin Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
