Beating the Monday Morning Blues

I'm Brian Martin, I'm a second grade teacher who find so much joy and fulfillment in what I do. Being in the classroom for almost 20 years, I know all about the time, effort and energy that you are continuously pouring into those you serve. That's why each week, I'm going to bring you an inspiring message to give you a little joy, and help fill your cup back up. Thank you for being here, and welcome to the teaching champions podcast. What's going on everybody, I hope this finds you striving and thriving and doing absolutely amazing. It was a good first week back for the new year. And it's always amazing though, how after just a week off, you can get out of that morning routine so easily. And as much as I love this profession, when that alarm clock went off on Monday morning, there was a piece of me that wasn't ready to get back into the grind quite yet. But none of us had much of a choice in that matter. And as difficult as it was on my end to get in the groove, once I pulled into the parking lot, and I started seeing some of my students as I made my way to the classroom. And then once that bell rang, and my champion showed up in my doorway, and I could feel them smiling from ear to ear under their mass. And I felt the energy they brought as they were beyond excited to share about their winter break. And to see their friends again. It was refreshing, and it helped me transition back to the grind of the workweek. Now this episode, we're gonna dive into ways to combat those dreaded Monday morning blues, because it's not just Monday's after break that are hard to get moving. There are times when coming off the weekend, it's tough, some weekends seem to be over before they even begin. And it can be hard to get in that right frame of mind on Monday mornings. And if we're being honest, the teaching profession has been hit with a lot over the past few years. There's a ton of people that thought coming into this year, it was gonna be a lot different than the year before. But it hasn't. And it's affected a lot of us. It's affected school morale, it may have affected you, or may have affected someone that you know, mentally and emotionally. And we're gonna talk about a few things that we can do to try and combat some of these negative emotions, strategies that we can use. So that when that alarm clock starts going off early on Monday morning, we're not dreading the week to come. But instead, we have a little excitement, a little energy, a little hope, a little pep in our step as we walk into our schools on Monday morning. And if you set out and Google ways to beat the Monday blues, you're going to find article after article with great advice on how to set yourself up for a great Monday. Whether it's before leaving school on Friday, making sure that you're ready to go on Monday so that you can leave work at work. And you don't find yourself spending the weekend on school related things. Maybe it's sleep is that should always be at the top of our list. Because when we're sleep deprived and exhausted, it doesn't just affect us physically. But it affects us emotionally, it affects us mentally. Other ways that prime ourselves for a great Monday morning is to get that body moving in exercise, meditate or have a gratitude practice. Maybe it's putting on some upbeat music and having something scheduled on Monday evening that you're looking forward to. There's always that things are really looking bleak that you put on that teaching champions podcast on Monday morning, and I'm just joking about that. But there's so many great ways to start the week. I want to add three more things to that list though. And as I go through these, think about the Mondays where you heard that alarm clock go off and you bounced out a baton you were fired up for the day. What was the difference about those days? Well, Major enthusiasm for the week. A little bit more. One way to fight those Monday blues is to remind yourself that you matter. Remind yourself that you make a difference. You may say that you're tired of hearing this. But honestly, it's the truth. It's easy to get lost and test scores, it's easy to get focused on where we are, and where we need to go. It's easy to get caught up in the things that we can't control that are happening all around us, it's easy to get consumed with a negative, that we forget about the difference that we make that impact you don't always see. But it's there. There are students who can't wait until Monday morning to see you. They can't wait to be able to share something with you. They can't wait to hear your voice, to seek your wisdom to hear a joke that you share with them, their students who just want to be in your presence, just because when they're with you, it's the only place where they feel seen, heard and valued. Some of the students who feel this the most about you might be the quietest students in your class, and might be the student who pushes back against you the most. A few years ago, I received a letter from a student who had moved out of district. And it was very kind, and it was moving. And the student was always very quiet and shy. And to be honest, it was one that I wouldn't necessarily think felt that way about me. And it just shows you never know the difference that you're making. When that alarm clock goes off. And you take that big exhale, remind yourself that there is someone out there who woke up today, and couldn't wait to be around you today. And a little add on to this. There are adults in the building, who appreciate who you are, and who look forward to seeing you. I think it's important that we keep that in mind that we need to be there for each other, to lean on each other, to support each other, to encourage one another. So never downplay what you bring to your school. Another strategy to think about comes from Oprah. And she says, You're responsible for the energy that you create for yourself, and you're responsible for the energy that you bring to others. Now, you may ask, how does this help me with the Monday morning blues, if we set out our intentions outwardly, and say, You're gonna show up today, and you're going to smile, you're going to show up, and you're going to compliment those around you that you're going to show up and look for the good, feel the good, cheer on the good and pass on the good, then that is something to look forward to. I'm a firm believer that what you put out comes back to you. So if you show up, and you are giving off those positive vibes, then good things are going to come back your way. And that doesn't mean that there won't be tough moments throughout the school week. But they're going to be a lot of great and fulfilling moments. So look outward, be excited to let your light shine and spread your joy. And the last strategy is to remind yourself that there are going to be moments that you're going to share a laugh at this week. There will be things that are gonna happen that you will look back on at the end of the day, and you're going to be able to smile about you're going to be able to laugh about this week, there was a pretty special moment. It was dismissal time. And one of my champions parent was late picking them up. And this never happens. The champion's parent is always there right away to pick them up. So we waited and waited and waited. And as all the other students were picked up, the student began to get nervous. And we walked down to the office so that we can make a phone call home and this child started to tear up and I was reassuring the young one in trying to put them at ease. And we get to the office and the Secretary is calling home. And there's this is happening. My principal comes out of his office sees my champion is a little shaken up and he has come over to now our office is pretty big. And behind the secretary's desk is a big island that has file cabinets underneath it and a hard top. Well my principal reaches into a drawer and pulls out two ping pong paddles and a ping pong ball. He gives one of the paddles to the champion and the two of them use that island in the middle of them off This is a ping pong table. And they engage in this game of ping pong. The school secretary and I started cheering. The school resource officer walked in to see what was going on. And he started chuckling. This students teacher from last year saw this. And she starts cheering on the young students. And everyone was there cheering and laughing. The child who had a few moments earlier, was nervous and shaken up, had a big smile on their face. They forgot their worries, and was lost in the joy of the moment. And this was just a small moment. But it was a good one. It was a moment that was filled with laughter and joy. It highlighted just one of the beautiful things that a school brings. In these moments. They're happening every day, in every school. If you're intentional, and you look for them, you'll see them. If you let yourself embrace those moments, then you will experience the joy and happiness that are within them. These moments can be easy to miss if we keep our heads down, and are not open to them. But if you make that choice to be present, to focus on the good, then the weak has so much to offer you. Monday morning blues happened to us all. But there are tools that we can use to embrace the week ahead and have a little excitement for what's to come. A colleague of mine said to me this week, days are long, but weeks are fast. And there's a lot of truth to that. Time goes by fast. So make a commitment to yourself, to look for the good in the day, to celebrate it, to share in those laughs. And always remember, someone is looking forward to seeing you today. Thank you for being here for being part of the teaching champions community, I appreciate you. And if you think someone you know, battles those Monday morning blues and can benefit from this message, I would appreciate it if you would share it with them. The teaching champions community is all about encouraging, supporting and lifting each other up. And always remember, whether you're from rural America, to urban America, to Canada, to Spain to Bahrain, we're all on that same team. We're all on that same mission. And we're always better together. And my challenge for you this week, is to listen to this following story. And then think of ways that you can set yourself up to embrace the week to come. And the 1975 commencement address at the University of California, Riverside, writer, Joan Didion share some life advice. I'm not telling you to make the world better. Because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in, not to just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it. But to live in, to look at it, to get the picture to live recklessly, to take chances to make your own work and take pride in it to seize the moment. And if you ask me, why should you should bother to do that? I could tell you that the graves are fine and private place. But none I think do their embrace, nor do they sing their or write or argue or see the title bore on the Amazon or touch their children. And that's what there is to do. And get it while you can. And good luck at it. Don't just live for the weekend. Find the joy in the week. Keep being amazing, my friends. And as we go out into the week, May you step into your strength, may you step into your shine, and let's build our champions up. Have a great week everybody