3 simple rules to become a happier teacher

Studies show that teachers’ well-being impacts students’ academic progress; as the year advances alongside the misery of misunderstood and underappreciated educators, it is essential to create positive school cultures. Being a teacher is strenuous, and it is no secret. Planning, teaching, meetings, and marking make days look alike, eroding confidence and enthusiasm. 

In the meantime, what if there was a way to make each day stand out? What if there was a way to become a happier teacher?

Here are 3 rules to becoming a happy teacher:

1- Teachers should dress to impress (themselves)

Happiness starts in your closet, at the back of your underwear drawer. There, meticulously folded, is a special underwear you keep for a special day and opportunity. Lace, silk, or 100% cotton is your best; you probably have never worn it.
Wait no more and put it on; this is the start of making each day a special one, and here is why:

If you want a great example of a teacher who dresses to impress, take a look at Mark Thackeray in “To Sir With Love.”

2- Teachers should surround themselves with the right people

After identifying your special-day clothes, it is time to clean out your closet at school. 

We all have some colleagues who make us feel down. You know this type of people: the mood hoovers. They have that incredible ability to suck the energy out of everyone. They say no to anything, are unhappy about everything, and seem to have the most challenging life at school. You only hear them speaking to complain or to criticize, and they are allergic to change. 

First, if it doesn’t feel right, it is probably wrong, so minimize the time you spend with them. It is not your job to make them feel better; leave it to the leadership. Learn how to say no and say that you don’t have the time to discuss. Please stay away from them; they have a problem with every solution. David Burcus, the author of Leading from Anywhere, writes you’re not the average of the FIVE people you surround yourself with. It’s way bigger than that. You’re the average of all the people who surround you. So take a look and make sure you’re in the right surroundings (here).

“My friends are my estates,” Emily Dickinson wrote. In your case, your colleagues are your estates. Make sure you nurture them. You can face all the challenges a school offers with the right people around you. 

3- If teachers can’t change reality, they should change the way they view it

Teachers are constantly under the radar: students, parents, and leadership expect them to perform. Inevitably, self-doubt becomes the teacher’s shadow. But remember that where there is shadow, there must be light; you must turn around to see it.
Switching perspectives is empowering: things eventually change when you change how you look at things.

If something disturbs you, do something about it:

I used to moan whenever I walked past litter in the corridor until I decided to pick candy wraps and bottle lids that crossed my way. In less than a day, some students started doing the same thing.

I changed my attitude towards something I could not change and unexpectedly led positive change by example.  

If you can’t change it, find a reason to enjoy it:

A problematic class could be a reason for self-pity or a challenging opportunity in your teaching career. Parents’ evenings might take a lot of your time, but they allow you to know your students better by connecting with the families.

Mondays will always be Mondays. Have you noticed that Monday moaners are also Friday longers? If Monday moaners live for the weekend, imagine how miserable their week must be, a colleague once remarked. Pessimism fuels unhappiness, so it is time to add more optimism to your diet.

Takeaways

We all love people who are up, who smile, and who find solutions. You can become that teacher! Becoming a happier teacher will inevitably make you a better teacher.
Each day is a special day, a chance to try something different and an opportunity to make life better. Start by wearing your best underwear, surround yourself with the right colleagues, and shift your perspective. Become a mood radiator and, alongside your fancy undergarments, put on a contagious smile.