That Winter Scowl...

Happy President's Day! We hope you are able to enjoy some self-renewal time today! If not, you might find yourself looking similar to the picture above! : ) Like the Presidents we are celebrating today, you too are leaders who need some much-deserved time to reflect and renew! Our students deserve a sunny classroom even in this, gray cold season. Here are the top ten qualities of a self-renewing person. Hope these can be helpful tips, especially in these winter months.

Ten Qualities of Self-Renewing Adults
By Pamela McLean, Ph.D.

1. VALUE DRIVEN
Primary anchors within self
Time gets organized around critical priorities
(Remember the "who" and "why" are much more important than the "how" and "what")

2. CONNECTED TO THE WORLD
Caring and Communicating Listen and Empathize Networking and Seeking
(Find ways to give your students and families time to express themselves as well as listen and connect to each other)

3. CREATE SOLITUDE AND QUIET
Removing oneself voluntarily from one’s habitual environment promotes understanding and perspective that transcends day-to-day life
(set aside at least 15-30 minutes a day for quiet time to reflect)

4. GOOD PACING
Life is more than work, work, work, do, do, do... It is QUALITY rather than schedules, INTEGRITY rather than applause
(Set aside one hour a day and one day a week where you can just "be" instead of "do")

5. CONTACT WITH NATURE
Nature is a universal resource for renewal – Use It!
(Bundle up and take a walk for some fresh air.)

6. CREATIVE AND PLAYFUL
Staying alive by taking life in
(Find a way to incorporate an interactive, competitive game or a creative expression activity in your lesson, model it for the kids by doing it yourself as well.)

7. ADAPTIVE TO CHANGE
Allowing ourselves to pursue best options
(Explore some alternative learning style activities to mix up the flow of your activities.)

8. LEARN FROM THE DOWN TIMES
Learn more from our failures and our down times than from our long and sweet plateaus
(On bad days or failed activities, take a deep breath and reflect over what you could do next time to improve.)

9. ALWAYS IN TRAINING
When learning, we feel drawn to new possibilities
(Learn and listen from your students as much as they learn from you. What are they saying, teaching you about life?)

10.FUTURE ORIENTED
Look for challenges to deepen our experience and make a difference in the world
(Remember the seeds of kindness you sew with your students and families will have a ripple effect!)