We are all teachers, and it doesn’t matter if it’s your career or an informal role, but you have to stop.

Stop worrying about the list of ceaseless to-dos and extra-curricular commitments.

Just stop and breathe.

When was the last time you took a breath and noticed you did — noticed that you intentionally paused because you needed to stop giving and steal back a quick second for yourself?

The Goal:

Take back a few moments a day for just you. Not for your students, kids, spouse, parents, or friends. Just. You.

What do you like to do? You don’t have to carve out time to pick up a new hobby, but you do have to reclaim a few moments of joy in your day every day. No exceptions.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not selfish. You need to recharge your batteries to continue giving full power to those you care about!

Experiment: 

Start by putting on a song that brings you joy. Before you hit play, open up to a fresh page in your favorite journal or pull up a blank document on your computer. Then for the duration of the song, list out all the things that bring you joy — large, the small, the actions, moments, and people who fill your tank when it’s running on E.

Then, using your brainstorm, highlight the pleasurable activities you can easily practice daily. The amount of time spent on this joyful activity is less significant. What’s important is that these moments are mindful. For example, if you’re going to re-read a book that you loved growing up for five minutes a night, take time to feel the book in your hands and remember the details of the cover. Open the book with intention, feeling each page as you turn it. Be fully present for every moment of those five minutes. It’s amazing how time stretches when you slow down to enjoy it.

My Results:

Of course, results will vary, but if you’re intimidated by starting your own list, keep reading. If not, stop, go do the experiment, and enjoy!

Still reading? Maybe you’d like to see what happened when I followed my own advice. The list that follows was generated during Iron and Wine’s “Cinder and Smoke”:

• Hot towel on my face at the end of each day
• Homemade face masks
• Reading or listening to fiction
• Reading about people who fight for justice
• Doodling
• Baking for no specific reason (and sharing it with friends)
• Tea
• Mushroom elixirs
• Handwriting random thank you cards
• Listening to lyrics

This last week, my stolen moments were super simple:

MONDAY: Read before bed

TUESDAY: Hot towel on my face after cleansing

WEDNESDAY: Made a cup of tea mindfully

THURSDAY: Read before bed

FRIDAY: Hot towel on my face after cleansing

SATURDAY: Wrote a letter to a friend

SUNDAY: Doodled

When this list starts to feel tired or I enter a new season of life, I’ll repeat the process and experiment with other simple activities I can easily sneak into my day.

Try the experiment or have a ritual that brings you joy on a daily basis? Sharing is caring. Comment below, but only if it brings you joy! 😉