Convo 2: Keep A Few Hard and Fast Rules For Your Sanity

This is mostly for folks who are in the classroom, but honestly, having some hard and fast boundaries for yourself in your space can really help with anxiety and work related stress. But no matter how many years pass, the kids still remember me for some of these rules.

The trick is to not pick too many, honestly, 3-4. In order to pick these, you’ve gotta know yourself. You need to know what will set you off so you can protect your peace, and everyone elses.

My daily rules are the following:
1. Chairs pushed in. You get up, you push your chair in. You move seats, push your chair in. You leave class, push your chair in. It keeps the room looking neat, organized and is the most basic form of respect. Call me old fashioned, but if kids know you sweat the small stuff like pushing your chair in, they treat your space differently, and in turn - you.
2. No cursing. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it slips out. So that might get a look. But if you’re cursing in casual conversation or cursing someone out (no matter how much someone might deserve it) they gotta go. They’ve gotta leave the space, have a convo and a walk, and then try again. It is another translation of respect and might take a while. It won’t ever be 100%, but it works.
3. Don’t let kids drink soda. It’s sticky. Children get unnecessarily hyper - blah blah, this hardly makes me Ms. Trunchbull. This rule is truly just for my sanity. I have a story about a student bringing catfish for breakfast, and you should definitely not let kids bring that in either. If you don’t believe me, ask Erica Beal.
4. Clean up your room at the end of the day. No matter how long the day was. I clean my room, pick up the papers, sweep, save the pencils on the floor from going in the trash. This helps me decompress, but also makes you a favorite of arguably one of the most important people in the building, the custodian.

So many of these rules I make so my brain can function in much of the chaos that is the normal day. Reflecting on what resonates with you and setting three to four non-negotiable rules can be transformative. These guidelines may seem trivial, but they form the cornerstone of respect in my space. It's not about a laundry list of rules but rather about choosing what aligns with your values and sticking to them.

That’s the bell 🔔 Talk to y’all later!