We all know that the life of a teacher is a busy one, whatever level of education you teach at and however many hours you’re contracted for. Outside of actual classroom time, there are lesson plans to prepare, there’s work to mark, and there are usually other important responsibilities connected to the institution you work for too.
So, if you’re struggling to fit any relaxation time into your busy day-to-day schedule, we have some ideas for you. Many of the suggestions listed below can take 15 minutes or less and only require a smartphone or similar device for them to work. Have a read through and pick two or three options that catch your eye – make time to try out each of them over the coming week and see how you get on. You never know, you might find a new lifelong passion, or at least something to help you keep going until hometime on Friday!
Invest in Mindfulness
Mindfullness
Working as a teacher can be an extremely stressful job; it is rewarding too, of course, but many people underestimate just how demanding a career choice it can be. It’s important to take some time to yourself every day and make sure that you cultivate a healthy mind. This benefits both you and your students – after all, you can’t teach well if you’re completely burnt out. Apps like Calm, Headspace and Insight Timer all work on broadly similar principles. They provide you with guided meditations, as well as other helpful resources, to calm your mind and bring some peace to a busy work day. Whether you need a 5 minute mindfulness session first thing in the morning or a soothing story to help you switch off at night, these apps have you covered. Committing to a mindfulness practice every day might seem like a lot to ask right now, but once you get into the swing of things you’ll forget how you ever coped without it.
Learn Something New
If you’d rather spend your downtime concentrating on your own education and learning a new skill, then there are plenty of apps out there to help you do just that. DuoLingo is a famous example of a language learning app that really works. The lessons themselves can be as short as 3 minutes, and you can complete as many as you choose on a daily basis. Alternatively, Codecademy teaches people of any age how to code. Whether you want to build a website or analyse data, Codecademy can show you how using simple, quick lessons that are easy to get to grips with. Another great learning resource, whatever you’re interested in, is Skillshare. Access thousands of classes here covering a wide range of subjects, including animation, creative writing, leadership and productivity. The world is your oyster.
Play a Game
Sometimes all you want from your downtime is a little entertainment. Luckily, the mobile gaming boom has seen tons of development in this area, leading to hundreds of different options to play during your commute, tea break or sofa time.
Time for a game
The runaway hit this year has been Among Us, a little indie game that unexpectedly hit the bigtime and has had to grow in order to catch up with its customer base. However, several old favourites are still going strong as well; Pokerstars Casino provides online versions of all the classics like blackjack, roulette and slots games, whereas Nintendo have recently released a mobile version of everyone’s favourite Italian plumber, titled Super Mario Run. Whatever is waiting for you in the classroom, you’re still entitled to a little bit of gaming time on your breaks – it’s what keeps you young at heart.
Move Your Body
For those moments when simply engaging your brain is not enough, you need to get up and move. The Couch to 5K app, developed by the NHS and the BBC, is a great running app for both beginners and people returning to exercise after a break. It gently builds you up, one week at a time, until you can run for 30 minutes without stopping. However, if you’re already a practiced runner and are looking for something a bit more challenging, you could check out the Nike Training Club app. Packed full to the brim with workouts, hints, tips, links to relevant clothes and a big online community, it’s a one stop shop for those people who are serious about exercise. Although, you might not be looking for a high-powered, calorie burning workout, but instead for a way to move your body lovingly and with purpose. If that’s the case for you then, in the words of YouTube yoga sensation Adriene Mishler, simply Find What Feels Good. Her app of the same name offers an enormous library of yoga practices and lifestyle tools to help you feel you best.
