Stress Busting Hacks for Early Childhood Educators

[Tracy]

Walks and worship music!

[Lori]

I breathe deep. I have found that l hold my breath, so if l am stressed, l pay attention to my breathing. I sing songs to myself, when l can. I make sure l drink water. I like to say in stressful situations, ” what if it all works out” it makes me laugh and things almost always do work out

[Katherine Ventura]

I usually like to take hikes and nature takes the stress away as I walk or run into the forests or mountains

[Toya]

During circle time with my students, we love doing yoga, dance sessions, and singing along songs which helps with lighting the mood.

[jillienne]

I will put on an audiobook and allow my brain to go to another place for a bit. This allows me to focus on something entirely “out of this world”. I do this with boundaries, of course.

[Reshma Popat]

I love being outside. Drawing, writing, journaling, and being around my loved ones.

[Mandi]

Taking naps, going to bed early, making sure to take time to eat even when I’m busy.

[Miranda]

I wake up with plenty of time to get ready so I am not rushing in the morning, and I prep my clothes and coffee the night before. When I feel myself getting overly stressed, I like to slow down and focus my brain by working a puzzle and listening to a podcast or a comfort show.

[Erin]

I really enjoy walking with my dog. Calling a friend to talk things through. Home is very much my safety net.I am pretty good at taking time for me. Even if it is just 5 minutes. Listening to music is a big go to for me. Prayer helps a lot. Stepping away and communicating that I need a minute. Reading a book, going for a swim, yoga. These are things that help.

[Jen]

I try to walk daily, listen to music to decompress, and try not to feel pressured to always respond to texts/emails as soon as they come in.

[Beatriz]

When we have very loud day in the day care. I put some music for kids to dance and i dance with them so then they seems happy and enjoying and I enjoy it too.

[Brianna]

To help keep stress under control, I try to use simple strategies throughout the day that help my body and mind reset. One thing that works well for me is taking a quick “one-minute vacation” — stepping away from noise to breathe deeply or visualize something calming. I also like celebrating small wins, because recognizing what is going right boosts my mood and motivation. Listening to peaceful music helps me relax and stay focused, especially during busy or overwhelming moments. I’ve also learned to drink water regularly and take short walks when I can, because even a few minutes of movement can release tension. These habits allow me to stay calmer and more present, which helps me support the children around me with patience and positivity.

[Shannon G]

Taking time to praise God and pray through a favorite Psalm is always helpful for me. Stopping to look up at the clouds and take a breath. Stretching. Getting outside either to walk, play with littles, or work in the garden. Going to the beach at sunset and taking pictures. Be a little silly with the kids–sometimes “tag” looks like teacher being a pizza-hungry T-rex, with elbows tucked at my side, and hands curled into two-fingered T-rex “claws” to tickle the arms of any “pizza” she can manage to reach.I also have found that taking a little extra thought into how I’ll prep my classroom for a day or a season has a big impact. I like to post key reminders for myself that are inspirational or helpful to walk kids through problem-solving, etc. Little touches of decor can be great! And also bringing in new and engaging items or activities to celebrate the beauty and wonder around us–can be as simple as grabbing a couple flowers from the garden for kids to touch, see, and smell at circle time; or not-so-simple: e.g. if it’s snowy outside, I love to bring snow into the classroom in a large tub or cooler, and we use it for art–each kid gets a tray with some snow to make a “sculpture”, and then we also use watercolor paint or food coloring in water to paint our “sculptures”. (This also turns into a science activity, naturally!)

[Alyssa Snyder]

I have learned many tools through therapy to prioritize my mental and physical wellbeing. This looks like taking a walk in the morning and evenings to give myself time to get ready for the day and decompress after the day. When I am feeling well enough (I fight a chronic battle against Crohn’s Disease and that alone takes most of my energy) I like to go to the gym after work and over time it does build confidence. When in crisis i have found that doing the 5,4,3,2,1 method works really well to ground me in the moment or temperature therapy (cold shower, hot bath, ice cubes in hands).

[Trainer]

Alyssa, your strategies are inspiring! Prioritizing self-care and utilizing grounding techniques are essential for maintaining overall well-being.

[Brylee]

I will do songs dancing or a I spy game to grasp their attention