[Yulia Drozdova]

walking, physical activity,art

[allie]

Working with children can indeed be both rewarding and emotionally taxing at times. Here are some techniques that can help release stress:

1. Practice Deep Breathing: Take a few moments throughout the day to engage in deep breathing exercises. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. This can help calm your nervous system and reduce stress levels.

2. Take Short Breaks: Schedule short breaks throughout the day to step away from the classroom environment and recharge. Even just a few minutes of quiet time can help you reset and refocus.

3. Engage in Physical Activity: Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine to help release built-up tension and stress. Whether it’s going for a walk during your break, practicing yoga, or engaging in a quick workout session, physical activity can help boost your mood and energy levels.

4. Practice Mindfulness or Meditation: Set aside time each day to practice mindfulness or meditation. This can involve focusing on your breath, body sensations, or simply being present in the moment. Mindfulness practices can help promote relaxation and reduce stress.

5. Connect with Supportive Colleagues: Build a support network of colleagues who understand the challenges of working with children. Reach out to them for advice, encouragement, or simply to vent about your experiences. Connecting with others who share similar experiences can provide validation and support.

6. Maintain Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between your work life and personal life to prevent burnout. Set aside time outside of work to engage in activities that you enjoy and that help you relax and unwind.

7. Practice Self-Care: Prioritize self-care activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. This can include activities such as reading, journaling, spending time outdoors, or indulging in hobbies that bring you joy.

8. Seek Professional Support: If you find that your stress levels are becoming overwhelming or impacting your well-being, don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional. Therapy or counseling can provide valuable tools and strategies for managing stress and building resilience.

By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you can effectively release stress and maintain your well-being while working with children. Remember to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed to ensure that you can continue to thrive in your role as an early learning provider.

[Samantha Lucey]

I personally love to be out in nature, especially after a particularly hard day with the daycare kids. Its nice to get out not be on my phone, enjoy a walk with my own kids, and ask them about their days. I enjoy sitting at the dinner table and just eating in a well-lit space with music playing. I do a lot of breathing technics while at work, and during lunch I will spend 10 minutes in a reflective meditation to make sure I am aligned right and making sure I am not overstimulated when I go back from break.

[rosemary Quintero]

i have found that doing yoga helps me also making sure that i take brain brakes

[Autumn Canfield]

When working with children, the things I do to relive stress are: Taking a break, eating a snack/food, or even just sitting and holding the kids makes me feel better. Going home at the end of the day and doing something fun also helps to give me a break.

[Danielle]

Deep breathing/meditation, engaging in music, engaging in outdoor play (not just for the kids, but also for adults)

[Ayan Ibrahim]

deep breathing, meditation, and journaling to write down thoughts

[Liwen Huang]

I meditate and if I need to I will seek comfort in my friends.

[Kayla]

<b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Working with children is very rewarding and very emotional work. Are there any techniques you’ve found to release stress?

I try to take deep breaths in the moment to ground myself and to keep myself from lashing out at children who are just trying their best too! Also being able to take the time that is given to me to step away to recollect my thoughts and calmness.

[Tetiana Nix]

I like to take walks on my break I take deep breaths, and that helps me reevaluate my teaching, and it gives me time to relax and reset the way that I feel

[Jordan]

The techniques I’ve found that release stress are deep breaths, music after work in the car and playing nursery rhymes for the kids. If I’m able to walk away for a minute then I would walk a way take dee breaths drink water and come back ready to go.

[Christina Rachelle Fiant]

Calming deep breath exercises, having some positive thoughts ready to go to – “happy places” – and sit with a moment, and going for a walk really help me. Music, maybe dancing or getting some physical movement or exercise, aromatherapy- smelling something calming, eating something if maybe my blood sugar or chemicals are a bit off, and talking to a trusted friend or coworker also are great helps.

[Bethany]

exercising, listening to music, getting outside, eating healthy (and some dark chocolate), talking with someone I love are all ways I destress and feel my best.

[Mackenzie]

deep breathing, reminding myself to stay calm in stressful situations, using music as a way to calm my mind or listening to podcasts to distract myself from stress, and taking a walk or a break when i’m feeling to overwhelmed.

[Mackenzie]

Deep breathing is an effective way to manage the stresses of working with children. Other ways that I have found work for me is singing a song to myself in my head to distract me from the stressful thoughts, taking a bathroom break to collect myself and my thoughts, and having a vics stick handy to smell when I need a shock to my system in order to calm down.