The first day of school is a wonderful time! Students, parents, teachers (and administrators too) are a little excited, nervous, and anxious for the start of the school year and have been working tirelessly to make sure that everything is in order and goes smoothly. As we all go through the ups and downs of the first dayz, here are a few reminders:

1. Take care of yourself! Our number one goal as educators is to do everything possible to positively effect the lives of students. We are best able to do that when we take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. This means something different for everyone, but here are a few ways that you can ensure you are ready for the next challenge: exercise, spend quality time with family and friends, enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a long day, read and/or journal, do a random/thoughtful act of kindness!
2. Build positive relationships! The longer I am in education, the more I realize that it is all about relationships. Take the time to build those relationships with students, parents, and colleagues. As much as possible, especially when a difficult situation arises, try and think about how you would want to be treated or responded to if you were in the other person’s shoes. Lastly, take that extra few minutes to ask how someone is doing and really be present and listen to the answer.
3. It can wait until tomorrow! Staying in the classroom, or the office, late into the evening is not always the best strategy. Yes, there are things that need to be completed and now (hopefully not from procrastination), but most things can wait until you get back to work tomorrow morning. Ambition and a hard working attitude are wonderful, but at what cost? So, get out of the classroom or office at a reasonable time and refer back to #1. “Work hard and play hard.”