Many educators find themselves suffering from various types of anxiety, which can make and break their performance in the classroom. The good news is that with a little bit of effort and knowledge, teachers can feel much better, more relaxed, and more confident both inside and outside the classroom. Anxiety management is really important for teachers to work efficiently.
With the right attitude, teachers can get the results they want in their classes and increase their confidence in themselves and their ability to help others. In order to find ways to reduce anxiety, a teacher needs to know that there are many symptoms and signs of being anxious.
Symptoms of anxiety in the classroom are difficult to cover up. The main symptom is feeling afraid, uncomfortable, or edgy. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, shaky hands, and a sense of impending doom.
9 Anxiety Management Techniques For Teachers:
- Deep Breathing Techniques
This anxiety management technique can be achieved through breathing slowly but deeply until the body is relaxed, in as deeply as you can, and out as slowly as possible. This process should be done three times before moving on to the next step.
- Move Around A Bit
Another great way to release endorphins and allow your body to relax is to get up and move around a little bit. Teachers should not exercise excessively in the classroom, but simply moving around and doing some stretching exercises or yoga poses will help relieve tension and bring your mind into a relaxed state.
- Stop Focusing on the Worst Possible Outcome
Anxiety management techniques for teachers often involve some type of visualization exercise where you imagine that everything is going well and that your anxiety has subsided. This helps to reduce the feelings of fear and dread by allowing you to focus on what you are doing now, rather than what could happen at the end of the day.
- Think About What You’ve Been Through
There is a lot of stress in the classroom, so think back to all your experiences within it in order to gain perspective on how different they might have been if they weren’t so stressful. This will allow your mind to relax and make you feel a little bit better.
- Spend Time with Animals
Many teachers spend enough of their day around students as it is, so it’s good to spend some time outside the classroom and with animals in order to get a break from their work. While pets are not always practical at school, teaching is not the only thing teachers can do, so they should take the time to volunteer at an animal shelter or go on one of those animal-assisted therapy sessions that are offered in some communities.
- Learn to Say No
It is so important for teachers to learn to say no and know how to say no to favors or requests that may take away from their time and energy. Teachers can’t do everything, so they need to know that they can focus on the things that truly matter in order for them to succeed.
- Do What You Love Outside of School
Even though teachers feel like they have very little time outside of school, it’s important for them to take some time in order just enjoy themselves and do the things they love, whether that be reading, painting, traveling, listening to music, or even spending time with friends and family.
- Talk About Your Goals and Dreams with People You Trust
Because teachers spend a lot of time alone and away from the students, they often have trouble sharing their feelings or goals outside of school. If they don’t allow themselves to talk about their desires and dreams, they will not know how to make them come true.
- Do Some Exercise
It’s important for teachers to engage in some physical activity on a regular basis in order to keep them healthy, both mentally and physically. Teachers need to get on a schedule that they can follow even if time is limited at school, so it’s a good idea for them to make sure that they can fit exercise into their day somehow.
Anxiety is a natural human emotion experienced by all people. It is usually nothing to be afraid of, and can often be beneficial in preparation for difficult situations. It’s important for teachers to remember that stress and anxiety are not hereditary, the way many people think, but rather they are caused by an accumulation of events that happen throughout a person’s life.
There is no such thing as a “natural born” teacher who has an innate ability to lead students and manage classrooms. This gift is developed through many hours of hard work and practice. The first step in the process is finding ways to manage anxiety and improve your situation in the classroom overall.
It is important to identify possible coping skills we can use, and one of the best ways to do this is by understanding anxiety management techniques for teachers. These techniques can make us more successful at what we do every day, which in turn will improve our confidence as well.
