Let go of the stress... Focus on what really matters in life!

For lack of a better term, I feel like a hamster in a wheel.   Up until this holiday break, it seems I do the same thing day in and day out.  Eat, commute to work (a whopping 100 miles a day), work, commute home from work, do more work after work, eat, sleep, and repeat!  Then on the days I'm not working, or possibly do I dare say, have a lighter at home work schedule, I try to catch up on laundry, cleaning and organizing, and of course making time for my boyfriend, Rich.  Now I know that so many of you that are reading this blog have other obligations - such as children.  Sometimes there is no way not to feel the effects of pressure and burning out.

Can I get an AMEN that I'm not the only one that feels like they are spinning around and around in that same darn wheel????

I tend to get stressed over the things that I'm not doing because I think I should really be doing them.  For example, I always think I should be doing more work than I already do.  Whether it's more grading, creating products for TpT, or blogging the thought is ALWAYS haunting me!  Then I think about personal things, such as working out - I should be doing that at least 3 - 4 times a week for my own health, but I seem to do more thinking about it than actually doing.   

I face a constant battle with me and myself ... day in ... and day out.  

And then it was brought to my attention.......

Constant stressing about work, doing more and more work, should NOT always be my main priority.  There are so many things worth stressing about and family, my boyfriend, my sanity, and my health are certainly things that I need to move up on my priority list.  I was recently chatting with some blogging friends of mine in a private facebook group of ours.  This is a direct quote from my friend Tina's principal:  

"As a teacher you are juggling so many balls and that we have to remember 

that the only one that is glass is family. The rest will all bounce back. You have

 to treat your family like the glass ball."

I'm going to add to this quote that health is also a glass ball.  Sometimes there is no getting it back once it is gone.  This was a reminder to me today after finding out that a beloved former Assistant Principal of mine and current Principal at a new building passed away.  It has left me heart broken entirely.  He is someone who has inspired me, as well as others, to be the very best of the best and someone who had personal faith in me even when I lacked it in myself.  

That being said, life is a precious gift that we must never ever take for granted.  With a new year only 2 days away, it's time to start focusing on YOU.  Didn't grade those papers?  That's okay, they can wait until tomorrow!  Didn't blog once a week like you think you should?  That's okay, because there is always a new week.  Become the best version of yourself that you could possibly be!  Those stresses that weigh us down day after day are just not worth the weigh down.  Focus on what matters - YOU, FAMILY, and HEALTH.  Start making changes today and don't ever look back.