As a high school counselor, this time of the year is very
stressful: student schedules, balancing teacher classes, demanding parents, and
etc. I take my work very seriously. I take to heart that my work is a reflection on me, my work ethic, and the priority I place on meeting the expectations of the students, parents, and teacher I serve. Then things don't go as well as I plan them to be, it can become very stressful.
When the stress starts, I feel the tension in my shoulders and the build
up of headache all day long. When I start to feel like this, I turn off my
fluorescent lights, close my door, turn on my dim desk lamp, close my eyes, visualize
things that make me happy, and breath deeply for a few minutes. It slows down
the day, helps me put my priorities in perspective, and alleviates the stress
I'm feeling.
Day in and day out, in all the busy things we do, we have to take
care of ourselves.
Wish me luck for the first day of school tomorrow!