Updated: Feb 9, 2022
Let's face it, it is stressful out there right now. Between balancing work and life, we also have to navigate an ever-evolving COVID-19 crisis. For educators, the stressors quadruple, but I don't have to tell you that. You know it because you're likely feeling it. All of these balls that you have to juggle are causing us stress. And stress leads to burnout. THAT is what we want to help you with.
An incredible study in 2016 (Donald, et al.) found that present-moment awareness--aka mindfulness--actually facilitates an adaptive stress-response.
In plain English, mindfulness has the ability to help you respond to stress in daily life BETTER. You are able to handle stressors more easily because your mind and body know how to respond when they arrive. When stressors are high, this is the kind of research we should be looking for.
So, what can you do about it?
Practice mindfulness when you can.
And here are three ways that we at spark can help you do that:
1. One of the benefits of spark classes is that we embed mindfulness into what you are already doing: working out. How many other fitness classes are doing this? You can count on 1 hand. By combining mindfulness, we save you time commuting or opening up apps and money spent on additional resources.
2. Each week, we introduce to you 1 mindfulness practice. This week, it is the "Sharpen Your Focus" practice. You get the chance to practice any time to take class. One way to drop each practice into your toolbox is to try at least 3x throughout the week to practice it in real-time, when you experience stress. Don't remember the practice? Take a look at our weekly newsletter sent Monday mornings and our weekly Instagram reel on how-to-practice the strategy.
3. This January, we are introducing an on-demand mindful practice series. Where you will have the opportunity to drop in for 5, 10, or 15 minute segments to practice mindfulness on-demand. You can take these practices at school, before bed, or even as you drink your morning coffee. To tie it all together for you, we'll be trying this new habit all together via The 21 Day Mindfulness Habit Kickstart! Join us on the app to in the "Community" tab.
No matter how you practice mindfulness, what is important is that you DO it. Because it has the power to transform your every day stress to interrupt burnout. So you can keep doing what you love.
Looking to chat about this a bit more? Book office hours with Gabby to chat!