Making Time for Reflection (Why You Should and How to Make it Easy)
I love this quote. It’s not what happens to us, or even how we choose to move through our days. It’s the meaning we make of things and how we choose to think, feel, and show up for life on our next day that matters.
That’s so optimistic. And oooh, we could all use some of that!
I get it; it’s good stuff, so I am sitting down to do some reflection.
Notebook, check
A cup of tea, check
Favorite felt tip pens, check
Now where to start?
So much reflection to do. So little time!
Being a reflective teacher can feel overwhelming.
You do SO. MANY. THINGS. that it can be daunting to think back on every action, every single day. Looking for lessons you’ve learned, making meaningful adjustments where needed, and celebrating your victories are crucial habits for growing into the best, remarkable teacher that you are and want to be.
You could sit all day and reflect. From preparing your curriculum to setting up your environment (whether it’s your classroom or your online “space”) to planning your assessments and how you will adjust to meet each child’s needs, outdoor activities, communications with families, team building, and on and on! Whew.
But come on…Few teachers have time to sit down and think about their own needs.
That’s the truth!
So, how can you find time and make it work for you?
Keep reading to:
- Learn why reflection matters
- Discover two ways to make it quick and easy
- Download a FREE Reflection Sheet to get started right away (or whenever you are feelin’ it.)
Why Reflection Matters
So what is in it for you? Sitting down and putting pen to paper is a little act that has the potential to make a big difference. When you spend time regularly to not just think about what happened during your day, (or the week, or month) but to write down your thoughts, emotions, and your reactions to events, you could find that you begin to enjoy the following:
- growing self-awareness
- more creative thinking
- bigger perspective
- reduced stress and anxiety
- improved sleep
- better decision-making
- expanding confidence
- improved communication
- compassion and connection with others
- deepening sense of gratitude
Wow! Sound great?
Here Are Two Ways to Make It Quick and Easy
First. make five minutes of reflection part of your daily routine. Think about something you already do every day. It could be something at the end of your workday or part of your evening at home. Choose a notebook and keep it close by. Whenever you start your routine, add in just five minutes of reflection.
Really, just five minutes! The best habits start small. You can make it easy as 1-2-3!
1 word to describe your day
2 ways you showed up for others or yourself
3 good things to celebrate
Five minutes daily can stack up and make a BIG impact! Try it for a week!
A second way is to take time to reflect once a month with a self-assessment. You can make your own or use one that aligns with your curriculum or program goals. Doing regular check-ins helps you to see where you’re soaring and where you want to give yourself a little upgrade.
Even better….do both if you can!
Share your tips for making reflection a regular practice in the comments. I’d love to hear your ideas!
Free Downloadable Reflection Resources
If you are a teacher, there’s a FREE reflection sheet on my Resource Page that will help you think about eight different teaching areas.
Time to Reflect - CLICK link below!
https://herewegroweducation.com/resources/
Using this tool at the end of each month can help you feel less overwhelmed and right on track to crush your goals.
If you are NOT a teacher but would like to create a personalized monthly check-in, click on the link to download a FREE blank form to get you started!
So now you're reflecting...What's Next? Coming Soon!
Explore how to make your reflection meaningful and create habits that will have you feeling like the fantastic, intentional teacher you know you can be!
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Thank you for the insight! My mental health is much better since I’ve started taking time each day to reflect and noticing that has made it easier to do it often/daily. Thanks again, Gina!