How the Grind of Stress Impacts Educators

The daily grind of a long school year creates a stressful environment for educators.  Photo source: telegraph.co.uk

Much is written in the press about the everyday stress faced by students and its impact on their success. What about teachers? Are they affected by the stress vice?

My conversation earlier this month with a first grade teacher who just navigated her initial year on the job provided a glimpse into the stresses that come with a career in education.

As she explains it, teachers typically roll-into the later part of summer and start of the semester on a high. It's a fresh beginning with the classroom to set up, lesson planning and the opportunity to connect with a new set of kids.

Within months though, the high is tempered by the reality of long and grueling academic year. Student behavior can grow boorish, as kids become more comfortable testing boundaries.

Plus, many parents ratchet up the pressure on everyone – administrators, teachers and their own children. The result is a more combustible and stressful environment. This can weigh on teachers impacting their performance, health and wellness.

“There are many nights that I lay in bed unable to sleep, thinking about the challenges I'll need to take on during the next day,” the young teacher explained.

This led me to ask how her study in college and experience as a student teacher prepared her to deal with the stresses inherent in education. Are there support groups of teachers to share best practices for stress mitigation? Does her principal encourage the staff to prioritize health and wellness?

It was surprising to learn that an overview of the tools to help manage stress and maintain a positive outlook was not part of either her training or current work environment. The sense I get is that most educators have to figure it out on their own.

We talked about the practice of self-hypnosis, and how a simple deep breath and visualization of a comfortable, soothing environment can re-charge a person emotionally and spiritually. Plus, the recharge can be accomplished in just a few moments, which is an ideal way to fill the brief time between classes.

She's going to give it a try with the goal of mitigating the grind.

Hypnosis Across Language Lines

I recently met a woman who expressed interest in learning the practice of self-hypnosis for health, wellness and career performance.  She’s smart, articulate and creative – all important attributes to derive meaningful benefits from hypnosis.

Yet, I have reservations about sharing my process with her.  What is source of my concern?

She hails from China and arrived in the United States for graduate school, staying in-country through a work visa.  Her English is fine and allows her to function in the US without incident. 

 

It’s definitely a second language though.  She also readily admits that when listening to English she thinks in Chinese, translating in her mind as rapidly as possible

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Will a hypnotic induction based on guided imagery be effective?  Or would she be unable to keep pace because of the need to translate?

I’m a member of an online community of hypnotists called Hypnothoughts which provides an environment to share best practices.  I posed the question of the effectiveness of a hypnotic induction to a non-native speaking individual and received some interesting (and unexpected) responses.

They are included below.

I plan to do more research on this topic with a goal of adjusting my hypnotic induction technique for this woman.  We’ll then give it a shot.  Stay tuned for more on this blog. 

In India, English is the second language for most, but is also the main exchange language across states. There are 18 or so official local languages -- one in each state. 

I have used English for a lot of people from other states who spoke different other languages as their first language. English is the only common language for me and them.  It works without any problem. Just speak slowly and clearly. If possible get response (i.e. "If you understand it and able to create it nod your head and let me know." ).  That is about it.

If she can speak English and attend graduate school there should be no problem at all. Even if you speak in Chinese there will always be a language/image translation going on. So this is not too much of a difference.
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Here in Western Canada , I get a lot of clients for whom English is their second language , either French Canadians or landed immigrants. In my experience, I have found they actually go deeper and quicker than my English speaking clients!

I have not researched it thoroughly, but my early thoughts were that they have to listen more intently, translate my words into workable visuals, and that creates a kind of distraction to the 'monkey' mind or the critical conscious mind as it were.

It could be that this is widely inaccurate, and just down to the monotony of my voice, but I think that providing you simplify the language you use in your guided meditation and guide with the same confidence you would your other clients, your client should have a very successful session.

Busy Execs Get Hip to the Power of Visualization

Talking visualization for career success at Carr Workplaces.

Stresses fill our lives. 
 

There is family, friend and relationship stress.  There’s wellness and sleeping stress.  And, of course, there is the all consuming “I never have enough time in the day” stress.

Yet, career-related anxiety and tension defines the conversation whenever I speak to professional organizations about the use of self-hypnosis as a tool for stress management, confidence and healthier living. 

That’s because there is so much at stake when it comes to performance on the job.  A positive and productive career path inspires us, elevates self-perceptions and affords us financial security.  This is especially true in such a type A town like Washington, DC.

Last month I was invited by Carr Workplaces to speak with a group of executives about the use of positive visualization to enhance executive decision-making.   Research shows that business professionals who meditate and visualize success are happier, productive and more effective.

The event attracted an exceptional group of business leaders and fast risers, each of whom expressed an interest in new and alternative approaches to boost career performance.  I kept my talk brief at about 20 minutes and focused on my path of discovery, which was initiated by a dramatic job misstep that led to my consulting firm being fired by a major client.

The venue was not appropriate to dive into a significant discussion of hypnosis or demonstrate a basic induction.  However, I’ve since been contacted by several attendees who are interested in scheduling a follow-on chat to learn more.

That’s the first step – a desire to learn more.  From there, a person can decide how visualization, meditation and…yes…even self-hypnosis can fit into their career path.  

I used my own career mistakes to illustrate how stress can negatively impact job performance.