New Year resolutions for teachers
Some people are getting ready for a New Year party, some are going shopping, the others are buying presents for their family members. But what about New Year resolutions? Aren’t they important? If you ask me, I will definitely say “Yes”. These resolutions can set a positive atmosphere for the beginning of the New Year. Therefore, they shouldn’t be neglected. Here I will share a list of New Year resolutions that may come in handy for many teachers.
— Learn to say “No”. One of the privileges of holding private classes is the freedom of choice. We sometimes get requests from the students we do not feel like having classes with. Many students ask to cancel or move classes too often and it becomes a habit for them. Not all of us can refuse these requests. Hence, the first thing to do in the coming year is to learn to say ‘no’ to the students we do not want to work with, to the students who ask to move the classes or to have classes at the weekend.
— Don’t overburden yourself. We are sometimes so addicted to our jobs, that forget about ourselves. We spend too much time on working, checking students’ homework, taking part in teacher trainings, webinars, etc. All these things are quite important for ESL teachers, However, we should not overburden ourselves and we should have enough time to relax, meet our friends and enjoy every second of our life.
— Eat healthy food. Because of our hectic work schedule, we sometimes don’t pay attention to what we eat. Eating unhealthy food can cause plenty of problems including insomnia, tiredness, and laziness. Cut down on junk food, and eat more fruit, vegetables and dairy products to feel fresh and full of energy.
— Go to the gym. This especially refers to the teachers that work online and spend much time sitting and working at home. Find a nearby sports centre where you can walk and go there at least twice a week. Physical activity will positively influence your life and mood.
— Schedule time to do “nothing”. Whether you work remotely, at school, college or university, you spend lots of energy and time on your classes. Schedule time out of the week when you are going to do ‘nothing’. By saying nothing, I mean have a special time to recollect your thoughts, ideas, plans, and goals to have better results. It may be just one or two hours, but you will not regret it.
— Learn something new. Choose one sphere you are interested in and learn how to do it. It may be playing some musical instruments, going in for sports, dancing, singing, etc. Mind that it shouldn’t have anything to do with languages.
— Be more organised. Look through your schedule one more time. Maybe there is something that hinders your free time. If you have a chance to make changes in your schedule, do it by all means. It would be better to have only short breaks (10mins) between the lessons, thus you could save time. But don’t have more than 3-4 lessons (50 mins each) one after another. Otherwise, you will get exhausted. To be more organised, use planners. I personally like Trello, as it is quite easy and simple to use.
You can also find and order interesting planners here.
— Re-think your teaching style. Every teacher has his/her own approaches and styles, but sometimes we stick on them too much. The New Year is a good time to reconsider our teaching methods, to try something new and thus spice up our lessons. Your students will definitely see the difference and will get motivated by new changes.
— Use more tech tools. In the century of technology, you can’t but apply its ‘fruits’ in your classroom. There are plenty of online tools and useful apps you can use in your classes to make them more interactive and effective.
— Say “Yes” to things that scare you. Is there anything that you would like to do but you are always afraid of? Go ahead, say “Yes” to your scares and make 2020 unforgettable. Your “Yes” may open new doors and opportunities this year.
— Travel to new places. To get away from your daily routine, you need location changes. Travel to at least two new places that you haven’t been before. It may be just a cafe in a cool part of your city, a park, or another country. Leave your work, students, and classes far away. Take with you three things — positiveness, readiness to enjoy and freedom.
— Be kinder, nicer and more positive. All these three features can guarantee success and happiness in life. Before getting nervous with something, just smile, be kinder and you will forget about tiny worries.
Stay positive and welcome the New Year with a big heart and smiling soul!
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Маргарита Аветисян 
