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Episode 104 3 Habits to combat the principal’s first few weeks hangover
The Principal Entrepreneur: 3 Habits to combat the principal’s first few weeks hangover
The first week has simultaneously felt like forever and gone by in a flash. Your body feels like it has been hit by a Mack Truck. You’ve got a to do list the length of a census scroll and all the vitamins in the world haven’t done the job to keep you energized. You’re a principal and only others in the role understand the phrase “principal tired”. The combination of mental gymnastics and physical movement in the first week is second to none. These 3 habits are a good reminder of what can help combat that first week principal’s hangover.
Hydration
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, so I’ll just reiterate it. Hydrate. Hydrate before you eat and drink more as you make your way down the hall for the one thousandth time. Keeping hydrated helps your mental function, keeps those headaches at bay and has numerous other health benefits. It’s also one of the easiest things to forget as we’re running throughout the week. For a more in depth look at how water impacts your health, check out this easy reading from Fitday.
Snack
Have healthy snacks available. As your body wears done it will crave the deliciousness of fat, sugar and salt. Somehow I always find myself doing walkthroughs in the room with the candy jar. Avoid that trap! Make it easier to get the healthier stuff. You can get a good sweet with strawberries and bananas and a good crunch with carrots. While nut as fun as chips and cookies you’ll feel better eating healthier as you give your body what it actually needs.
Balance is key
This is my favorite. Take your one day and splurge! Eat all the mac and cheese, greens, ham or turkey you body can hold, and then eat some more. Pile up your plate with pie and tasty treats. I’m no trainer or health nutritionist but I know that after a day of eating to excess my brain and tastebuds have had enough. It’s much easier to eat healthier after a day like that than to try and be disciplined an entire first week of school.
The first week of school is a mental and physical marathon. I don’t know if it’s completly possible to avoid that first week principal hangover, but it is probable that you can limit it. Stay hydrated throughout the week, keep healthy snacks easily available and don’t beat yourself up if you have one day where you just eat whatever. Sometimes eating your favorite tasty treat is better for your mental health.
What strategies do you use to keep your sanity and your energy up that first week of school?
Leave your helpful suggestions in the comment section below.
If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection please follow me and share with your friends.
For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs as voted by readers by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website.
If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, new episodes weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at [email protected]. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group.
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By Jonathan Royce
4
11 ratings
The Principal Entrepreneur: 3 Habits to combat the principal’s first few weeks hangover
The first week has simultaneously felt like forever and gone by in a flash. Your body feels like it has been hit by a Mack Truck. You’ve got a to do list the length of a census scroll and all the vitamins in the world haven’t done the job to keep you energized. You’re a principal and only others in the role understand the phrase “principal tired”. The combination of mental gymnastics and physical movement in the first week is second to none. These 3 habits are a good reminder of what can help combat that first week principal’s hangover.
Hydration
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, so I’ll just reiterate it. Hydrate. Hydrate before you eat and drink more as you make your way down the hall for the one thousandth time. Keeping hydrated helps your mental function, keeps those headaches at bay and has numerous other health benefits. It’s also one of the easiest things to forget as we’re running throughout the week. For a more in depth look at how water impacts your health, check out this easy reading from Fitday.
Snack
Have healthy snacks available. As your body wears done it will crave the deliciousness of fat, sugar and salt. Somehow I always find myself doing walkthroughs in the room with the candy jar. Avoid that trap! Make it easier to get the healthier stuff. You can get a good sweet with strawberries and bananas and a good crunch with carrots. While nut as fun as chips and cookies you’ll feel better eating healthier as you give your body what it actually needs.
Balance is key
This is my favorite. Take your one day and splurge! Eat all the mac and cheese, greens, ham or turkey you body can hold, and then eat some more. Pile up your plate with pie and tasty treats. I’m no trainer or health nutritionist but I know that after a day of eating to excess my brain and tastebuds have had enough. It’s much easier to eat healthier after a day like that than to try and be disciplined an entire first week of school.
The first week of school is a mental and physical marathon. I don’t know if it’s completly possible to avoid that first week principal hangover, but it is probable that you can limit it. Stay hydrated throughout the week, keep healthy snacks easily available and don’t beat yourself up if you have one day where you just eat whatever. Sometimes eating your favorite tasty treat is better for your mental health.
What strategies do you use to keep your sanity and your energy up that first week of school?
Leave your helpful suggestions in the comment section below.
If you found this entertaining, educational or cause for reflection please follow me and share with your friends.
For more short articles and tips that support educational leaders check out my blog at the www.howtobeagreatprincpal.com and/or order my newest book How To Be A Great Principal: 36 Shared Leadership Success Strategies. You can also get a monthly email that delivers the most valuable blogs as voted by readers by joining the Principals’ Prep Minute. You can register right on the website.
If you’re an auditory learner you can download my podcast The Principal Entrepreneur, on itunes and podomatic, new episodes weekly. If you’re interested in sharing your experience as an edleader please email me at [email protected]. Finally, I’m part of a community of supportive principals please join our private FB group.