“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”- Will Rogers
School is officially back in session in Culver City Unified School District. The beginning of the school year, like any new undertaking, can feel overwhelming. For me, the experience has gotten better with time. I have found that the process is smoother when I break everything down into small, achievable steps. This simple practice is effective and worth learning.
More often than not, when I am feeling overwhelmed, it is because my thoughts are making things harder than they actually are. As the Inclusion Specialist, for example, I want everything to be done and organized before I even know which students I will be serving, and what my schedule is going to look like. My mind might also imagine all the groups that I will run during the year. It does not take long before the whole thing seems insurmountable. The problem with this approach is that it is a waste of my mental focus and a drain on the vital energy required to actually run the groups and serve my students.
The simple solution to all of this is to take frequent inventory of what is required of me in a given situation. What I find is that, when broken down into small steps, there is nothing that I cannot accomplish. By relaxing my mind in this way, I am able to be present with my students, and my colleagues. It allows me to engage with them in meaningful ways, rather than rushing through things in an attempt to achieve a goal.
My lunch groups, for example, follow a simple format. There are three parts to every group: three breaths, question of the day, and a game. It works best when I focus on one group and one activity at a time. It is all very simple. I like this method of doing things because it affords me the energy to be flexible. When I recognize that the ultimate goal of every group is to provide a loving, supportive, encouraging environment in which my students gain self awareness, self reliance, and self confidence, then it makes sense for me to slow down and focus my attention on the needs of my students. There are times when a simple conversation with a student can turn their whole day, or even year, around.
Another area of my life that requires simple steps is organizing and facilitating meetings. At first approach, it is easy for me to feel overwhelmed and want to run and hide. Eventually, however, I take a breath, and write down all of the simple steps that are required of me for each meeting. It is typically a series of small tasks, such as phone calls, or emails. Some meetings require 30 minutes of student observation, or 45 minutes in front of the computer. The key is to get the meeting planning out of my head and onto paper. Everything feels better when my brain can see a list of achievable goals. It quiets the nagging voice in my head that likes to remind me that I have a major undertaking ahead.
Learning to simplify tasks has brought about positive change in every area of my life. That is why I enjoy encouraging my students to go for the things that excite them, even if they feel out of reach. Too often, they have no idea how much they have to offer simply because they believe that their dreams are too big to accomplish. It is amazing what can happen when they take simple steps in a positive direction. I have seen students earn diplomas, get jobs, and get accepted into universities because they were willing to go for it, taking one little action at a time. My friend likes to remind me that when we take one step toward our goal, our goal takes a thousand steps towards us.
Think about something that you have been avoiding, or feeling anxious about. It could be anything, such as attending a meeting, getting an oil change, or going to see a doctor. It might also be something fun, like writing a book, or going on a trip. Make a list of the steps that are required of you. Then complete the easiest thing on the list. Be sure to praise yourself for your efforts, even if it did not seem like a big deal. In fact, when we simplify things, then all of the steps seem easy. If you take enough of those easy steps, you will arrive at your destination before you even realize that the journey has begun.
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, to find out more go to www.DarrellandEd.com. Visit www.TappingIntoGenius.com for more articles and a free, inspirational parenting download.
