Balancing Act: A Moment of Mindfulness by Sara Hiris

BALANCING ACT A Moment of Mindfulness

by Sara Hiris Creativity, Wellness, Education, and Leadership Consultant sara@sarahiris.com | mindfulandcreativeliving.com

Integrating mindfulness into school culture expands students’ capacities to engage, stabilize emotions, manage stress, build resilience, maintain a positive outlook, and more.1

Let’s integrate mindfulness into our teaching culture, too. We can increase all of these capacities FOR OURSELVES, THE TEACHERS, thereby bolstering our capacities to practice mindfulness with students.

I firmly believe that teacher wellness mirrors student wellness, and vice versa. I also firmly believe that mindfulness and creativity are profoundly intertwined.

Mindfulness (Creativity) is being awake, moment to moment. Mindfulness (Creativity) is observing, listening, and feeling, and then wondering about what you’ve experienced. Mindfulness (Creativity) is experimenting and being present with the process. Mindfulness (Creativity) is noticing novelty and potential, being curious, and following that curiosity. Mindfulness (Creativity) is a practice; it is playful and never-ending.

I invite you to PLAY with the following Mindful Moment Ideas. Tweak them so they work for YOU. Practice them with students and other teachers. Maybe create a Mindful Teacher Group!

Mindful Moment Ideas:

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6. Find QUIET, during your commute, while prepping for class, or…. Take DEEP BREATHS. Notice your breath going in and out. SET INTENTIONS. What do you want to accomplish? How do you want your class to go? How do you want to feel? REFLECT. Check in with yourself and your intentions often. GET CURIOUS. QUESTION & INVESTIGATE. Did you meet your intentions? If yes, why? If not, why not? Try reflecting without judgment. We’re all doing the best we can, and everything is a DEEPLY OBSERVE (without judgment). For example, you could deeply observe and wonder about: a. Your emotions. How are you feeling and why? b. Your body. Where are you tense and why? Could you breathe relaxation into that tension? Could you do simple, helpful movements such as rotating your neck from side to side, relaxing your jaw, or rolling your shoulders? c. Student work. d. One student each day. e. Your classroom. How could it function and feel better? f. Your tone, facial expressions, and word choices.

7. JOURNAL. Even a few words of reflection will help you process and evolve. 8. CREATE REMINDERS. Place an object in your classroom that reminds you to pause, breathe, set an intention, stretch, etc. 9. PRACTICE GRATITUDE. What sparks a smile or sense of gratitude from your day? Keep a running list and read it when you need a boost. 10. INSERT YOUR IDEAS HERE. Thank you for reading. I am grateful for the wonders that are the teacher and artist.

Here’s to many creative and mindful moments.

1Sapthiang, S., Van Gordon, W., & Shonin, E. (2019). Mindfulness in Schools: A Health Promotion Approach to Improving Adolescent Mental Health. International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 17(1), 112–119; Sheinman, N., Hadar, L. L., Gafni, D., & Milman, M. (2018). Preliminary Investigation of Whole-School Mindfulness in Education Programs and Children’s Mindfulness-Based Coping Strategies. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 27(10), 3316–3328.