Rest: How and When to Take a Break
The global pandemic brought about an audacious rethinking of education, including the delivery of instruction, assessment, and strategies for engagement and student interaction. Non-stop video meetings and daily schedules that were more packed than ever illuminated another truth ...the importance of taking a break. Taking a break is an act of self-care. According to Psychology Today, doing so impacts our physical and emotional health, helps curb decision fatigue and stokes intrinsic motivation. This is not new information for many of us, but clearly, knowing is not enough; the challenge is turning that knowledge into action. We often ignore the warning signs that we need a break and deny ourselves the opportunity to rest in favor of getting one more thing done on the almighty to-do list. As we enter summer break and vacations are on the books, how will you protect your intention to take time away from your teaching practice? In this edition of Teaching@Wayne, we spoke with Kristen Kaszeta, Kinesiology and Lifetime Fitness Lecturer in the College of Education, for some insights on how to take a break. Check out some of the practical strategies she uses to rest and prioritize her mental health: No Time to Listen to the Full Interview? No Problem!Below is a summary of thoughts and recommendations from our faculty member in focus, Kristen Kaszeta. What does it mean to take a break? Kristen’s philosophy on breaks is two-fold, depending on the situation. On the one hand, there is the urgent need to put out a metaphorical fire, react to somebody, or simply self-soothe. On the other hand, there is the proactive approach to prevent fires altogether through deliberate self-care. What are some of your favorite ways to rest or take a break? When Kristen is reacting to stress, anxiety, or feeling super overwhelmed, she activates a powerful combination of grounding exercises and journaling. She uses a popular counting backward technique to ground herself mindfully where each number has a corresponding sense. For example:
In her experience, this exercise helps to slow down your breathing and bring your mind to the present because you're no longer focusing on a stressful reaction or person. Kristen noted that “Instead, you're focusing on your five senses, and it's wonderful because it's almost an instantaneous shift in your mind, and you can do it in the car, you can do it in public.” What advice would you share with instructors and faculty in the WSU community about taking a break, having just completed such a unique academic year? Kristen encouraged us all to practice self-compassion and give ourselves the same kindness and care that we would give a good friend. She reminded us that we have gotten used to giving people grace during this time period, but we are slow to provide that same grace to ourselves. She asserts that self-compassion is a valuable tool and believes that we are much healthier when we consider treating ourselves the way we would treat a friend. OTL's Resource of the Month: Tips & Tools for Successful Group ProjectsGroup work is an essential part of many courses, as it provides students the opportunity to hone valuable teamwork and leadership skills they will need in their careers and beyond. While there is a lot to think about when it comes to group projects, we have selected our top 4 tips to foster successful student collaboration, along with a few particularly helpful tools! Teaching TidbitLooking for ways to recharge for this summer? Dive into this article from Inside Higher Ed for five suggestions on how you can rest and recharge during the summer. The first suggestion is to get moving. Physical activity increases alertness, and working your muscles may increase your brainpower. Check out the other suggestions by clicking on the link above. Up Next In The OTL!Click the title of each session to register. EdTech Thursday- Kahoot! An Interactive Learning ToolJuly 1, 1:00 - 2:00 pm Kahoot is a game-based learning platform where instructors can create engaging quizzes and share trivia with their students. This session will focus on the functionality of the basic/free version of Kahoot and how to integrate Kahoot with Canvas. There will also be a demonstration of how to create and share a quiz. EdTech Thursday- Create a Virtual Meeting Space with FlipGridJuly 1, 3:00 - 4:00 pm Looking for a completely free tool to engage your students in a unique way? With Flipgrid, you create Grids, a virtual meeting space for students in your course. Within that virtual meeting space, you and your students will interact about unique topics (e.g., conversation prompts or assignments). Students can sign in with their email account and join your specific Grid with a code you create! Attend this session to learn more about how Grids can evolve your course interactions with students. Virtual Brown Bag- Using Groups EffectivelyJuly 9, 12:15- 12:45 pm In this session, we will share strategies for increasing the success of group projects in your courses. We will present tips and tricks for the whole process of group projects, from assignment design and facilitation to grading. Self-Care CornerSummer is here! Get outdoors and play in Downtown Detroit! |
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