Sometimes it feels as though I’m writing about stress every other week, but I am reminded daily of how many challenges we are all facing personally and professionally (come to the School Librarian’s Workshop Facebook page if you need support from those who understand!). And the short- and long-term effects of this stress are detrimental to our mental and physical health. The joy you felt at the beginning of your career feels like a fond memory. You may even be considering retiring.

But what we do is too important to allow ourselves to succumb to a hostile environment on top of our usual heavy workload. Unfortunately, when we lose pleasure in what we do, we cannot bring our best to our students and fellow teachers.

While humans can handle stress, they cannot function well when stress is constant, so once again, I want to offer some tools. Steve Keating in his article, Lowering Stress in Turbulent Times suggests these nine steps to help you deal with the continuous anxiety that has become a permanent part of our days:

1. Control What You Can, Let Go of What You Can’t – Easy to say, hard to do. If you can’t control it, you can’t deal with it. What are the things you can control? Stop talking about the turmoil and focus on the things you need to do. Not simple, but keep reminding yourself of this. Consider a mantra: I will control what I can and let go of what I can’t. (Serenity prayer, anyone?)
2. Set Boundaries with News and Social Media –You don’t need to read every post detailing the latest upheaval. Scan contents every so often but don’t read deeply. If you get a daily newspaper, read the headlines and perhaps the editorial page. Personally, I stopped listening to the news on the radio while driving. I listen to music instead. I arrive places in a much better mood.
3. Maintain Healthy Routines – Stress can lead to unhealthy eating and affects your sleep. Keating says to, “Keep a daily schedule to create structure and stability. Maintaining control over your calendar has a surprisingly calming, stress-reducing effect on your life.”
4. Stay Connected to Supportive People – Whenever possible avoid toxic people who drain you. You hopefully have a personal and professional network of those who support you – and need you to support them. Being with more positive people will lower your stress. Set up lunch or dinner dates. Schedule weekly calls. (And here’s a second plug for our Facebook group!)
5. Use Physical Movement to Reset Your Mind –According to Keaton, “Physical movement helps regulate emotions; this is well known and proven. When you feel the stress building up, get moving.” I have mentioned in my blogs how important walking is for me. I need to get outside and move.
6. Reframe Challenges as Opportunities – Let a challenge be an opportunity for you to look at things from a new perspective. It can give you a better way to do something or find a new and interesting path, collaborate with a new partner. I call these “chopportunities,” a term I learned at a conference workshop.
7. Practice Gratitude –As many others have, Keating recommends looking for the good in our lives. No matter how small, nothing is insignificant when it comes to this focus. Before my workday begins, I journal three things for which I am grateful. It has shown me how fortunate I am.  I then get to my tasks with a positive mindset. I relate to people more positively and usually get that in return.
8. Take Breaks and Breathe – Any athletic coach knows the value of a time-out. Turn off the negativity going through your head. Change your space, go into another room. Use a breathing technique such as square breathing or whatever you prefer. When we are tense, we shallow breathe. Take in some more oxygen and clear your brain.
9. Seek Guidance if Needed – By now we know that there is no shame in seeking help. Unfortunately, even though we say this to others, we often don’t apply it to ourselves. We are supposed to be strong, capable, able to handle anything thrown at us. Very true – most of time. But personal and professional stress can pile up. Find a mentor or a professional but get the help and support you need. (Here it is – plug three)

Leaders are human. When we take care of ourselves, we give others the right to do the same – which is another way we can lead by example. So many people count on us. Allow yourself to do what is necessary to lower the stress in your life. Find ways to count on and care for yourself. You and those around you will benefit from it.