JumpStart Laugh at Work Week (4/3/23)

Big Idea:  Discipline is the missing ingredient to achieving out goals.

Consider these five things that I have run across recently:

1. As I listen to educators, a common theme emerges: How can we motivate kids?
   
   
2. I ran across a statistic last week on the FitBit app: People are taking 900 fewer steps per day now than pre-pandemic.
   
   
3. Resiliency is increased by doing hard things when the conditions are good so that when the conditions are poor, it’s not a new action.
   
   
4. Discipline comes from love not intimidation. Disciples follow prophets out of a mutual love, not out of fear.
   
   
5. Our muscles are an integral part of our endocrine system, storing and producing hormones critical in learning, memory, and mental health.

Putting those together, I see a few things:

1. We need to move more, and so do our kids. Any school system that takes away recess, playtime, or sports is doing a disservice to kids and their long term mental health.
   
   
2. Discipline is all about relationships - the relationships people in charge have with their subordinates (adult/child, admin/staff, etc.) and the relationship we have with ourself.
   
   
3. With technology and the increase in customer experience services (Door Dash, Amazon overnight delivery, Instacart, etc.) we don’t need to exert much energy at all to maintain a comfortable existence, which goes against everything our body was designed to do.
   
   

This week, try this: Sometimes you just have to do things you don’t want to, and our kids have tools that prove this to be more and more untrue. The next time you feel a bit uncomfortable, lean into it. If the room is too cold, it’s OK. If you have to actually expend energy to get something you want or need, do it. Our bodies weren’t designed for all this luxury, and we are starting to see the results of it.

​Quote of the Week:  "Discipline is about making choice after choice that's aligned with our intentions.  In any moment, we can make a choice that supports an intention; or we can make a choice that supports an old habit, a lack of intention, a fear." ~Chetna Mehta

Educator Resource:  April Book Study (100% online & FREE!) - Look Beyond the Clouds: Transform Your Daily Habits to Overcome Burnout and Find Joy in Teaching Again The final book study for this school year on TeachIllinois is starting TODAY, but it’s not too late to join. This title was recommended by a teacher friend, and a great way to end the year on a positive note. Illinois educators can earn 6 PD Hours. Out-of-State people will get a certificate of completion for 6 hours.

Dad Joke:  The word 'vaccine' is the only English word that two consecutive letters are pronounced differently.  Don't ask how I know - I found out accidentally.

It's APRIL! Warm weather is coming!

Matt Weld, Area 5 SEL Coach