JumpStart One-Hit Wonder Day (9/25/23)

It’s also Food Service Worker Day. 
I heard once that Turkey Tetrazzini was the overall favorite cafeteria food.  What does your cafeteria make that’s amazing? At one of my former schools, Tanya and crew made the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had - Texas toast that was crunchy on the outside and extra cheese inside.

Need procrastination fodder?  Check out “10 One-Hit Wonders and the Stories Behind Their Brief Fame.”

Quote:  "Anxiety is extremely contagious, but so is calm."  -Harriet Lerner

Research has shown that day-to-day anxiety (as opposed to diagnosed chronic anxiety) is one of the most contagious emotions.  Therefore, it’s more a function of groups than of individuals.

How we respond to this type of anxiety is most likely a product of our first family. How did your family respond to stress?  What was your role in the family in times of stress?

Harriet Lerner says that there are two types of responses:  over- and under-functioning.  Brene Brown summarizes them well in this podcast episode.

Over-functioners go into hyperdrive, making lists, doing all the things, leaning into doing rather than feeling.  Under-functioners retreat into themselves and lean into their emotions rather than taking action.

Understanding how we show up in stressful situations is a huge piece of becoming self-aware.  Once you have an idea of how you respond when something goes sideways in your life, you can name it.  And when you name it, you can tame it.

This week, try this: The next time you enter into a stressful situation, try these calming strategies, because just as there are people who radiate anxiety and stress, there are also people who exude calm.

• Take a breath.  Slow down.
• Name that you are feeling anxious
• Ask yourself, “Do I have enough facts to support my freak out?” (probably not)
• Ask yourself, “Will freaking out help the situation?” (probably not)

Educator Resource:  What’s Your Stress Personality? (Quiz):  This one is for you, not your students.  It’s not associated with the over/under functioning described here, but gives you some idea of how you respond.  I like that it was medically reviewed (although I’m not sure what that means, exactly).

Dad Joke:  When does a joke become a Dad Joke?  When it becomes apparent.

We’ve got this!  I hope this last week of September is relatively stress free, and that (more importantly) you are able to navigate the stress with aplomb.

~Matt