Introducing The Game-Changer, Radical Wellness

It’s summertime. Spend a few minutes figuring out what your radical wellness routine should look like, and start practicing now.

I’m sure I can’t be alone in this. As a classroom teacher, the thought of diving into the school year brought on a mix of excitement and stress. I was so excited to bring a new set of students, get back into a routine, and share my favorite lessons with my new group.

But I knew the massive load of work would leave me feeling depleted throughout the year.

I am writing to you in mid-July because I don’t want that for you this year. I want you to relish in the excitement and fun that teaching brings and manage the heaviness and stress in a way that works for you.

Most importantly, I don’t want you to feel like you have to add more to your plate to figure out how to manage it all.

But first things first: self-care is not the vibe. It’s not the ticket to banishing burnout this year.

If you have some free time and want to go get your nails done, do it.

If you have a free weekend and you would like to treat yourself to a massage, go.

I’m not saying self-care is wrong. It’s not. There’s a time and place for that.

But self-care is not the recipe for banishing burnout and promoting personal peace and happiness when the school year (or life in general) feels heavy.

I’m sending this mid-July, so you have some time to “chew on it,” make a plan, and get to gettin’.

So without further ado, I would like to introduce to you the caretaker of my entire happiness: Radical Wellness.

She is the vibe.
She is the reason.
And damn, is she a challenge.

Let me promise you this, though, friend: if you commit to fulfilling your radical wellness plan, your long-term happiness will come faster than you thought it would and will be sweeter than you could imagine.

So here’s the plan:

• Figure out what radical wellness practice you will adopt and practice regularly this year. Pick one of the following, and start there. Here are some ideas:
  • Take up an exercise routine
  • Practice meditation
  • Wake up earlier to enjoy some quiet time

• Decide on the time of day you will commit to your practice, and schedule it into your calendar.
• Pick up your pen and answer these questions:
  • Why does this radical wellness practice matter in YOUR life?
  • What will it feel like if you don’t continue your practice? (Get deep and think about the heaviest stress during the year for you. How do you feel?)
  • What does peace feel like to you?
• Send your commitment to a friend (and hit reply and let me know, too!)!
• Start your practice. Do the thing. Even when it feels freaking hard. Even when sleep feels better. Go do it.

Mostly, though, be courageous. Know that just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do. Making changes that matter to your well-being can feel uncomfortable as hell at first. Embrace the hard, find a friend who is on a similar journey, and do the hard things.

Your well-being depends on it.

This is a concept that I dig into deeply in my Science of Happiness keynote and in the Teach Happy book. If you are ready to claim more happiness and learn how, those resources are a great idea!

(Plus, when you buy 10 or more copies to the same location, they are $15 per book instead of $23.95!)

Always cheering you on and here if you need some encouragement!