Inner Peace in a Hyper-Connected Classroom

Now more than ever, our world is on overdrive when it comes to technology. We are all inundated with with it – the latest phones, the upgrades, the most recent app to download. All this hyper-connectivity can be a blessing and a curse to each one of us. This is nowhere more true than in the classroom. Students need access to technology to complete assignments, to complete research, to write papers and submit them electronically. School administration sends information and updates to teachers throughout the day. Parents expect teachers to respond to emails in a timely manner or to update everyone on one of many forms of social media.

No wonder it’s so hard to find peace. You’re overwhelmed, tired, and trying to keep up. Educating the next generation is one of the most important jobs on the planet, so you must take care of you!

Try these strategies to still have inner peace in today’s technologically-dependent world:

Have a Definite Purpose and Craft a Relationship based on INTENT.
- All of your online actions need areason. I’m sure all of us are guilty of wasting innumerable hours of precious time mindlessly surfing online.
- Choose 1 method to communicate with parents. Do you prefer to use Facebook? Set up a Facebook group to keep parents informed. Add relevant files over the summer or on breaks, as you can. Then update parents once per week. Are you more Instagram-savvy? Let parents know how frequently you will post updates or notices and stick to that, limit it to once daily (or better yet, once per week). Is email still your modus-operandi? No problem, just let parents know the plan and stick to it.
Live withtechnology instead of forit. Technology and being connected doesn’t have to absorb your entire life.
- Keep in mind that technology is a tool. Avoid making it the focus of your day or life. Set a time limit for each task. Checking messages from parents? Give it 15 minutes at lunchtime. Use a program like The Email Game which helps you to get through your emails quickly and efficiently.
Give yourself a time-out. It’s crucial to take breaks from always being connected to everyone through your phone, email, and social media.
- Daily morning time. If you’re not already, have a few moments each morning of quiet time when you first wake up. Don’t even check your phone upon rising. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, get comfortable in a cozy chair on the porch, and listen to the sounds of nature as the world wakes up. Set a timer to alert you when the allotted time is up, then feel free to snatch up that phone and get connected.
- Weekly Hiatus. Take a break from all technology at least once per week. Experts recommend setting aside the weekends for spending time with family and friends. Avoid surfing online, sending text messages, or uploading photos. Instead, interact with real people in the real world. Are you one of those people who wants to document every single activity with a photo for “memory’s sake?” Awesome – so am I! But instead of instantly uploading or responding, set aside a few minutes at the end of the day to share the events of the day. Managing technology by setting time limits can have tremendous effects on productivity.
- Try a Tech Timeout Challenge with your classroom and your family! How long can you go without using technology?
- Communicate in Advance. It’s important to warn your connections ahead of time so you don’t cause concern when you suddenly “disappear.” Once you have established your technology-related time frames and shared it with your school personnel and colleagues, parents, and friends, you’ll realize that people respect your time more.
Manage your connections. Do you really need to keep up with every person from your old school days? How many times do you need to check your social media accounts for new messages?
- Try limiting the number of connections in your life to those that are important to you.
- Although it may hurt some feelings, consider “unfollowing” some people on social media, so you don’t have to be part of their drama anymore. Do what you can to maintain a stress-free social circle.
- Partake in activities that reduce stress. A hyper-connected world can make you feel on edge. It can increase stress and anxiety. It can also make you feel that you always have to be available to do everything.
  - Schedule some time alone each day. The solitude will give you a chance to reflect, plan, de-stress, and re-energize. Try yoga, meditation, journaling, or keeping a diary.
  - Pursue activities that make you feel peaceful and calm. Whether you hike in a park or dance in your living room, relax and disconnect from the world for a moment.