Trying to find balance at Pearsall Park:

Photo by Leah Jokinen

As the 2020-2021 school year ends, teachers and coaches will be looking forward to a much-needed recharge period in summer vacation. The existing stressors of being an educator are extremely high and this article from The Graiden Network encapsulates how the stresses have transcended to new heights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research from Shamshir Singh and Ranjit Kaur exhibit a complex relationship of Internal and External stressors that affect how you take care of your scope of responsibilities; magnify that scope when you include parenthood and extra-curricular coaching.

Mental & Physical Health Tied To Performance:

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming to the two-year anniversary from hiring the league's second full-time hire as a licensed professional counselor that serves as the team clinician, Shaun Tyrance. His role is to serve as a coach for coaches and players and build relationships with them. Tyrance stresses the importance of attaining mental and physical health for optimal performances with their players, coaches, and front office personnel’s. The multi-billion-dollar entity that is the National Football League are investing in professionals like Tyrance to optimize their human resources. If the billionaires are investing in this initiative, what can people do to harness this knowledge without breaking the bank?

You Are In Control:

According to Singh and Kaur, there are three stress management techniques:

1. Change your thinking.

2. Change your behavior.

3. Change your lifestyle.

Shifting your mind from pessimistic to positive thinking sounds like a “cult-movement,” but disregarding the stigma is going to require persistence and a conscious effort to seek alternative perspectives that avoid negativity.

The actions we repeat are habits formed and the changing your behavior is based on being proactive. Being organized, conducting yourself in an assertive manner, and building your interpersonal skills will project your personality and propel your self-worth, providing a healthy sense of fulfillment.

Your lifestyle sometimes is on course or may require corrections to the course. Regardless of the trajectory, optimal physical health will always require a good night’s sleep, exercising, hobbies, and knowing how to relax.

The techniques mentioned look different to everyone. If you can afford a coach or a confidant, having a coach is highly impactful. However, you do not have to break the bank to create your recipe of mental and physical health. The key is to discover a balance of your family time, your time, and work time. Ultimately, this can be "win-win" scenario when you are healthy; every party involved gets the best version of you.

Photo by Leah Jokinen

Pearsall Park As A Resource To Discover Your Balance:

In the quest to find balance, consider Pearsall Park on the Southwest side of San Antonio, TX; the park is a free option for educators to embark on adopting lifestyle that fits their physical health and mental health goals. There is an array of options to provide a total family experience. Please refer to my slideshow to catch a glimpse of what the park has to offer.

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