Someone from this class used the SWOT mindtool to summarize their experience with this project. I liked it so much I want to borrow the tool.
Strengths: This project was a good experience for me. I truly needed to begin a journey in finding balance. I learned how to use new technologies and this is always a plus. Meanwhile,I'm feeling good about my plan. In the past, I've tried to do the impossible; set goals that just weren't attainable.
Weaknesses: Perhaps I spent too much time on the technology and interviews. Have you ever experienced a time when you go to one website that leads you to the next good website, then twelve hours later you've learned alot, but you didn't accomplish your task? Next time I need to plan my time more efficiently and minimize the amount of resources I sort through. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach.
Opportunities: This project gave me the time to research a topic that has the potential to change my life positively. It gave me the time to interview people, participate in activities, and read materials that I might not have otherwise taken the time to do; especially given the fact that I'm working full time as a newbie media specialist, taking SLIS classes, and attempting to be a mother and wife. Good news is that I have more resources than I need; it's always good to have spare.
Threats: I truly did not have the time to read all of my resources; honestly I felt as though I have only just begun. I had a hard time conceptualizing what the final product should be.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wrapping and Waving
I must admit that I had a lot more fun than I thought possible in creating my final package to unveil my findings. I took the opportunity to explore technology that I've never used. I used trackstar to create my pathfinder of websites, bubbl.us to create a visual organizer, and google site web page http://sites.google.com/site/ueckersserenity/ to submit my findings. The best part of learning how to use all of these technologies is that I will get to share them with teachers and students.
The resources I listed are mainly geared toward adults, because there are fewer resources geared toward intermediate students (students I work with). If adults become more aware of how they can find balance, they should be encouraged to help students become successful at finding the balance.
While this project was mainly created for myself, I want to share with others so that they might find balance.
I have shared with my husband the benefits of yoga so much that he finally joined a yoga class where he works. We plan to take a Valentine Day partner yoga class this Saturday. My husband is usually harder to convince to try new things. If he's convinced, I'm sure other husbands and adults could be convinced.
The resources I listed are mainly geared toward adults, because there are fewer resources geared toward intermediate students (students I work with). If adults become more aware of how they can find balance, they should be encouraged to help students become successful at finding the balance.
While this project was mainly created for myself, I want to share with others so that they might find balance.
I have shared with my husband the benefits of yoga so much that he finally joined a yoga class where he works. We plan to take a Valentine Day partner yoga class this Saturday. My husband is usually harder to convince to try new things. If he's convinced, I'm sure other husbands and adults could be convinced.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wrapping and Waving
Perhaps I'm a bit biased...I feel as though humans from age 2-102 could use this information. We all need to learn how to find balance in life. Of course those closer to two need a bit more guidance.
Last year, I attended a workshop on a program titled Student Success Skills http://www.studentsuccessskills.com/. I had to give my notes and materials up before I was able to incorporate the program into my classroom; I moved to a different building. This workshop made me realize how important it is to give students the gift of coping skills. The program incorporated the following: study skills (such as body points, mnemonic devices), monitoring healthy eating and sleep habits, and ways to decompress (brain gym, exercise, listening to music) when senses are on overload.
Everyone could benefit from my research. If I had a bit more time, I would like to create a video to share with students (collaborating with the counselors). A podcast or blog directed toward students (and or adults) might be helpful. I'm incharge of doing morning video announcements. Students could do skits, poems, or songs on morning announcements to help students remember how to cope.
Why should I share with others? Everyone alive faces the pressure of daily life. The sooner we teach students how to cope with stress the more likely they are to be successful. Likewise, why not share these tools with adults. While everyone responds differently to coping mechanisms, we can modify to make these solutions our own.
Last year, I attended a workshop on a program titled Student Success Skills http://www.studentsuccessskills.com/. I had to give my notes and materials up before I was able to incorporate the program into my classroom; I moved to a different building. This workshop made me realize how important it is to give students the gift of coping skills. The program incorporated the following: study skills (such as body points, mnemonic devices), monitoring healthy eating and sleep habits, and ways to decompress (brain gym, exercise, listening to music) when senses are on overload.
Everyone could benefit from my research. If I had a bit more time, I would like to create a video to share with students (collaborating with the counselors). A podcast or blog directed toward students (and or adults) might be helpful. I'm incharge of doing morning video announcements. Students could do skits, poems, or songs on morning announcements to help students remember how to cope.
Why should I share with others? Everyone alive faces the pressure of daily life. The sooner we teach students how to cope with stress the more likely they are to be successful. Likewise, why not share these tools with adults. While everyone responds differently to coping mechanisms, we can modify to make these solutions our own.
Weaving
Wow! I must admit that I absolutely LOVE http://bubbl.us/. The above bubble map was made and exported as a JPEG in no time; making it easy to import into blogger. In order to find balance, I feel as though I need to nurture my body mind and spirit.
Each part (body, mind, and spirit) affects the other; in my opinion, mind and spirit are more closely related. As you can see, I feel as though Yoga would help in all areas (Body, Mind, and Spirit). If I am successful in decluttering my life, my mind and spirit will improve. I will save time, giving me more time to spend with my family or complete projects for school and SLIS classes. Through self-talk and mediatation, I will build self-confidence. Sometimes I am my worse enemy.
Daily
- I will follow the weightwatcher plan; focusing on journaling what I eat.
- I will find 5-10 positive attributes to share with myself, while meditating (need to multi-task to be efficient).
- I will spend 15 minutes a day towards de-cluttering my life; following the advice of Flylady.
3-5 Times a Week I will exercise 30 minutes or more. I've joined a weekly yoga class, plan to exercise twice a week with my kids, and one to two weeks on my own doing a variety of activities. I'm working toward completing my third Indianapolis 500 Mini-Marathon in May.
I've shared this plan with my husband and kids. Thankfully they support my plan. I'm so lucky to have such a great support system. I'd be in sad shape without them.
Still Webbing
In interviewing my friends who appear to be balanced (or should I say lead a balanced life), I found that almost all of them were organized people, who exercise and eat healthy on a regular basis.
After reading about how to eat healthy and finding forms of exercise that help fuel the body with energy, (including meditation and yoga), I decided to focus on ways to become more organized.
According to organization guru, Julie Morgenstern, "The average U.S. executive wastes one hour per day searching for missing information in messy desks and files, according to the Wall Street Journal." This sounds familiar to me. Oh so familiar. "Getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40% of the housework in an average home. " (National Soap and Detergent Association) Getting rid of clutter might indeed help relieve the stress in my life, which would lead me to a balanced life.
On recommendation from a friend, I visited the FlyLady website.
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons.asp I'm suffering from "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome" because I can't get my clutter organized. There I found a wealth of knowledge that can easily be adapted in baby steps; steps that I can reasonably take in my life.
I found other useful websites to help me become organized. They can be found in a trackstar at http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=375919&password=Marissa. Be sure to view this resource in frames.
After reading about how to eat healthy and finding forms of exercise that help fuel the body with energy, (including meditation and yoga), I decided to focus on ways to become more organized.
According to organization guru, Julie Morgenstern, "The average U.S. executive wastes one hour per day searching for missing information in messy desks and files, according to the Wall Street Journal." This sounds familiar to me. Oh so familiar. "Getting rid of excess clutter would eliminate 40% of the housework in an average home. " (National Soap and Detergent Association) Getting rid of clutter might indeed help relieve the stress in my life, which would lead me to a balanced life.
On recommendation from a friend, I visited the FlyLady website.
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons.asp I'm suffering from "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome" because I can't get my clutter organized. There I found a wealth of knowledge that can easily be adapted in baby steps; steps that I can reasonably take in my life.
I found other useful websites to help me become organized. They can be found in a trackstar at http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=375919&password=Marissa. Be sure to view this resource in frames.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Wiggling
Body:
Whelp....I started reading Eight Weeks to Optimum Health and found myself OVERWHELMED to say the least. Although I have no doubt that Andrew Weil's plan would work, I can't start such a complicated change in my life right now. I have joined Weightwatchers and need to focus on the print and electronic materials. With the support of meetings and online resources, I think I could be succcessful.
Mind and Spirit:
I've joined yoga and have found myself looking forward to the one evening a week I set aside for myself. Saving this night for me has been an exercise in itself. Meditation, with and without yoga, has been a great way for me to clear my mind.
Next, I would like to focus a bit more on organization. Being more organized, would help with my stress level and help me have a peace of mind.
Weil, A. (1997). Eight weeks to optimum health: A proven program for taking full advantage of your body's natural healing power. New York: A.A. Knopf.
Whelp....I started reading Eight Weeks to Optimum Health and found myself OVERWHELMED to say the least. Although I have no doubt that Andrew Weil's plan would work, I can't start such a complicated change in my life right now. I have joined Weightwatchers and need to focus on the print and electronic materials. With the support of meetings and online resources, I think I could be succcessful.
Mind and Spirit:
I've joined yoga and have found myself looking forward to the one evening a week I set aside for myself. Saving this night for me has been an exercise in itself. Meditation, with and without yoga, has been a great way for me to clear my mind.
Next, I would like to focus a bit more on organization. Being more organized, would help with my stress level and help me have a peace of mind.
Weil, A. (1997). Eight weeks to optimum health: A proven program for taking full advantage of your body's natural healing power. New York: A.A. Knopf.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Webbing and Wiggling
No, I've not found balance in my life just yet. Actually, I was quite off balance last week. I did something I've never done to my back before this incident. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what I did, because I don't know. Eight days later, I'm just beginning to feel normal.
Sitting in the doctor's office, I knew what she wanted to say to me, but didn't because she knew that I knew. The answer to my riddle is: you would be less likely to have back problems if you would lose weight.
In a rare moment, I took the time to watch an Oprah show that I had DVRed and not had time to watch. Dr. Oz was talking about how to eat in order to feel better and lose weight. I found myself thinking I might be able to follow his steps, so I downloaded the following book from ITunes so that I could find out more information.
Roizen, M. F. (2006). You on a diet: The owner's manual for waist management. Waterville, Me: Thorndike Press.
Meanwhile, I've found several forms of meditation that have helped me relax a bit more. Although I've not been able to meditate the full 10 recommended, I have successfully mediatated for 5 minutes using scent or music. Meditating in the morning works wonders. I want to start doing five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the afternoon.
I wanted to do yoga this past week, but was unable to fit it into my schedule. Even if I would have had time, my back would have most likely presented a roadblock.Other forms of exercise were also not an option.
I've also worked on the skill of positive thinking and talk. "If you don't have anything to say, don't say anything." Positive talk creates a positive attitude, which makes a happier person. The people on my list model positive talking; encouraging me to talk positive.
Next step...WEAVING! I want to formulate a plan to obtain balance; realizing that there are limitations. I'm a mom, wife, teacher, and student. I can't change these things; nor would I want to lose the richness of my life.
Sitting in the doctor's office, I knew what she wanted to say to me, but didn't because she knew that I knew. The answer to my riddle is: you would be less likely to have back problems if you would lose weight.
In a rare moment, I took the time to watch an Oprah show that I had DVRed and not had time to watch. Dr. Oz was talking about how to eat in order to feel better and lose weight. I found myself thinking I might be able to follow his steps, so I downloaded the following book from ITunes so that I could find out more information.
Roizen, M. F. (2006). You on a diet: The owner's manual for waist management. Waterville, Me: Thorndike Press.
Meanwhile, I've found several forms of meditation that have helped me relax a bit more. Although I've not been able to meditate the full 10 recommended, I have successfully mediatated for 5 minutes using scent or music. Meditating in the morning works wonders. I want to start doing five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the afternoon.
I wanted to do yoga this past week, but was unable to fit it into my schedule. Even if I would have had time, my back would have most likely presented a roadblock.Other forms of exercise were also not an option.
I've also worked on the skill of positive thinking and talk. "If you don't have anything to say, don't say anything." Positive talk creates a positive attitude, which makes a happier person. The people on my list model positive talking; encouraging me to talk positive.
Next step...WEAVING! I want to formulate a plan to obtain balance; realizing that there are limitations. I'm a mom, wife, teacher, and student. I can't change these things; nor would I want to lose the richness of my life.
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