Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, save money, and make day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable.
Please help me continue to build my reader base by clicking the link below and sharing with one or all your friends & family! It means more than you know!
Social Media Page I’m Following:
We recently discussed the importance that a positive nurturing environment has on our maturity and development.
Of course, this starts at a very early age.
And where do we spend much of our youth?
School.
Who leads us much of this time?
School teachers.
OK – we’ve established that our environment in this early time of life is essential, much of it is spent in school surrounded by schoolteachers… therefore, schoolteachers play an INCREDIBLY crucial role in the direction of millions of individuals’ lives and trajectories.
Sure, sounds simple. But what do the statistics show?
According to the Educational Research Program:
K-12 educators experience more burnout than any other profession
Teachers are ~40% more likely to experience anxiety than healthcare workers
>50% of educators are exiting the field earlier than they anticipated
>40% of educator job postings are unfilled
>80% of schools report student behavior is getting worse over the years
This a real, urgent issue that needs to be addressed.
First off, I can’t wrap my head around the idea of graduating college at 22 years old and being expected to lead a group of rambunctious kids for 6+ hours a day.
I wouldn’t know where to start.
This is where mentorship comes into play.
Although learning by trial & error can work, it’s much faster (and less painful) to receive mentorship from someone with extensive experience and an extremely successful classroom.
Teach For 3 is a relatively new program designed by one of my high school teachers, Mr. Tony Winkler.
The purpose of this program is to bring more mentorship to the field of education to push back against the current trends. Not only do we want these kids to have the best resources while in school, but today’s kids are the future of our country!
Not to hype him up too much but Mr. Winkler is hands-down the most effective teacher and impactful leader I’ve been privileged to work with in my 21 years of being a student.
The first day he walked into class, he established a culture where students knew they were there to learn in a structured, disciplined environment… but fun was going to be had in the process.
If you are or know a new educator who may benefit from this program, send them to the website link above!
Additionally, here’s a link to the program’s Instagram if you want to learn more!
Mindset I’m Embracing:
It’s better to be consistently good than occasionally great.
Read that once more.
Shoutout to renowned running coach Jeff Cunningham for this one.
Especially for the Type A folks out there, this mentality can’t be preached enough.
In all facets of life, consistent small efforts compound over time to yield massive results.
Whether it be in the gym, on the running trail, nutritional intake, business, investments, or even personal relationships.
It’s echoed in the familiar motto of getting 1% better each day.
Walking 10,000 steps daily gets your farther (literally) than trying to catch up on a heroic 10-mile walk on Saturday morning.
Going to the gym 3x per week for 30 minutes outdoes a 2-hour workout every other week.
Eating in a slight caloric deficit daily is better than trying to do a full Sunday reset.
Stacking small gains each day allows us to stay fresh, prevents burnout, and allows us to maintain the motivation necessary to keep moving forward.
Day after day.
Although it can be hard for some (myself included), our focus should be doing whatever is necessary to improve today without sacrificing tomorrow.
I’m no da Vinci but I think you get the point here.
Rome wasn’t built over night.
It was built by stacking bricks every single day.
Healthy Swap:
Per a recommendation from one of my personal training clients, I recently made the swap from aluminum-based antiperspirant to a non-aluminum variety.
I’ve always held the belief that aluminum was required for the sweat blocking function of antiperspirants and without it, they wouldn’t work.
Because of this, I was skeptical and expected to smell like BO within hours.
Oh, how I was wrong.
In fact, I’ve noticed being even more protected from stinky armpits and excessive sweating since picking up the all-natural deodorant by Native (no sponsorship, unfortunately).
But why make the switch you might be asking?
While more evidence is needed, there are some studies that link higher levels of aluminum to an increased risk of breast cancer, hormone dysregulation, and kidney issues.
The real question is why not?
There’s zero downside, it works just as well if not better in my experience, and it’s probably best to go more “natural” anyway!
I’m rolling with it (no pun intended).
Shoutout to Valerie for this recommendation!
What else?
The fall season is on our doorstep which often means spending less time outdoors! Do NOT let this take away from your daily activity — prioritize getting the same amount of steps and movement even if it entails hopping on a treadmill or stationary bike!
I’ll be releasing a post next week on the power of a morning workout… stay tuned!
Consistently Good > Occasionally Great
If you enjoy this weekly bite of information, please share it with a coworker, friend, and/or family member!
DISCLAIMER
This is NOT Medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.