Marching band season is in full swing, fall sports have filled up our student's schedules, and the favorite sugar-inducing-coma holiday is just around the corner. Are you feeling the craziness of the fall season? We know we are! Here is a list of our favorite go-to stress relievers for the season:

• ​Take a break. I know, I know, there's no time for that! Hear me out, let your ears take a break. Turn the radio off on your drive home, get up before the rest of the house and enjoy a bit of silence, don't turn Spotify on right away when you get home. Sometimes, our ears need a palette cleanser. As musicians we use them all day long! I don't know about you, but I even tend to listen to whatever noises the house and kids are making while I'm making dinner. They need a break, a bit of silence to give them a rest. Set aside a few moments throughout the day to give them what they need.
• Collaborate with colleagues. Sometimes our weary soul just needs to talk a little shop with someone else in the trenches. Find a fellow music instructor and grab a quick drink together. If you're in a rural area, sometimes this is hard to come by. We love getting involved in our state organization for this very reason. You make life-long connections with people who know what you're going through. Shoot out a text to that buddy you met at the last conference. Sometimes just sharing a couple gifs that show how you feel can lighten the load a little and remind you you're not alone. We're all in this together!
• Take time for self-care. It's a buzzword right now that we really don't have time for, right?! One thing we have found in our own busy lives with multiple jobs and a house full of boys is that if you don't take time for self-care, your body will make you take the time later in poor health. We love what we do and we want to be able to do it well, so we need to take care of our bodies and minds. Pick back up the hobby you've been putting off, take a long hot shower, light that pumpkin spice candle your favorite student dropped off last fall. It can be just a couple minutes, but you need to take a break and do something you just plain enjoy occasionally. Mike and I typically knit and crochet in the evenings. It's some quiet time after the kids are in bed and it keeps our hands busy while we watch a quick episode of our latest favorite series, "Artful."
• Get out and move your body. We're at the last of the nice weather here in Idaho, so fall is the last chance to get in a sunny walk outside. I know our friends in the South are just getting weather that lets them go out without melting. Wherever you are, get a little Vitamin D and some movement in. It doesn't have to be a hike in the woods or an hour at the gym. We knew a secretary during our undergrad that would bring her walking shoes to work, put them on with her skirt during lunch, and go walk a couple laps around the track. Make a lap around campus during your prep hour or a quick walk around the block after dinner. Whatever you choose to do, let it clear your mind and reset your body.
• Slip in a quick meditation. Last fall I took a course on meditation as part of my recertification. The benefits a short, daily meditation provide our bodies are incredible. I'm now a firm believer in daily meditation. I also believe we should include it in our classroom when possible, but that's a thought for another day. All it takes is a few minutes. I added mine to my morning routine. It helps me clear my mind and focus my energy for the day. Some people enjoy adding it to their evening routine to help their mind calm down and prepare to sleep. If you're interested in a little more info on the specific benefits meditation provides and a quick explanation on how to meditate, here is a short article by UC Davis.

This fall, don't let the busy schedules and endless prep for the upcoming holidays keep you from being an effective educator. Setting aside a little time for yourself can really help your mind and body reset and be ready to go again.

The back-to-school energy boost is waning, the fall calendar is as full as ever, and our tank is starting feel pretty empty. Does this describe how you or your students are feeling as Halloween approaches? Us, too, you are not alone! Here are a few tips I've compiled through the years to keep our students motivated.

This time of year, when we see their eyes start to glaze over and their minds start to wander to what they want to be for Halloween, it can help refocus their energy if we switch things up a little. Feel free to adjust any of these suggestions to fit your needs in lessons and the classroom. Keep up the good work! Fostering the musicians of tomorrow is a beautiful work!