Thursday 20th March 2025 - A Productive Day of Teaching, Creativity, and Family Time


“I am grateful for the opportunities each day brings, and I embrace the joy of creativity, learning, and growth. I am open to new challenges and grateful for the time I spend with my family.”

Hello all.

Today was another fulfilling day, combining a little bit of everything I love – from productivity at work to teaching the Year 6 class to some creative personal time. But before diving into all of that, I started my day with my usual Wim Hof Breathing exercises, a cold shower, and a short meditation session. These simple yet powerful practices have become an essential part of my routine, helping me feel centred, relaxed, and ready to tackle the day ahead.

The Power of Wim Hof Breathing and Meditation

I can’t express enough how beneficial the Wim Hof Breathing method has been for me, especially when paired with a cold shower and a brief period of meditation. These techniques help me set a calm and positive tone for the day, reducing stress and giving me the mental clarity I need to take on any challenge. The cold shower, in particular, is invigorating and gives me an energy boost that carries me through the morning.

The breathing exercises help me focus, creating an inner calm that extends beyond my practice into my workday. It's a grounding routine that helps with my emotional energy and maintains my focus, especially on busy or overwhelming days.

Getting to Work: A Busy Morning

After my routine, I was running a bit late today. I had to drop off my daughter, Fearne, at school before heading to work. Once that was sorted, I drove in, already mentally prepared for what the day would bring.

The morning was busy, but exciting! I had to update the attendance registers for the Appropriate Body briefings that are being held across the year. It was a detailed task that involved checking records, adding new attendees to the list, and ensuring everything was accurate. While I was updating these records, I noticed a few names were missing, so I added a task in my diary for Friday to ensure all the attendance details are up to date. This will involve identifying any duplicates, checking against other records, and making sure everything is as accurate as possible.

The task itself wasn’t overly exciting, but it did give me a sense of achievement once it was all organized. The importance of keeping records in order can’t be overstated, especially in a school environment. It’s something I feel a responsibility for, as it ensures the smooth running of various activities.

The Exciting Moment: Teaching Year 6 Class

The afternoon, however, was a different story. I had the wonderful opportunity to teach the Year 6 class the second part of their website creation lesson. This is definitely one of my passion projects, and I couldn't wait to dive into it with the students.

Last week, the class had started their website projects on Google Sites, and today was the day to build upon what they had already learned. I asked them to open their website projects and gave them the challenge of creating a 3-page website, with the possibility of extending it further if they had time.

I love seeing the creativity in my students, and this lesson was no exception. I could see how they all connected with the task, choosing subjects they loved to build their sites around. Some students focused on topics like their favourite hobbies, while others went for more personal themes like family or sports. The beauty of this project is that it allows each child to showcase their unique personality and interests, and the results were fantastic.

The energy in the room was palpable, and though a bit excitable, it was clear that the students were genuinely enjoying the process. It’s moments like this that remind me why I’m passionate about teaching – seeing the kids engage, think critically, and be so creative with something as seemingly technical as website design is incredibly rewarding.

As expected, there were a few moments where staff had to intervene to calm the excitement, but I didn’t mind. Everyone was focused on creating, and that’s what matters most in a lesson like this. By the end of the class, I had 30 unique, individual websites from the students, each reflecting their creativity and effort. I couldn't be prouder of them.

The IT Meeting: Reflecting on Growth

The day wrapped up with my weekly IT meeting. It was my first one since the slightly uncomfortable meeting on Tuesday, and I was happy to report that I had processed the situation and moved on. I didn’t feel the need to bring it up, and there were no lingering negative feelings. I find it incredibly rewarding to be in a workplace where I’m trusted with so much responsibility and variety.

My job offers me a chance to be creative every day, whether it’s teaching students, working on tech projects, or finding ways to improve and streamline processes. It’s a supportive environment where I feel valued, and I’m grateful for that.

A Cozy Evening: Quality Time and Creativity

After work, I headed home to spend some quality time with my family. Tonight I made a delicious Pasta Carbonara. The kids and my partner were all really happy with the meal, which made me feel good.

Once dinner was over, I set aside some time for myself to work on creating content for my various website projects. I love the flexibility that comes with working on creative endeavours like this – I can do it on my terms and fit it around family time.

Earlier in the day, I had bought some Mod Podge glue (and yes, I laughed every time I said it!) to add a protective coat over the logos I had placed on my Creator’s Box. I spent a rewarding ten minutes applying a coat and then added a second coat before finishing up for the day. It was a simple task, but it felt great to see my project progressing. I'll probably apply one more coat over the next few days to ensure everything is sealed properly, but it's coming along nicely!

A Positive End to a Full Day

As I reflected on the day, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I’m so thankful for the variety of experiences my work gives me, for the creative outlet it provides, and for the positive relationships I have with colleagues and students. I’m grateful for the moments of relaxation, whether it’s breathing, a cold shower, or spending time with my family. And I’m grateful for the small tasks that give me a sense of accomplishment, like updating records or adding a coat of glue to my project.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of daily life, but it’s days like today that remind me to slow down, appreciate what I have, and look forward to what’s ahead.

#WimHofBreathing #TeachingPassion #CreativeProjects #Year6WebsiteCreation #FamilyTime #Gratitude #ModPodge #Meditation #TeachingTech #PersonalGrowth #TeacherLife #PastaCarbonara #CreativeLearning

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