Teaching has always been an overstimulating job.

The constant barrage of questions from students.

The hundreds of split second decisions that need to be made every day.

The amount of time in front of other people.

The amount of time you need to be "ON" as a person.

And now...our WORLD is overstimulating. With the propagation of smartphones, many people, adults and children alike, are in a constant state of overstimulation.

If you've listened to the podcast before, you may know my story about how the "social and noise overload" from being a high school band director led to a major depression episode, and ultimately, causing me to leave teaching for good.

Let me tell you...it is really challenging to teach music when you literally start to resent "sound" in general from overstimulation.

And unfortunately, this resulted in some less than stellar interactions with students and colleagues in my last year of teaching.

I think teachers, students, and frankly...everyone could do well with more mental health maintenance practices that focus on desaturating yourself from sound, screens and just taking in information.

And while I'm not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, I can say there are habits I have now that I consider just as important as my nutrition, fitness and hydration habits that are geared toward my mental health.

If you are a teacher and feeling overstimulated, I'd bet you can relate to this week's topic.

Take care, and be well.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25155-anhedonia

The hit show Adolescence on Netflix has sparked a TON of conversations, controversies and various interpretations over its true intentions.

Even if there is some sort of political bias at play here, there hasn't been a show that I've seen in years that does such a brilliant job at depicting:

-The downsides and dangers of young children using social media

-The level of cluelessness that a lot of adults have around kids use of technology...even in their own homes

No matter what your politics are, to me, this show is a wake up call to draw attention to one of the most serious problems human civilization is facing...the development of the brains of our next generation(s)...and how it is being adversely manipulated through the consumption of social media.

And while I agree that there is no putting the "cat back in the bag" as the saying goes...

We as adults, teachers, parents...and society at large must take a more active role in guiding the use of the powerful technologies we have recently become so very dependent upon.

As always...one short podcast isn't going to solve the world's problems. Just doing my part to keep the conversation going.

This one is definitely gonna make some people mad.

We as public educators and supporters need to try to understand why so many people want to eliminate the Department of Education.

I see a ton of education content creators, teachers, influencers, etc. talking about the essential services that the DoE provides.

I agree.

But I'm also seeing a lot of emotional arguements.

And having worked in education for 15 years...some people are only for INCREASING education spending and do not think it is reasonable to cut any spending EVER.

Any cut feels like a personal attack to them.

Let's see if we can agree on cutting WAY back on this one thing...

Administrator salaries. The amount of administration in education at ALL levels AND their salaries as BLOWN UP over the last few decades.

And we know the education system isn't any better off.

Unlike a lot of arguments I see online...this is not an attack on people. This is a critique of ideas and systems.

And no this is not my complete breakdown of the entire issue of the cutting of the Department of Education.

But I think it is a very important piece to talk about when it comes to funding education that I do not see enough teachers talking about.

Maybe we can have a calm, rational and nuanced discussion...but its the internet so I'm not getting my hopes up.

Maybe I've woken up on the wrong side of the bed all week lol...

If you want to be healthy, you can't be average.

Believe me...I would LOVE it if the average in America was healthier.

But if you want to change your life, it isn't going to be comfortable or easy.

What you need to do can be SIMPLE though.

But most people get bored with simple or give up before they see the results they want.

Doing a couple of workouts and eating a couple of healthy meals for a couple week isn't gonna cut it.

You have to work towards a new lifestyle.

But the amount of effort that requires...compared to the average American? It actually surprised ME how simple and easy it is to be above average.

So...stop being average.

If you're offended by that phrase...good. I hope it pushes you to change yourself for the better.

Going a bit more unscripted today...

One of the guys in my program was starting to feel unwelcome at his current gym. He's been crushing his nutrition and meal prep...

But some of the more experienced weight lifters are trying to rush him off his sets and just generally make him feel unwelcome.

As someone who didn't grow up being a "sports" kid, wasn't the most popular or athletic...

We've GOT to make gyms more welcoming spaces for new people.

As a coach...its a tricky balance to help people become problem aware without venturing into projecting feelings of shame. Thats my goal...but I'm sure I fall short of that from time to time.

That being said...blatantly pushing people out of a gym because they are still learning what to do is WRONG.

Be the person YOU needed when you were first starting to lift weights.

While there are many sectors of the economy that are short more workers than education...

There are unique reasons why it is particularly challenging to fix the teacher shortage in America.

Teaching is the one job in America with many qualified people to do the job...that do NOT want to do the job.

But if we can work on fixing ALL the labor shortages in important sectors of the economy like nursing, skilled trades and manufacturing...and teaching, no doubt our country will be stronger.

Breaking down the problem, and trying to get more people talking about this issue!

• Teacher Shortages:Full Mind Learning
• Nursing Shortages:HC Innovation Group
• LPN Shortages:Nightingale College
• Construction Workforce Shortage:ABC News Release
• Manufacturing Labor Shortage:Reader Precision
• HVAC Industry Workforce Deficit:Trade Management
• Shipbuilding Labor Shortage:Wall Street Journal
• Skilled Trades Training & Gaps:Deloitte Report
• Air Traffic Controller Training:Daily Telegraph
• Pilot Training & Shortage:Business Insider
• Semiconductor Workforce Crisis:Manufacturing Today

Everyone wants the easy way out.

Everyone wants to just take a pill, powder or potion for weight loss.

Even people who are taking a drug like Ozempic...doctors and those who have been on weight loss medications will tell you...

You still have to make PERMANENT lifestyle changes or you could experience some pretty nasty side effects.

Yes Healthcare costs are going crazy in America.

Yes we are bombarded with ultra-processed food and ALL food costs more now.

But that doesn't change the fact that there is NO greater determining criteria for better health than YOUR inputs.

Stop blaming everyone and everything, and turn the mirror on yourself. Change what you can control.

And while there are definitely many people who sadly do not possess the means to truly live a healthy lifestyle...

America has way more people who ARE able to clean up their habits and engage in preventative care through diet and exercise.

They just choose not to...and become victims of their own poor choices.

This week, we are talking about the cost of Non-Communicable chronic diseases in the United States and the World...trillions upon trillions of dollars that will be spent unless something drastic changes.

Sources:

cdc.gov

weforum.org

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38579649/

Many people love the feeling of buying a supplement as a solution to their problems.

It is no surprise to me that the supplement industry in America has at least 4 times the revenue of gyms and coaches. It's easy to pay for a pill or a powder. It's harder to show up and train consistently.

But its in the name...its supplemental. If you aren't a master of the basics as a foundation for your health...you're likely wasting your money on supplements. Or at worst...having a negative side effect or outcome.

Always consult your doctor before starting any supplements. Anything that I personally use are because I've run tests through my doctor to figure out what I needed.