The GPS Framework: Your Guide to a Peaceful and Productive Teaching Day
In this post YOU will discover:
What the GPS Framework is
How to use the GPS Framework to create peace and productivity in your day
Ways to use the framework with your students too!
Ever feel like you’re running on empty before the school day even begins? Or maybe you’re looking for a way to recharge and realign during your lunch break? Ever wonder if it’s possible to actually have energy after school for your family at home?
If you answered YES to any of these, know that YOU are not alone! It is completely natural to experience different emotions and different emotional states throughout our days as teachers! I have found that even with the ups and downs throughout our days, it is still possible to create moments of time that are focused on ourselves. YES, even among the busiest of days. The key is having a framework to turn to, and one that you practice throughout the day so that it naturally becomes a tool you use in your toolbox.
GPS Framework
This framework, I’ve come to call the GPS framework. It’s a simple combination of steps that can transform not only your day but also your classroom atmosphere. GPS stands for Gratitude, Purpose, and Silence. Just like a GPS guides you to your destination in your car, this framework guides you to a peaceful, productive day.
Before I dive into more about the framework, I wanted to give you a little background into how I created it. I am a massive believer and proponent of morning routines and experiences. However, I also found myself needing some pick me ups and energy resets throughout the day as well. So I thought about how my morning routine sets me up for success throughout the day and thought, why couldn’t I continue this at other parts of the day?
I thought about key components to the morning experiences I had created in the past. Since every day for me looks a little different, so does my morning routine. But there were always three components I kept coming back to. And it’s those components that create the GPS framework!
G is for Gratitude: Start with a Thankful Heart
Gratitude is a powerful way to shift your mindset and set a positive tone throughout your day. If you have not read “The Magic” yet, by Rhonda Byrne, I highly recommend it! This is the book that really helped me understand the true power behind the practice of gratitude. After all, if we aren’t grateful for something, we often will take it for granted.
Not sure where to start when it comes to a gratitude practice? Here are some easy ways to incorporate gratitude into your GPS practice:
Gratitude Journal: Spend a few moments jotting down three things you’re grateful for. It could be as simple as a good night’s sleep, a supportive colleague, or the excitement of a new lesson plan.
Silent Thanks: Take a deep breath and mentally list the things you appreciate. This can be done while you’re making your morning coffee or during your commute.
Express Gratitude: Send a quick text or leave a colleague a note in their mailbox expressing gratitude for who they are or something they’ve done.
Gratitude on the Hour: Every hour, on the hour, write down one thing YOU are grateful for. At the end of the day review your list and feel the power that comes from it.
Gratitude Brain Dump: Similar to the journal concept, this is where YOU spend a specific amount of time (up to you to decide) and just brain dump as many things as you can that YOU are grateful for. Once you think you’re finished, push yourself to add three more things to the list!
Gratitude as an Acronym: This one is fun to do with your class! Write GRATITUDE on the board and have students come up with things they are grateful for that start with the different letters. For example, one student might say, “Grandma” for G, another might share “Trampoline Park” for T, and so on!
Gratitude Word Cloud: Have students create a word cloud of things they are grateful for throughout the school week! Send it home with your students over the weekend so they can share with their families too!
Quick Tip: Short on time? Spend one minute in your car before heading into school or one minute before picking your students up from specials, closing your eyes, and thinking of three things you’re grateful for. This small practice can make a big difference!
P is for Purpose: Align with Your Intentions
Setting a purposeful intention for the day, or resetting your intention throughout the day, helps you stay focused and motivated. This doesn’t have to be complicated or complex. A simple sentence, or sometimes even one single word can help set the purpose for the day ahead! The goal is to provide a purpose that aligns with who YOU are and who YOU desire to be (and things within our control), so that we don’t fall into the habit of focusing on things outside of our control! Here are some simple ways YOU can set the purpose for your day:
Affirmations: Create a set of positive affirmations that resonate with you. For example, “I am a calm and compassionate teacher” or “I inspire my students every day.” Repeat these affirmations aloud or silently as YOU need them. Define YOU has a set of affirmation cards that are perfect for this step! Click here to check them out!
Visualizations: Spend a few moments visualizing your day. Imagine yourself handling challenges with grace, connecting with your students, and feeling accomplished by the end of the day. Even if you haven’t experienced it, your brain will still believe what you visualize to be true. It’s a pretty amazing thing our brains can do!
Pick a word for the day: Pick ONE word to define your day. What do YOU want to look for in the day ahead? What we look for is what we find, so pick a word that serves YOU and get out there and find it!
Review your mission statement: If you have one, review that mission statement! And this is the mission statement for YOU (not your school!). If you don’t have one and are interested in learning how, Define YOU is here to help!
Affirmation of the Day: Create an affirmation of the day with your students and have them talk about what it means to them! At the end of the day, reflect with them on how they lived demonstrated that affirmation throughout the day!
Quick Tip: Even if you’re in a rush, take one minute wherever you are to repeat a purposeful affirmation or visualize a successful day. This can be a powerful mental reset!
S is for Silence: Create Space for Calmness
Silence allows you to center yourself and prepare mentally for the day ahead. And yes, you might be thinking, Lindsay - silence in my classroom? And I totally understand! But yes, even in the busiest of classrooms, we can find moments of silence (this could be at the beginning or the end of the day too!) Silence helps us regain control of our senses which is the system that interprets millions of bits of information around us every second, so anchoring into silence helps us return to the here and now (which is the most powerful place to be!) Here are some ways to incorporate silence into your routine:
Mindful Breathing: Sit quietly and focus on your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for a moment, and exhale slowly. Repeat this for a few minutes.
Morning Coffee Meditation: Enjoy your coffee in silence, paying attention to the aroma, taste, and warmth. Let it be a moment of mindful relaxation.
Brief Meditation: Listen to a short guided meditation or simply sit in silence, letting your thoughts settle. YouTube is a great place to find simple guided meditations!
Create a silence cue in your classroom! Save a specific sound, code word, or visual to indicate that it’s time for a silence break. Teach your students that when the cue is given, they can breathe, find their focus, and sustain silence until you share the re-engage prompt. Make sure with something like this, that you practice often and keep the time frames short. Don’t wait to use this when it gets too loud, instead practice at different times to build awareness through practice!
Quick Tip: Even if you only have one minute, or 30 seconds, you can still practice this one! Before you enter a space (i.e. your classroom, your car, your home, etc.) With your eyes closed, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the moment of silence. This can help you enter the space feeling more grounded and peaceful.
Creating Your Personalized GPS Routine
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to personalize your GPS routine. The beauty of this method is its flexibility – you can adapt it to fit your unique needs and schedule. Use the framework to create different routines based on what you desire (or need) each day! The activities can change, the time frame can change, what stays the same is the framework, 1 G, 1 P, 1 S!
Here’s a sample routine:
Gratitude (1-5 minutes): Write or think about three things you’re grateful for.
Purpose (1-5 minutes): Recite an affirmation or visualize your ideal day.
Silence (1-5 minutes): Practice mindful breathing or enjoy a moment of quiet.
For Busy Mornings: If you’re short on time, spend just one minute on each step while sitting in your car before heading into school.
Lunchtime Reset: Use the GPS method during your lunch break to recharge. Spend one minute on each step to regain energy and focus for the afternoon.
Making the GPS Framework work for YOU!
Incorporating the GPS framework as a tool in your toolbox, you can create and sustain a positive mindset, clear purpose, and a sense of calm throughout the day when YOU need it most. Whether you spend five minutes or just three, these small practices can have a significant impact on your well-being and your classroom environment.
So, give it a try and see how GPS can guide you to a more balanced and fulfilling teaching experience. Share your GPS routine in the comments below – let’s inspire each other to create days that are defined and designed as we need and desire them to be!