We now begin our fourth week of 25 Tips For Less Stress. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these articles as they have helped me to really focus on some of the routines that I take for granted in my life. When I have been tempted to relax on some of them, I have reread my own writings and been once again inspired to stick it out. This week, we begin focusing on relationships.

Today we’ll begin with the most important relationships of all: family members.

Family disagreements will carry over into every aspect of what we do in life. If you fight with your spouse in the morning before work, one way or another you will take it out on the poor unsuspecting students.

Here are my top 5 keys to family harmony:

1. Better Communication
   Poor communication is the cause of all misunderstandings, and nearly every argument in life; communicate clearly and often
2. Eat together
   As often as is possible, I love having family meals; my first two years of teaching, I went to visit my parents nearly every Sunday after church for lunch
3. Play together
   Plan fun times together, and fun doesn’t have to be expensive either; sometimes searching for something free and fun to do can be incredibly rewarding
4. Pray together
   Spending time together in spiritual activities (church, volunteering, Bible study, whatever) can be some of the most emotionally and relationally powerful time you spend as a family
5. Call your mom
   Even when nobody else does, your mom wants to hear from you and she doesn’t hear from you enough!

Joel Wagner

Joel Wagner (@sywtt) began teaching band in 2002. Though he had a lot of information, his classes were out of control. He found himself tired, frustrated, disrespected by students, lonely, and on the brink of quitting. He had had enough. He resigned from his school district right before spring break of his second year and made it his personal mission to learn to be a great teacher. So You Want To Teach? is the ongoing story of that quest for educational excellence.