Here are five awesome things to try or do now to help your future self!
Just a heads up, I am using Amazon affiliate links here… I will make a few cents off of each order if you use the links provided. However, I wouldn’t recommend anything that I didn’t love.
- Buy a light therapy mask with your FSA money!
If you signed up for an FSA through ASD, you can buy a light therapy mask on Amazon now and submit the receipt for reimbursement through your FSA. Navia Benefits actually reimbursed me before the mask even arrived.
What is a light therapy mask? It’s a LED light mask that has several color options that you can wear to help your skin in various ways. As a 28 year old with adult acne, I use the blue light setting on high for ten minutes each day followed by the red light setting for another ten minutes. The blue light is meant to kill bacteria and the red light is supposed to help rejuvenate skin by upping the cell turnover rate.
Don’t have the FSA through ASD? Put a reminder in your phone now to sign up next year during open enrollment– May 1st, usually.
2. Buy that ring light!
If you’re going to be teaching online, the best way to not look dead on zoom calls is with a ring light.
I bought this one and have been so happy with it! It plugs into my computer and lights up the room with a few options. It has a stand to put your phone inside of it, but I just put it next to my computer and it does the job. For $23, I think it’s a great investment for this new era we find ourselves in. There are other, higher-end options on amazon, but this one has worked just fine for me.
3. Try dryer balls.
Holy cow, these are great! I bought these in a four pack in June and have been using them ever since. You toss them in your dryer and they help move the clothes around more evenly to dry faster. My dryer is a little on the older side and usually takes two cycles to fully dry a load of clothes. With these, I have been able to fully dry clothes on the first run every time!
For extra awesome, I dab a little essential oil on the balls to keep the clothes smelling good. I do citrus fresh for clothes and lavender for towels and sheets. Game changer.
4. Read + Share some great books.
Six word memoirs were popularized by Earnest Hemingway when he wrote: “for sale: baby shoes, never worn.” This book is another in a series of original six word memoirs, but this one is written exclusively by teens about being a teenager. I start class by sharing a few with the students on days when the “Good Things,” are short, and the kids love it.
Other from the six word memoirs series:
Not Quite What I Was Thinking (Vol 1)
It All Changed in an Instant (Vol 2)
Six Word Memoirs on Love + Heartbreak
Fresh off the Boat (Stories on Immigration)
Am I Over Thinking This? is a great book full of cute charts to describe different ways we can overthink things. I have been sharing some on instagram to get student responses. They could be great to use as writing prompts for bell ringers. (Hint: for asynchronous and online learning, I am going to use padlet for daily writing!)
All Along Your Were Blooming
What a beautiful book of poetry. It definitely has a christian slant, but I find so many of the poems and illustrations inspiring with or without the religion. I also love sharing these on social media.
How to Hide an Empire
I actually haven’t read this one, but I am waiting by the mailbox for it! It was recommended by a teacher influencer on Instagram and I am so excited to dive in.
5. Use your teacher discount EVERYWHERE.
Spotify, iTunes, Ulysses, Zenni Optical, and so much more offer teacher discounts. Usually you can just sign up for the student discount using your official ASD email. Some websites use ID.me, which just requires you upload your staff ID and wait 24 hours for verification. Sign up for ID.me today and reap the benefits.
HeyKenna 