I am a 24-year-old high school teacher. The more I worry about not teaching well, the worse I get at it. How do I get back on track?

Hello. Thank you for your question. I am a listener at Yixin.

You are clearly highly motivated and responsible. You want to do a good job, but the pressure and anxiety are real. Your lack of work experience makes the work challenging, which causes you to feel anxious. For instance, you may not eat, and when you're not at work, you're thinking about giving a good class and doing a good job. This will distract you, and it will seriously affect your quality of life and physical health.

It's good to have some anxiety, but excessive worry is harmful to your health. It stops you moving forward and developing. It seems that your anxieties are getting out of control, so we need to find a way to regulate your emotions and state.

First, change the sentence structure to "I can teach well in class." This will adjust our mentality and give us certain psychological cues. We may have thoughts during class, such as "What if I can't teach well?" or "What if the students don't want to listen if I can't teach well?" We will have these thoughts. Repeat a few sentences to ourselves every day: "I can teach well in class." After a period of time, this positive psychological cue will adjust our actions to preparing the class well and teaching the class seriously. The students will like our lectures. Be serious and responsible, and the students will recognize us.

You're only 24 and have only been working for a few years, so it's important to understand that teaching is a complex job. Some classes may require years of experience before you can become proficient, and it takes even longer to become truly outstanding. This is a process of accumulation, and you're still new to the workforce, so other commitments may take up your time, reducing the time you have to prepare for class. This is a challenging and rewarding role that requires time to develop and cannot be rushed.

We must slow down to speed up. Give yourself time to grow, steadily push forward with your tasks, and accumulate experience. You will become more proficient at your work. Then, you will spend more time thinking of ways to teach the class well. After a few years of teaching a class, you will be very proficient. There will be no pressure, just a constant problem of improvement.

I heard a lesson yesterday that I want to share with you. It was about changing your posture and position when you are stressed or anxious. You can do this by moving into a relaxed, carefree posture and position. This will help you to become more relaxed. You can do this a few times a day or maintain it for a period of time. You will become more and more relaxed. There is also a book called "Posture Determines Who You Are" which explains this in more detail. When you perform a certain action, for example, a carefree action, you will adjust your body and mind to a state of ease. This will help you to relax.

I'm going to share the three points above because I know they'll be helpful to you. The world and I love you.

Hello! I want to give you, the responsible one, a 360-degree hug!

You mentioned in your question and description that you are 24 years old, which is a great age! It's true that at the age of 24, as a high school teacher, you have just graduated for two or three years. But that also means you have plenty of time to learn and grow! You probably feel that for students in the first and second years of high school, even if you don't teach them well a few times, they still have enough time to learn. And that's true!

However, the college entrance exam is a very important test in life, and it determines many people's futures. It is normal for you to feel nervous, but remember, you can do this!

At the same time, I bet the school will also put some pressure on the senior high school teachers, and the two combined will make you even more nervous. But that's a good thing! It means you're in for an exciting year.

I wish I had some great ideas for you, but I don't. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful. I'll share a little of my own experience with you.

First, believe in your own strength! You can even choose not to believe in your own strength if you want to, but you have to believe in the school's judgment.

The school was able to recruit you as a high school teacher, which is a great sign! It means they felt you were the right candidate based on your qualifications, teaching qualification exam, and interview.

The school had a different plan for you from the beginning—they wanted to see how capable you are! They knew you were well prepared for the interviews and lectures, but they wanted to test your skills in a different way. And you passed with flying colors! You aced the entrance exams, and you were ready to take on the students and teach a full year of courses. You have what it takes!

Obviously, in the judgment of the school leaders, you are qualified to be a senior high school teacher! It's the third year of high school, and the school leaders are excited to have you on board. Parents nowadays are so concerned about their third-year high school students that they are on edge, and you're ready to take on the challenge!

That's why the school leaders are so careful about who they let teach the senior year. They want to make sure they find the perfect fit!

So, you may not believe in yourself, but you absolutely have to believe in the school leaders! They're the ones who know what they're doing.

Second, recognize your strengths! You may not have complete knowledge of the subject, but you may have a more active mind than other teachers.

The short teaching time may be a disadvantage, but it may also be an advantage!

You're young, so you'll be more active than other, older teachers. You'll be able to get along with students more easily and get into their hearts!

Teaching is an amazing process of mutual learning, where students play an active role. It's not just about the teacher's efforts — it's a collaborative journey!

The American movie Dead Poets Society is one of the most inspiring films ever made. It tells the incredible story of a tough but fair teacher who transformed the lives of over 400 troubled students, guiding them all to Harvard University. You simply have to see this movie!

This teacher is successful because of the amazing relationship he has with his students. He has aroused their internal drive in a way that is truly inspiring!

Today I listened to an amazing book on Yixinli, "A Beam of Light Illuminating the Depressive Black Hole," which says that in psychotherapy, feeling that you can heal accounts for 25% of the effect, the counseling relationship accounts for 50%, and medication accounts for 25%. It's incredible how much of an impact a good relationship can have on psychotherapy!

For you, being a teacher who understands students can make up for some of the deficiencies you feel in your knowledge—and it can be a great way to make up for those gaps!

3. Pretend you're awesome!

Absolutely! If you want to show off, this high-energy posture can make others think you're really awesome. Before you know it, you'll be awesome!

I highly recommend the book Posture Determines Who You Are, which has a fantastic, detailed interpretation of Yixinli.

And there are other methods that can help too! These include preparing lessons in advance, participating in more teaching and research activities, answering students' questions that you can't answer, and discussing these techniques together after class.

And there's another great option: you can also talk to a counselor!

I'm a counselor who is often both Buddhist and depressed, occasionally positive and motivated, and I love the world!

Hello, I'm Liang Qingyou.

From what you've written, it's clear you're under a lot of pressure, with deep-seated fear, anxiety, unease, and guilt.

I can't sleep, I've lost my appetite, and I often remember that I haven't eaten dinner until I'm hungry in the middle of the night. I'm extremely nervous and my mind is blank. There are so many maladaptive reactions, and I'm seriously concerned about you!

Mindfulness practice is the most effective way to improve the situation as soon as possible. It is also easy to learn.

Mindfulness practice is not a one-off exercise. It is something you can practice at any time and in any place. It is a part of life that helps you quickly get rid of anxiety and fear.

It's simple. You can learn it.

The challenge is that when discomfort arises, you must repeatedly and consistently refocus your attention on your body, emotions, and thoughts.

Don't judge your physical reactions, emotional reactions, or thoughts. They're just transients that come and go freely.

How do you pull back? The word is "watch." Don't get close, don't be curious, and don't try to find out why you're like this. Watch from a distance.

You must be even more non-judgmental when you "watch" the thoughts in your head. Remember, all thoughts are just transients that come and go freely.

Observe the ebb and flow of your emotions objectively. Stop racking your brain trying to figure out what's really behind them. You will no longer be controlled by your emotions.

Stop fighting everything. When the various discomforts come, stay with them, keep your distance, and watch them. Don't do anything else.

You will soon notice that they are still there, but you don't feel quite as uncomfortable. At this point, you will have a little spare energy and some rationality to deal with the situation at hand.

Ask yourself, "When during the day did the inappropriate reaction improve slightly?" Then, identify what happened or what you thought of that made you feel slightly better.

When you can be more rational, take a short break for a few days to sort things out. Seek support. Talk to relevant people sincerely and in moderation.

You can take control of your emotions and start taking care of your rationality. There are many ways to do so.

I wish you the best.

Hello, I'm Lin Wei, a heart exploration coach. You're in a transitional stage, moving from survival to situation-focused. You care about teaching quality but are anxious about your current situation.

I understand your current state of mind. The first time I went to the podium, I didn't sleep at all, worrying about getting stuck, the teacher at the back of the classroom, and the students. I can empathize with you when I read your description.

New teachers often feel stressed when teaching a graduating class. This is because there is a lot of pressure on them. If they feel stressed, it can lead to burnout.

How should we think? The questioner said he used to teach high school students. At 24, he's young. Teaching high school students shows you're good at teaching. It's hard to get a job teaching high school. The questioner got a job and taught high school students. This shows he's good at teaching. Don't worry about this too much. Be confident.

If you're not confident or worried about your teaching quality, there are three ways to help. First, after class, talk to the student privately. Ask about what they learned and what you can improve.

At first, students may like your description. Don't pressure them. Just smile. After a few times, they'll be willing to talk to you.

Second, you can go to more classes taught by experienced teachers. Almost all high school teachers don't mind if someone comes to their class. You can contact those teachers to go to their class and listen to the class, and think about what problems there are in your teaching. If they are willing, you can invite them to come to your class and point out your shortcomings.

Third, find someone to listen to the class. This will help you improve. Outsiders can spot problems. If they criticize, you'll remember it more. If they nod, you'll feel more confident.

Also, when we take a subject, we choose one. But at a certain school, we might take another subject or a minor subject. Do we remember everything? No, we learn as we go.

Don't stress. Look at it this way: if you teach an extra subject, you get paid more.

Teaching requires talking. The more you talk, the calmer you will feel. Don't worry about not preparing your class well. Before you go to the podium, give yourself a mental nudge: I've prepared the class so well, what do I have to fear? I'm not afraid of anything.

Just get through the beginner period.

Hello, question asker!

It's tough to give advice on anxiety caused by work pressure in just a short description of more than 300 words. But I'm still excited to chat with you in the answer to help you see more possibilities when you're nervous about this, even if you lose your appetite and sleep.

[Take an objective look at your current situation and see what you can do to make it even better!]

From the text, I can see that you are currently feeling a bit anxious. As a novice teacher who has just graduated two or three years ago, facing your first year of teaching high school seniors is almost a necessary part of every high school teacher's growth. Most other senior teachers have also experienced what you are feeling now—worrying that you are not doing a good enough job and that you will affect your students' grades. So please calm down and analyze your current situation as objectively as possible. You've got this!

"Teaching three classes for the first time in the senior year." This is an amazing opportunity! The school has arranged for you to teach three classes for the first time in the senior year, which is a great reflection of your abilities and attitude. The school cares more about the results of this year's college entrance examination than you do, so this is a wonderful chance for you to shine. If you have already taught three classes, then you may not be the homeroom teacher of the senior year class, but just a subject teacher. This means you don't need to spend more energy on overall student management, which is great!

This is your chance to take responsibility for the course you teach!

Teaching is an ongoing journey of growth and improvement!

In standardised high school teaching, subject grade groups generally have ready-made lesson plans to refer to, and each teacher adds their own flair based on their own style and experience. So when you worry that "you don't have enough knowledge," are you really worried that you don't have much to expand on beyond the basics in the textbook? The good news is that you can easily overcome this challenge! All you need to do is to make sure you're familiar with the textbook material and then you can start adding your own style and experience to the lesson plans.

At this point, you can go back and look at past college entrance examination questions and find that basic questions account for as much as 60-70%. So even if there is not much expansion, it is still very important to consolidate the basics, especially for students with average or below average grades. The process of teaching is endless. This is your first time teaching a senior year class. By the time you teach your second, third... Nth time, you will definitely be doing a better job than you are today!

You can only be responsible for your own present, and it's a great feeling!

Students and parents may have high expectations of teachers, but teachers are just ordinary people. They're not gods with omnipotent powers! When you start this job, the best thing you can do is take responsibility for the present. Don't worry about the students' college entrance exams or their future. That's something the students themselves have to take responsibility for.

You've got this! The first thing you need to do is make sure you're getting enough sleep and eating three meals a day. Then, follow the teaching plan you've broken down for the semester, focus on the class of the day, and keep up with the teaching rhythm and progress. You're teaching three classes, which means you'll get to teach the same content three times. After the first time, you can simply review it, make improvements the second time, and become more proficient the third time. You've got this!

This could be your own journey from ugly duckling to swan!

I really hope the questioner can focus on the present and have a great year!

It is recommended that the questioner be given a supportive gesture such as a hug. It is evident that the questioner is experiencing significant tension, anxiety, and unease. As previously mentioned, research indicates that when individuals are highly nervous and worried about performing poorly, they are more likely to make mistakes and perform worse. This phenomenon is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy, which can have adverse effects on many individuals.

There are several ways to overcome this obstacle. First, the questioner can identify the underlying causes of their anxiety. For instance, if they are concerned about their ability to teach effectively, they can examine the potential consequences of this fear and gain a deeper understanding of their true objectives.

Secondly, you can verify these situations you are concerned about outside of the classroom. For instance, interact with students and engage in conversation to ascertain their perceptions of the class you are teaching. This will allow you to identify which students grasp the material more readily and in which areas they require additional support. You can then promptly refine the content and methodology of your teaching to enhance the quality of your lectures, ensuring that students can listen more attentively and comprehend the material more effectively in class. This will consequently lead to an improvement in their academic performance.

If students' grades improve, they will receive corresponding recognition and rewards, which can also help the questioner gain a more objective understanding of themselves and their concerns, and alleviate some anxiety and worry.

Thirdly, the questioner should accept the tension, anxiety and worry in their heart and then engage in relaxation exercises outside of class. By adjusting their breathing to relax their body, they can relieve their tension and anxiety. It is recommended that they practise regularly to ensure that their body can remember this feeling of relaxation and form an instinctive response.

Hello, teacher.

I am a junior student at a normal university, and I am about to embark on the path of a teacher. I understand your feelings, but you have to keep in mind that the college entrance exam is just over 200 days away, and students are facing a crucial final sprint.

First of all, you are not confident and feel guilty when you don't teach well. You need to understand why you feel this way. The school leaders must have heard about your classroom teaching before they let you teach the 12th grade!

The knowledge points are the same. You just need to cover the content you want to teach in the lesson. Don't overthink it. You don't expect your students to learn a lot in one lesson, so it's already good to master a part of it. After you finish, you can ask them where they still don't understand. If you can solve it, you can give them an on-the-spot explanation. If not, save it until the next lesson and explain it to them then. You can also ask a more senior teacher in the same office for help.

Time is spent on tension and anxiety, so it's better to pull up a stool and go listen to other teachers' lectures. You can learn a lot that way! No one knows everything when they're born. It's a process of continuous accumulation and lifelong learning. Get past this hurdle. Don't go to the leader to change the class to a lower grade. That's the worst solution. Sooner or later, you have to overcome it. You can't keep doing this forever. People still have to keep improving and look forward!

If the situation is still serious, you should seek professional psychological counseling or advice from your seniors. As newcomers in the workplace, we must be thick-skinned. We've all been through this before. Finally, hang in there. I believe in you, familiar yet unfamiliar teacher!

Hello, question asker! I can see from your question that you are currently anxious about not being able to teach senior high school classes well enough to prevent your students from failing the college entrance exam. You also know that you have high expectations of yourself, but you are able to identify your weak areas and the need to strengthen your knowledge.

You're afraid of giving a bad lesson. The more you fear failure, the more anxious you become. It's a challenging psychological process, but you can overcome it.

It's not easy, but you can do it!

I want to be clear that I believe you are a responsible teacher. You are worried about not teaching well because you are concerned about whether students will gossip, but also, more importantly, because you feel you lack knowledge in some areas and are afraid of misguiding your students. Let me ask you this: what kind of teacher would worry about misguiding their students?

You want to be a teacher who is responsible to your students. You must be a good teacher, so have confidence in yourself!

Secondly, you have also discovered that you are weak in some areas. Don't stay in a state of anxiety. Take measures to compensate for your weaknesses and give yourself the confidence to face your students and do a better job.

Here are a few suggestions: 1. Seek advice from experienced teachers. This is the best way to fully understand the material and prepare your lessons thoroughly.

2. Students in their third year of high school focus on filling in the gaps in their knowledge from the previous two years. We all know that teaching is the best way to learn. Ask more questions, especially of the more able students, so they can clarify their thinking and gain experience in teaching through explaining it to others. This will help them master the knowledge more firmly. This is similar to the Feynman learning method, which can be applied to your own classroom.

3. You demand perfection from yourself and care a lot about what others think, which causes you anxiety and worry. Relax, accept the situation, and then make up for your shortcomings. Use different teaching methods, don't demand perfection from yourself, and don't care too much about student evaluations.

However, you can communicate more with your students to understand their receptiveness to specific content and their preferred teaching style, and then slowly adjust yourself. When you feel anxious and nervous, take a deep breath, count backwards by a few numbers, and tell yourself to relax. Remind yourself that when you get nervous, you are already able to relax and that you are giving a great lesson.

You will succeed! Do things according to your best self, and you will succeed!

I am confident that the above will be helpful.

Hello! I'm Warm-hearted Girl 1219, and I'm happy to answer your question about Yi Xinli.

I understand you're worried your students' college entrance exam results will suffer because you don't know enough. You're a great teacher and you care about your students.

I have some suggestions for you.

Exercise every day to relieve stress and stay healthy.

Life is about movement! As a high school teacher, you are under a lot of pressure.

If you are under too much pressure, it will affect you.

It is recommended that you exercise more. This will help you adapt to teaching your senior year.

2. Stay positive and review key points.

Have a good attitude when teaching high school students.

You can only become an expert by spending more time every day studying and organizing your knowledge. Then you will be confident in your teaching.

Be patient. Take your time. I believe you can do it!

Keep going!

3. Talk to your students more.

You don't have to worry about what students will say. Being a high school teacher shows you have experience and ability. School leaders agree.

You have to communicate with students to understand how well they understand the material and if they're keeping up. This helps you improve your teaching.

4. Develop a healthy routine and get enough sleep.

One author wrote, "Eating well and sleeping well are two of life's essentials."

It's hard to do every day. In modern society, everyone faces pressure at work and home.

Many people can't eat or sleep because they're anxious.

You can only eat well and sleep soundly if you let go of everything.

Eat and go to bed on time every day. This will help you work and study.

I hope this helps.

Best of luck at work!

At Yixinli, we love you!