- Don't spend lots of money at retail stores; you can accumulate more than you think from your site, yard sales, and thrift stores. And wait until you know your caseload until you start buying things!
- Do your best to leave work AT work. There will be stuff you'll need to take home, but make priorities and only bring home just that - what you NEED to.
- Choose one thing each year to become better at. Don't try to take it all on at once and feel like you have to master the craft right off the bat!
- ALWAYS take your lunch break. The work will get done... in the meantime you need break to keep yourself from burning out. Plus lunchtime is a great way to form relationships with the people you work with!
- If in the schools, be flexible and respect the teachers and teaching assistants/paraprofessionals. Eat lunch with them, get to know them, ask their advice about your kids - they spent more time with the students than you do and they are an invaluable resource that you need on board with your treatment. Also, school secretaries and custodians run the school - make friends with them and RESPECT them!
Check out the whole post here!