Q: The inability to lighten up can sometimes begin with expectations of yourself or others. Letting go of the “wants,” “needs,” “musts,” and “have to’s,” can not only help you begin to lighten up, but may also limit the negativity around you that your seriousness. Learn to let go of the concept of perfection. Nothing is perfect. Imperfection adds character and letting go of any expectations of perfection will help you to relax and focus on the positive in any person or situation. Stress can be one of the most significant factors in the inability to lighten up. Avoiding stressful situations may minimize tension, cultivate positivity, and help you lighten up more generally.  Step back from any stressful situation if you can. If you cannot, try taking a deep breath and not reacting immediately to avoid having your feelings and tension rise unnecessarily.  Allow time during your day to relax and decompress. For example, a 10-minute walk may help you relieve and avoid unnecessary stress. Tension can contribute to feelings of seriousness and rigidity. Releasing tension through activities such as exercise or massage can help you to relax and lighten up.  Regular exercise is an important part of staying healthy and it can also help relieve tension-causing stress.  Exercise produces endorphins that will improve your mood and help you sleep, both of which can contribute to feelings of tension.  A massage can help relax you and remove the physical symptoms of tension that your seriousness may cause.  Even something as simple as taking a warm bath can help release your tension, especially after a stressful day or when you’re feeling negative. Negative thoughts turn into negative actions and attitudes. Limiting the negativity in your life can help you to lighten up and create more positivity in your environment.  Ask yourself questions like “What’s the worst that could happen?” and “If it does happen, can I live with it?” Whenever something bad happens, forget it as much as possible and then actively imagine things you want to happen. If a person has negative commentary, consider it briefly and then let it go. Dwelling on negativity will only reinforce tension and seriousness. Holding grudges and dwelling on your imperfections will only emphasize a negative attitude and seriousness. Forgiving yourself and others can minimize tension, allow you to focus on the positive in yourself and others, and teach you to lighten up. The act of forgiveness can remove negativity and create positivity attitudes. But it will also decrease stress and increase peace and calm in your life. The people with whom we surround ourselves have a significant impact on us. Limiting or removing the negative and serious people in your life and replacing them with positive and amusing people will start helping you to lighten up. If you can’t remove a person from your life entirely, or you don’t want to hurt him, you can limit your exposure to him. You can also counteract his negative attitudes and viewpoints by pointing out the positive in what he says or does. This way, you don’t get drawn down his negative path. Rules exist to help direct and guide us as well as provide sensible parameters. But when the rules become the means by which you relate to yourself or others, it makes you rigid and stubborn. Learn to be flexible on where you can bend the rules to help you lighten up and help improve your relationships with others.  You want to make sure you’re bending and not breaking the rules. For example, you might consider driving the wrong way down a parking lot instead of parking in a handicapped space when you are not disabled. At work, you could take a slightly longer lunch break one day and stay later or take a shorter lunch another day. You’ll occasionally have setbacks and may fall back into patterns of rigid behavior, which is normal and acceptable. Learn not to dwell on this and move forward. By refocusing on yourself and the positive, you can set yourself back on the path of lightening up.
A: Get rid of expectations of yourself and others. Avoid stressful situations. Release your tension. Limit negativity. Forgive yourself and others. Limit or remove negative people from your life. Be willing to bend the rules. Keep working on yourself.

Q: The IB program is unique in that it does not separate study strictly between academic subjects. Encourage your students to think about important issues in the context of different subjects like history, science, and literature. Ask them to make connections between seemingly disparate ideas to demonstrate how things are interconnected. For example, have students learn about electric cars and study the history of their invention, scientific origins, and social importance. Critical thinking is a crucial component of the IB philosophy of learning. Encourage your students to question issues and concepts in every possible subject, without pushing simple answers. Prompt debate about critical global issues to further the notion that multiple ideas about the same topic can be right. For instance, when approaching a classic piece of literature, have students debate why we still read in as part of a regular English curriculum. The IB program promotes learning without strict parameters. Students benefit from exploring their interests and strengths and devising the specific details of their academic endeavors, including a major personal project at the end of their IB schooling in the Diploma programme. Give students open-ended assignments that require them to choose topics that they deem significant, in the manner they see fit. For instance, a student may choose to film a documentary about recycling initiatives in the school and relate it to greater environmental trends. Partnering with other IB educators at your school is a great way to relieve stress, drum up energy, and co-plan lessons. Share lesson plans in face-to-face meetings or virtually on a shared drive, such as Google Drive. Team up with teachers who are teaching the same grades or subjects as you to develop in-class projects, assignments, and lessons to engage your students. In the IB Diploma Programme, students must take at least 3 courses at a higher level (HL) instead of the regular standard level (SL). SL courses should consist of approximately 150 hours of instructional time, while HL classes should be at least 240 hours. Prepare additional lesson plans and projects for HL course loads that will be more challenging than the SL content.
A: Ask students to examine issues across disciplines. Encourage students to ask questions in all subjects. Have students plan and outline their own projects. Create collaboration teams with other teachers at your school. Prepare lessons for SL and HL courses in the IB Diploma programme.

Q: Take them out of the freezer bag and spread them in an even layer over a baking sheet. Some of the beans may be frozen together in clumps; separate them as much as you can using your fingers and a fork. Olive oil, sesame oil, peanut oil and grapeseed oil are all good choices. Sprinkle lightly with other seasonings if you wish, like cayenne pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, or any other spices that you like with vegetables. Toss the green beans to make sure they are thoroughly coated. Cook them for ten minutes, then remove them from the oven and use a spatula to stir them around. Place them back in the oven and cook until parts of them look brown and crispy, about five more minutes. Add additional seasonings or grated cheese if desired. Serve hot.
A:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (218 degrees C). Remove green beans from the freezer. Drizzle the green beans with oil. Season the beans with salt and pepper. Place the green beans in the oven. Remove the green beans from the oven.