I don’t know about you, but for me this is the time of the school year that really drags. The holidays are long over, summer vacation is far away, and the shiny newness of the school year was gone ages ago. And yet, teaching and learning need to go on every day. Factor in that cold and flu season are in full effect with no end in sight and it’s tough going for teachers and students alike.
These are the times that self care is more important than usual. And yet, self care in many situations gets a bad rap. Self care is conceptualized as something luxurious as opposed to something that (especially now) is essential. In reading about this subject in preparation for this post I’ve also come across, from multiple sources, the idea that self care isn’t just about making ourselves feel better, although that may be a desirable outcome from the process.
No, self care and engaging in self care means actively taking steps to make your life better and healthier. Oftentimes this means doing things that are profoundly uncomfortable, with the idea that the bigger outcome is what makes the action worthwhile. As teachers, we are accustomed to putting the needs of others before ourselves; as a result, burnout is a constant threat in this profession. Self care is one tool we can use to facilitate us bringing our best efforts to serve our students.
Telling people who are already busy to add more things to their lists of things to do is a bit like telling a fish to learn how to fly, so with that said, here are Five Self Care Actions Teachers Can Do TODAY!
1. Make that doctor’s appointment.
All kidding aside, you need to take care of your health! It’s hard to get a sub, there’s no coverage, we’re so busy, the kids are taking a test this week, reports are due- there are so many reasons to neglect your own health! And yet, it’s all fun and games until something is really wrong and life makes you take time off. So today, right now, make the appointment that you’ve been putting off, whether it’s for a physical, dental cleaning, mental health appointment, or to see that specialist. You’ll be glad you did and being in charge of your own health and well being will make you a better and more effective teacher.
2. Ask for help.
As hard as it may be to believe, your support network, including your family, friends, administrative team and other folks you work with every day, are not mind readers. Chances are, if you haven’t told them what the situation is in terms of your workload, current tasks and obligations then they don’t fully understand it or where you’re at with it. Consequently, if you don’t ask for help, they won’t offer it. Speak up. If you need more help around the house, say so. If you need an extension on a task, speak up before the deadline. If your schedule doesn’t permit taking on another project alone, ask someone else to take it on with you. The important thing is to say something, and to ask for what you need.
3. Prioritize.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all do everything, all the time? That sounds terrible when you say it like that! And yet, aren’t we all trying to do that? Between work obligations, family, and personal goals, sometimes it feels like the Tetris blocks are just falling, falling, falling. Time to prioritize! Make a list, pick one thing, and do it to completion. Then move on to the next thing. Better yet, pair this idea with the previous one, and ask for help with that list! Prioritize, divide and conquer.
4. Steer clear of negative people.
You know who I’m talking about. That person who complains endlessly. That person who never has a nice thing to say about anything or anyone. The person who never contributes an idea of their own but has something negative to say about anyone else’s ideas. Conversations with this person are usually not productive, and you walk away feeling worse than when you started. Be careful with “venting.” Everyone needs to let off steam once in awhile but the kettle eventually goes dry, right? If you are constantly venting with the same person, consider whether that action is actually making the situation better. Maybe it’d be taking better care of yourself to use that time and energy differently.
5. Cultivate new interests.
One of the hardest things to do is leave work at work and let enough be enough. One way to help with that, though, is to have something else to do! One thing that helps me with this is to have other activities in the hopper and topics to be interested in that don’t have anything to do, most of the time, with school or teaching. Read books, listen to podcasts, go to museums, hike, play sports, cook with new recipes, whatever floats your boat! Have something that interests you and ignites your passion and curiosity and reward yourself for a job well done with a dip in that metaphorical pool. Remain well rounded. Extracurricular activities aren’t just for kids!
What are some other self care actions teachers need? How are you incorporating those activities into your daily life? Also, be sure to read next week’s post here at Special Ed Safari for a little insight into my personal extracurricular activities!
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