Self care strategies for teachers
Teaching is a demanding profession that is sometimes referred to as emotional work. It's exhausting on a physical, mental, and emotional level. One of the most difficult aspects of being a teacher is maintaining poise, focus, and positivity while remaining relaxed and adaptable. Those who do not teach frequently romanticize teaching. Developing young minds, inspiring the next potential geniuses, and (of course) summer vacations are all part of the job. But it's exhausting to teach children every day. Every day, you're in charge of a room full of youngsters and their tremendous emotions. Understanding wellness and how to care for oneself is simply a part of the work for teachers, who spend so much of their time creating strong relationships with children and understanding their mental and emotional health. Here are some tips and tricks on how to develop a positive routine for yourself.
1. Positivity every day
Speaking of routines, this one seems to be one of the most important ones in terms of wellbeing. Create a plan, where you start every single day with some sort of positive ritual, something that makes you happy. A lot of prominent therapists and global studies show that this morning routine is extremely important and it can be basically anything that can lift your spirit up – exercise, enjoy your morning coffee in silence, read your favorite book, take a walk, meditate, play some relaxing music, you got the picture. Anything that can set a positive tone for the day in front of you. These routine is a landmark for your productivity later on.
2. Free time
There's a lot of discussion about how to schedule things in your day. However, there are instances when you simply require some time away from your responsibilities. If everything is getting to you, take a look at your schedule and pick a day to clear. Take care of any important affairs the day before or the day before, and then let go of all your responsibilities. The remainder can be done afterwards.
3. Think about your health
Drinking lots of water, eating well-balanced meals, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising are all good habits to develop. When you're in good physical shape, you're in good mental shape as well. You will also feel more regulated, stable, and strong as a result of these routines. If you're having trouble forming new habits, try linking them to existing routines. For example, before brushing your teeth in the morning and at night, drink a glass of water, or do some light movement while dinner cooks.
4. Organize small things
Focusing on little, so called simple project can be very beneficial for your mental health as well. If things are not going well as planned, maybe you should take a deep breath and channel your inner anxiety on something productive. Take your time and organize your work desk for example, clean it up, throw out all the unnecessary things and put everything in its right place. By doing this, you will gain a sense of purpose and you will be much more relaxed when the next project comes around.
5. Social media breaks
When you spend too much time on social media, you may feel as if you're never doing enough. Pick a day to cut back on your social media scrolling if you find yourself doing so frequently in your spare time. You can download a variety of apps to help you set restrictions, or you can keep it simple and erase the apps from your phone. A social media detox can significantly improve your mental health
6. Realistic expectations
Teachers aspire to solve all of their pupils' problems, alleviate their suffering, and transform the world. They feel like a failure if this isn't possible by the time the bell sounds. Keep in mind that even professors are only human. Set fair expectations for yourself to be kind to yourself. Consider what you'd like to do as well as what you're capable of.
7. Help is necessary
Surprisingly, the people who offer the most assistance have the most difficulty asking for it. Build a solid support system both within and outside of school, and don't be hesitant to ask out for help when you're having trouble. After all, you're not requesting anything you wouldn't gladly give! So prioritize your mental health any time you can.
So remember, self-care for educators is extremely important, every single day. If you want to avoid chronic stress, low motivation and no productivity during the day, you must practice self-care as a teacher. Get rid of any guilt you have about self-care and think of it as the only way to give people your best self. Remember, you, too, deserve to be looked after! You'll feel lot better—and teach much better—if you follow these seven self-care tips.