Sunday, February 9, 2020

Importance of Self-Care



Importance of Self-Care as a Teacher
Lindsay Thompson, NEA Today

A recent study reports that 40-50% of new teachers leave within their first five years on the job.  Many factors contribute to the high dropout rate, a severe lack of work-life balance and the inevitable high stress levels teachers feel on the job, to name a few.  Because of this, self-care is extremely important for teachers.  However, it's hard for teacher to take of themselves when their career is taking care of students.  Here are some helpful tips that can be key to self-care as an educator:

Set healthy boundaries for yourself and stick to them!  As an educator, it's easy to let working during non-school hours get out of hand.  To prevent this, set boundaries for when you will stop working every night and the hours you work on the weekends.  If you're struggling to get all of your work done within these constraints, you may want to look into how you can increase your efficiency when working.  In addition, remember that not everything needs to fall on you, and there are people around you that want to help.

Use exercise as an outlet and stay mentally and physically fit by putting some gym time in.  Evidence shows that regular physical activity increases energy and reduces your risk for health problems.  It can also be a great outlet to release energy or frustration that may have pent up from the school day.

Allow yourself to take a break when you feel overwhelmed.  As teachers, we often feel that teaching is much more than just a job, it is our identity.  Sometimes when you don't feel as if you are doing well in school, it gets attached to how you feel emotionally about yourself.  An important part of self-care is managing stress and taking a break when it's necessary.  Take 5 minutes to spend some time relaxing your brain and your body.  This way when you come back, you are rejuvenated and ready to teach.

Self-care looks different for everyone, and there is no one way to take care of yourself.  The idea that there isn't enough time to be a good teacher and take care of yourself is a myth.  Self-care is a must.  Remember to stop and take time to care for yourself, so you can care for your students!

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