Self-Care for Teachers: Getting Started
Teaching is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be exhausting and high-stress. At Teacher Freedom, we know how easy it is to burnout under the pressure of teaching. And how hard it is to remember that we need to take care of ourselves so we can still give our students and our community 100%.
All too often, we’re told to engage in self-care without getting on any guidance on how to do it!
If you’ve also found yourself in the almost-burned-out boat with little time and energy to fix it, we’ve got your back! Explore some self-care styles below and use our list of specific teacher self-care ideas to put together a plan that works for you.
Step #1: Discover your self-care style
We all decompress differently, so it’s important to understand which self-care approaches will give you much needed relaxation or energize you for the next day (or class).
Which of these approach(es) best describe you?
"The Mover"
You find balance from exercising your body as well as your mind. Sweating it out at the gym or taking a long walk with your dog leaves you refreshed.
Potential self-care ideas:
-
- Try out a free yoga class on YouTube
- Rage room
- Exercise
- Hike
"The Creator"
You're refilled and refreshed simply by creating something beautiful to look at, delicious to taste, or a meaningful moment.
Potential self-care ideas:
-
- Read a new “just for fun” book
- Bake something new
- Adult coloring book
- Bring a puzzle into the break room
- Go antiquing for a little DIY upscale fun
- Pick up your knitting or crocheting hobby again
"The Reflector"
Spiritual and meditative moments help you stay grounded and remember your “why.” Your favorite recess includes moments spent journaling, reading, or meditating.
Potential self-care ideas:
-
- Learn what you value most with this activity
- Meditate
- Learn a new form of yoga
- Take a quiet nature walk alone
- Write/journal
"The Social Butterfly"
You love your students, but won’t pass up opportunities to have real conversations with other adults. You could spend an hour at Starbucks with a friend and be ready to take on a brand new school day.
Potential self-care ideas:
-
- Grab a latte with friends
- Go wine tasting over a long weekend
- Bring a puzzle to the break room for everyone to join in on
- Join a group fitness class
Step #2: Plan your week to include self-care
Don't leave your "me moments" to chance. Putting together a self-care plan can be a bit like menu planning. As you're mapping out your week ahead, make time for activities and moments that will rest and recharge you.
And to help you break out of the same recipe ideas, we’ve compiled a slew of teacher-oriented suggestions below to make it easier to incorporate variety and interest into every week, and hopefully every day.
Pick out the ones that fit your self-care styles and feel free to let us know if you have additional ideas we should add.
-
- Get inspired to rediscover a past hobby or passion.
- Reflect on your “why” for teaching
- Write yourself a note reflecting on your “why” for self care
- List three mistakes and one thing you learned from each
- Sacrifice one night of binging for an extra hour or two of sleep.
- Take a full lunch break multiple times this week. Maybe throw in a 15 min power nap in your car!
- #Treatyourself to a favorite hot (or cold!) beverage.
- Add a brief stretching or exercise routine into your classroom
- Listen to your favorite music
- Read or listen to a favorite book for free with Libby, Overdrive, or Hoopla.
- Sit in blissful silence…ahhh
- Burn a candle or diffuse some oils
- Add selfcare items to your classroom wishlist
- Set one boundary to improve your work-life balance.
- Stay one hour after school to finish work, then leave work at work.
- Stay off your phone (and other electronic devices) for an entire evening.
- Don’t do school work over a weekend.
- Upgrade your workspace for less than $25.
- Create playlists to match your mood.
- Find a quote or image that brings you joy and add it to your desktop or print out for your personal bulletin board.
- Find ways to volunteer in your community
- Grab 30 minutes to go for a walk, ride your bike, run, etc. during daylight hours.
- Try a new meditation app, do 5 minutes of yoga, stretching, or deep breathing
- Take a few minutes to write down everything and everyone you’re grateful for.
- Take 15 min to organize a cluttered space
- Create a classroom wishlist on Amazon or DonorsChoose and share on social media
- Write notes to your colleagues letting them know they’re appreciated.
- Revamp your morning routine
- Discover JOMO – The JOY of missing out. Say no to a favor, assignment, or gathering that you could go without.
- Take the Teacher Freedom pledge to make your own decisions and support your colleagues' rights to do the same.
- Help teachers exercise their rights in your state– Sign up to be a Teacher Freedom Advocate
- Find out what you could save on unused subscriptions
- Make a vision board for your personal life- no work allowed!
- Look up local volunteer opportunities and sign up
- Take a mental health day
- Challenge yourself to face a fear
- Learn about your educator association rights
- Evaluate your memberships – gym, teachers union, etc. – and explore alternatives to see if you can save money, feel more supported, etc.
- Watch a Teacher Freedom advocacy webinar to learn how to make your voice heard in your community and state.
- Use social media or write an op-ed weighing in on an issue facing teachers in your community. Make sure to tag or call out your lawmakers!
- Have a virtual coffee date with a long distance friend
- Host a get together with co-workers who also feel overwhelmed
- Join a local book club
- Attend a free concert or show in your neighborhood
- Call that friend you’ve been thinking about
- Enjoy a puzzle– alone or with friends.
- When in doubt– dance it out!