Tag Archives: Principal Wellness

Educators, Listen to Your Bodies

 I’m here to talk about stress and burnout and stories from people I know who were or are currently school administrators, including myself.  I was once a principal, but what I hear is alarming, and I can speak for something that I did that should have been alarming to me, too.  I’m hearing stories about how people do not listen to their bodies. 

The Job is Stressful

We know that this job is stressful. School principals, assistant principals, district administrators, and even classroom teachers are feeling the weight of stress these days, and they are walking out the door. We have to take care of ourselves, but our districts will not do it. No one’s going to do it for us. We have to save ourselves. 

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Stories from the Trenches

I will tell two stories about three principals I know who did not listen to their bodies. One person was an elementary principal at the time. He was in his office when he began to hyperventilate and get chest pains. He told the school secretary, “I’ll be back.” 

So, he gets his coat, gets in his car, and he drives to the ER because he thinks that he’s having a heart attack. He’s having every symptom of a heart attack, but he drove himself to the ER and found out it was anxiety.  Afterward, he left the hospital and drove himself back to the school. When he entered the school office,  the clerk asked what was happening. She said,  “You know you don’t look that great!”  He told the clerk, “I drove myself to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack.” Unbelievable, but true!

No Time to Heal

That’s one story, and now it’s time for another story.  The second story that I 

I heard another principal discuss something similar in nature. She was sitting at her desk, and she had just finished a meeting, and all of a sudden, she started to have chest pains. Like the first story, this principal leaves the school. However, 

she leaves and goes to the doctor, not the ER. She leaves the doctor’s office and returns to work the next day. Fortunately, she did not have a heart attack, but she didn’t take any time to heal either. Most likely, this principal had an anxiety attack. Again, another educator is not following or ignoring their body.  Your

body tells you when it is breaking down.  Your body is the receptor of the stress.  Your body keeps counting or scoring the dings from stress. 

Am I Having a Stroke

So,  I want you all to start paying attention to your body.  I am guilty of not paying attention. One day, I woke up with the worst headache of my life. I mean the worst headache of my life!   I was talking on the phone to a friend who was also a principal, and she said you really should go to the ER. I told her I would be okay,  and I went to work.  During my drive to work, she continued to call and said, “Please get your blood pressure taken.”  

 I stopped at a walk Walgreens store on the way to work.  Meanwhile, on the way to work, I’m getting blurred vision. I’m getting to the point where I can’t even think straight enough to stop in the pharmacy to have my blood pressure taken. 

The pharmacist took my blood pressure, and it was 199 over 120! I was possibly having a stroke,  but what did I do? I continued on my way to work.  Upon arriving at my school, I called my primary care physician.  Next, I drove myself to the doctor. However,  I should have driven myself to the ER.  By the grace of God I was I did not have a stroke, but I was on my to be a victim, a statistic, or a corpse. 

Listen to Your Bodies

 I did not listen to my body, but I learned some things about life and had to make important career decisions. My dear educators, please start listening to your bodies. They tell you when they’ve had enough and will sit you down. Otherwise, you will end up in the grave. You have to prioritize your health and wellness. 

 Take it from me; take it from those stories you just read. I learned to recognize the signs of too much stress and its effects on my body. Take the time to recognize what doesn’t feel right. If it persists, make an appointment to see your primary care physician or a specialist. Begin journaling your thoughts and how your body responds to certain situations or tasks. Seek counseling if the burden is too heavy.

Click on this link to purchase the Wellness Chronicles: A 15-Week Journal.

Reach out to me and let me know you know your story. Tell us a time you ignored your body. Next, let’s advocate for educator wellness and make our voices heard. Join Exhale and Educate: Educators’ Wellness, a new online community for educators to collaborate, discuss, and problem-solve how to advocate better for teachers, school administrators, and district educators to live healthier lives and improve teacher retention rates. 

Please,  let’s take care of ourselves and prioritize our Wellness. 
Click on this link for more information or to join Exhale and Educate: Educators’ Wellness


There is Life After School Leadership

Being a school administrator is tough. The role of a principal or assistant principal requires much stamina. For many, they are overwhelmed, and they teeter on burning out. I see many social media posts of school leaders stating they are ready to walk away due to the overwhelming responsibilities of the job. However, they are afraid to leave because they assume they cannot work in other fields. What they do not know is that there is life after school leadership.

For this post, I created a video to describe some of the career possibilities an administrator can pursue based on their skills. In this video, I speak about my journey when I lost my career as a school principal. Over time and through trials and experience, I realized I had to think outside my box and develop a new mindset. Through the journey, I discovered my life after school leadership.

There is Life After School Leadership

Watch the video to learn more about my life after school leadership.

After watching the video, reflect on your next move as a school leader. Decide what is best for you and your family. Assess all parts of your health, including your mental, physical, and financial well-being. Weigh the pros and cons of your role. Revisit your “why” or purpose to see if it is relevant or has/should it change.

Being miserable, overwhelmed, and highly stressed is not an option. That’s no way to live life personally or professionally. Stay or leave is a big decision, and I understand the fear. However, life decisions are never easy. Take time to think, reflect, rethink, or consult. Always remember, there is life after school leadership.

Educators, How Well are You?

Educators struggle with fatigue, stress, and burnout. They push through and fake it until they make it. When someone asks you, “How are you?” Do you respond with, “I am well?” That’s a standard response, but how well are you? Before you answer that question, learn more about the eight dimensions of wellness.

Definition of Wellness

First, let’s discuss the definition of wellness. According to the National Wellness Institute, “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of and make choices toward a more successful existence.”  So, educators, as you discover the eight dimensions of wellness, self-reflect on your processes and choices to ensure your wellness is a priority. 

Eight Dimensions of Wellness

  1. Physical wellness is all about your body. Physical wellness depends on eating healthy food, getting enough sleep, and exercising.
  1. Emotional wellness is about your feelings, attitude about life, and having support systems to get you through personal or professional challenges. Your mind is a terrible thing to neglect.
  1. Intellectual wellness is about your brain and learning new knowledge. Many people don’t realize that intellectual wellness is also a priority. Educators use their intellectual power throughout a school day. Therefore, you need a healthy brain to make crucial decisions and shifts daily. Also, using your intellectual power requires learning new skills, teaching strategies, or the latest research.
  1. Social wellness means having positive and supportive relationships in your life. These relationships can be part of a robust professional and personal support system. 
  1. Spiritual wellness focuses on your soul, inner self, and faith. Whether one is religious or not, we all have a spiritual side. Also, spiritual wellness can include meditation to renew ourselves and have inner peace. 
  1. Environmental wellness is about our living conditions on Earth. Living and working conditions affect our health. We want to live free of harmful chemicals and toxins at home or work. 
  1. Occupational wellness refers to our career, job, and workplace. Are you happy about your professional path? Is your workplace physically, emotionally, socially, or environmentally healthy?
  2. Financial Wellness – If the money is funny, your financial health can harm your overall wellness. Worrying about money, savings, or bills is a health hazard. Financial wellness eases many burdens.
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How well are you? Your wellness is your responsibility.

Focus on Your Wellness

How will you answer the question, “How well are you?” Use these eight principles of wellness to reflect and then respond.  As you focus on your wellness, remember these seven principles:

  • Wellness is holistic
  • The self is the only true healer
  • Wellness is your responsibility
  • Positivity is empowerment. Negativity strips you of power and control.
  • Wellness is an active process. Don’t wait for good health to come to you!
  • Wellness is outcome-oriented
  • Prevention eliminates the need for treatment. 

Wellness is a Personal Responsibility

Making changes to focus on your wellness requires setting firm foundations. The first foundation is hope. Believe you can, and then set goals. Wellness is a personal responsibility, so take action toward your goals. It would help if you had support on your journey.

Lean on others for encouragement. Advocate for yourself by communicating your needs. Get good information, then make decisions. Lastly, find meaning and purpose in your life. Identify what matters most to you.

Conclusion

Educators take control of your wellness. Many say they are tired of hearing the term self-care; however, we cannot depend on school districts to provide needed support. So, we must understand our responsibilities when it comes to our well-being. Remember, wellness is an active process. Don’t wait for good health to come to you!

Rate Your Wellness

Download and complete the Wellness Wheel of Life. Rate each dimension of wellness and create a plan to make improvements.

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