Tag Archives: Teacher wellness

Teacher Wellness

Five Tips to Recover and Rediscover Yourself 

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Recover and Rediscover

How does an educator recover and rediscover oneself? As the school year comes to a close, school administrators and teachers look forward to the summer months. It is a time to unwind and try to get some personal things done. Let’s look at the summer months a little differently. Here are some tips to recover and rediscover yourself.

Become a Healthier Educator

 Tips to recover and rediscover are another part of becoming a healthier educator and human being. As teachers or administrators, you know that time is a luxury. There is never enough of it! For example, you have probably made statements like these. “ I can’t get anything done!.” Or you have said, “I’m so busy that I don’t have time for myself!.” Then there is the statement, “ I wish there were more hours in the day..” Before you know it, you are unhappy, overwhelmed, and stressed by everyday life and work issues. 

Self-care and Wellness

One tip for recovering and rediscovering yourself is to encourage educators to focus on self-care, healing, and wellness. Self-care requires personal reflection, too. It can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual healing. Once healing occurs, you can reboot your life in a new and healthier direction.

Next, it is time for you to recover what’s left of you. Then, there is room to rediscover self. Please note that self-care is not the only way to heal or recover. Sometimes, you may need additional support or assistance by seeking professional counseling.

Both recovery and rediscovery take time. A new and healthier you will not happen in a few days or months. It is a process, not an event. Please think of how much time it took to become unhealthy. So, becoming healthy again takes time and requires having a plan. Here are some tips to get you started on recovering and rediscovering yourself.

Here are tips to recover and rediscover: You must work on yourself, by yourself, and for yourself.

Recognize Your Struggles

Tips to rediscover and recover yourself include remembering you’re human. Many of us want to be strong and invincible. We are afraid to admit our weaknesses or failures. This is especially true in the workplace. Neither teachers nor school administrators want to admit to a supervisor that they do not have the physical or emotional bandwidth to complete a task or handle a specific situation.

You are Human

It is also difficult to admit that it’s challenging to be all things to everyone in our personal lives. Always remember that you are human! You have strengths and weaknesses. Guess what? It’s normal, and you should not beat yourself for being ordinary. Recognize your areas of struggle and feel comfortable informing others. 

Do What You Want

Do what you want to do. Step back for a minute. Maybe step back for a few more minutes. Think about what would make you happy. Yes, you’re an adult with plenty of responsibilities. Perhaps you have children, a spouse, or aging parents. But where do you fit in this equation? When do you matter?

Moreover, how do all of the responsibilities make you feel? You’ve lost sight of yourself. You can’t be everything to everyone. Learn to say “NO!” It’s time to do you! 

Limit Distractions

Limit distractions in your life. Yes, there are always distractions that take up your time, too. For example, how often are you reading emails, sending text messages, or checking your social media accounts? As an experiment, make a note each time you check emails or social media. You will be amazed how the minutes add up. Responding to text messages can wait unless it’s an emergency.

Set aside a specific time in the day to respond to emails or indulge in social media. Also, look at your daily schedule for tasks you can delegate to others. Hand it over! Just tell the person it’s a part of your recovery and rediscovery. Move the distractions out of your way.

Set Goals

Set goals for yourself. Write a wishlist of things you would like to do. Then, prioritize the list. What is most important to you? Furthermore, what will make you happiest? Create a schedule of free time. Then, stick to the plan! Fill your free time with a hobby, such as watching movies, exercising, etc. Most of all, don’t let others hijack your free time. It’s your road to recovery and rediscovery. Remember, it’s time to do you! Spend time with yourself.

Learn to Rest

Lastly, learn to rest. Your mind and body cannot be on ten all of the time. Eventually, a part of you will break down. Then, the time it takes to recover and rediscover yourself will take longer. If you step back to assess your life, you’ll discover things you didn’t know. Also, you may find some things that you don’t like about yourself.

Conclusion

Make a list of things you want to do or accomplish. Accomplish your goals by giving up distractions and delegating what you can. Schedule your free time and have fun. Learn to say no to people who usurp your time. Afterward, you will be on your way to a full recovery and rediscovery of yourself.

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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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Are You Married to the Job? 

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I Said, I Do

Becoming a school principal was a big goal of mine. In 2009 I was handed the keys to the building. Finally, I said I do! Excited and full of ideas, I accepted the job and said my wedding vows to my new spouse. My job became my new husband. What no one told me was that the vows meant sickness and health and possibly close to death! Becoming a principal means being married to a job that doesn’t come with much reciprocity. Are you married to the job?

I guess that I shouldn’t say the job doesn’t come with much reciprocity. The majority of educators don’t do the job for the money. We do it for the students, families, or communities. Many of us enjoy working with our colleagues and collaborating with our peers. These are all reciprocal relationships. However, sometimes it feels as if it is a thankless job.

Burnout in the Educational Field

You all know that burnout is at an all-time high in the educational field. The statistics are everywhere, so I won’t display any data in this post. The information is accessible to Google if you want to dig deeper. You also know that teaching and leading during a pandemic is extremely difficult and has presented many deficiencies and inequities in our educational systems. Many educators press onward and don’t think of their physical and mental health despite all of these things. You take your marriage vows to your job seriously and forget to think about your health.

Stroke Mode

I am going to be vulnerable and tell you a story about my health. During my final year as a principal, I nearly had a stroke. The stress of the job was literally killing me. First, let me say that God watched over me with His grace. One morning I awoke with the worst headache of my life. I popped a couple of ibuprofen while talking to a friend and colleague. I told her about my headache, and she encouraged me to go to the emergency room. Despite her encouragement, I decided to drive to work. During my drive, I felt horrible and my vision blurred, and my thoughts were jumbled. Determined to not miss work and all of the things on my to-do list, I continued driving. 

Walking in the pharmacy, I was very nervous. My friend called me about five or six times on my cell phone. She pleaded with me to at least stop and got my blood pressure taken at the nearest Walgreens. I kept saying and in my mind that I was okay; however, I did stop in the pharmacy for a blood pressure check. What I didn’t know yet was that I was in stroke mode.

A Wake-Up Call

The pharmacist took my blood pressure, and it was 199/120. She said, “Oh my God! Let me take your pressure on the left arm!” The blood pressure reading was 195/118. The pharmacist asked me if I wanted to go to the ER. I said no, I would go to work, close my office door, and relax for a few minutes. Maybe, the numbers will go down.  I was married to the job, and it was about to kill me. Looking back on the event, I was not being very smart. How many times have you chosen your career over your health?

Needless to say, I was not using my common sense and nearly paid for it with my health and life. I did go to work that day, but my assistant principal and building engineer made sure that I saw a doctor. Also, that day my physician told me to choose to keep living or let the job kill me. It was a wake-up call. Being married to the job was not a great option anymore. It was time for a legal separation or divorce.

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Warning Signs

Educators, we think we are invincible even when the body and mind say something differently. Frequently, our bodies give us warning signs like headaches, stomach issues, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, eye twitches, and more. Many educators go to work when ill or mentally drained because the kids need us. Your body needs you to slow down and get healthy. Every teacher, principal, and all school personnel is replaceable with another warm body. You don’t want to be a cold body that is six feet under. Are you married to the job instead of your health and wellness?

When you feel ill or stressed, it’s okay to take a day off.

Thinking back to the warning signs I received during my tenure as principal, I have a list of things. The first year of marriage to the job, I broke out in hives all over my body. This happened the day before standardized test scores were to be announced. I was so nervous and anxious about whether or not scores and the school ranking dropped. When I reflect on the district’s pressure on school administrators about test scores, I still want to throw up! 

Ignoring the Symptoms

Next, I gained over 20 pounds because I did not eat healthy meals. The stress was so intense that sipping a glass of red wine was a way to self-medicate. At one point, my significant other asked if I had a drinking problem. I said no, but it made me pause. My blood pressure and cholesterol increased to the point where medication was prescribed. 

Sleepless nights became a regular thing because I could not turn off my mind about what the students and schools needed. There were many threats of losing the job because the test scores weren’t increasing fast enough, or I wasn’t disciplining or pushing out enough seasoned teachers. Lastly, the emotional abuse from the politics and district administrators was overwhelming. It was relentless and caused lasting damage to my health. 

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Take Care of Yourself

Can you resonate with any of my examples? Count the times you have experienced signs of illness, and you ignored it. How often have you gone to work sick with the flu, a cold, or pneumonia? You are probably married to the job in sickness and health. Can you deny that you are married to the job? 

Look, I am not telling you to divorce your job. However, if the weight of the job is slowly destroying your health, it is time to find balance. Every year educators contemplate leaving the profession. That’s okay because you have to do what is best for you. Whether you are a teacher or school administrator, the most critical priority is to take care of yourself.

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