Tag Archives: Teacher wellness

Teacher Wellness

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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7 Ways to Protect Your Health

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Protect Your Health

Educators, protect your health because no one is worried about your health. The Delta variant of COVID 19 is raging across the country and world. School districts are intent on returning students to class by all means necessary. Anti-vaxxers and anti-mask persons are creating havoc at school board meetings. Some even harass and physically abuse teachers and administrators who try to enforce policies. So you see, no one can protect your health better than you. You have permission to take care of yourself!

COVID-19 Hits Hard

Let’s review how we got to this point of contention. COVID hit our country hard in early 2020. Suddenly our hospitals and emergency rooms filled up with very ill patients. Medical personnel was overwhelmed with the number of people overfilling hospital beds. Businesses, schools, and government offices closed down. Mask and health mandates became requirements for us all. Scientists rushed to create a vaccine to help stop the carnage of COVID. In the United States, over 600,000 people died within 12-18 months.

For a few months, we thought that we might have a reprieve after people began to vaccinate. The number of Covid cases decreased as more received the shots. Hospitalizations also reduced, and people began to let down their guard. Cities and schools began to open again. Suddenly we felt like we could live again, hug people we love, take off masks, hold family gatherings, or go out to restaurants. We were throwing caution to the wind too fast created another dilemma for us to navigate.

Decisions, Stress, and Frustration

As decisions come, the teachers and school administrators are not a part of the process. What else we have to navigate is how to keep ourselves safe and healthy. School boards and politicians make policies and mandates without knowing the full effect and impact their decisions have on the teachers and administrators in the trenches every day. Afterward, the impact hits hard, and we are left to pick up the pieces. Unfortunately, picking up the pieces adds extra stress and frustration to one’s personal and professional life.

Eating nutritious and balanced meals can improve your overall health.
Photo by Sam Maqadam on UnSplash

We know how stress and frustration affect the teacher burnout statistics. Pile on the effects of a pandemic, and now more teachers and school leaders than ever want to leave the profession. The anxiety level of fearing of getting infected with COVID is a reality for many. Educators worry about the possibility of sick colleagues and students, unclean classroom surfaces, masks slipping off of students’ faces, and wondering what happens to you if you become ill. 

So that the worry is not overwhelming, it’s time for you to protect your health. What can you do to keep yourself healthy and safe? Here are several ways to protect your health.

Proper Nutrition and Hydration

Good health begins with eating nutritiously. Your body needs healthy foods and plenty of water. Frequently, teachers and school administrators do not take the time to eat proper meals or to stay hydrated during the school day. On the other hand, stressed-out educators may emotionally binge on the junk or processed food as a way to self-medicate. Or some of you drink coffee or sugary drinks all day instead of water. Your body needs foods rich in nutrients, vitamins, proteins, etc. Check the CDC website for suggestions on preparing and eating nutritious meals.

Exercise and Stay Active

Your body needs exercise and movement! Being sedentary is not suitable for any human being. Our bodies are to be active. So, let’s get moving! Do not say that there’s no time to exercise, because you can make the time. During preparation periods, find a few minutes to stretch, leg lifts, yoga moves, jumping jacks, etc. Roll your shoulders and neck, deep breathe and work the kinks out. Walk around the playground or football field. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Even in the classroom with your students, you can have stretch breaks between transition times. You will feel better and get your body more accustomed to constant movement. 

Get Adequate Rest

Your body needs exercise and movement! Being sedentary is not suitable for any human being. Our bodies are to be active. So, let’s get moving! Do not say that there’s no time to exercise, because you can make the time. During preparation periods, find a few minutes to stretch, leg lifts, yoga moves, jumping jacks, etc. Roll your shoulders and neck, deep breathe and work the kinks out. Walk around the playground or football field. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Even in the classroom with your students, you can have stretch breaks between transition times. You will feel better and get your body more accustomed to constant movement. 

Maintaining Healthcare

Are you the person who never goes to the doctor or takes your medicine? Do you go to work sick and spread your germs to others? Why are you saving your sick days? Do you have a chronic condition like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or asthma? COVID-19 took a toll on persons with underlying health issues. Many infected people with previous health issues either died or continue to have serious side effects. Protect your health by taking the necessary prescribed medications or schedule regular appointments with your primary care doctors. By the way, if you feel sick, stay home or see the doctor!

Take Stress and Anxiety Seriously

All of the chronic illnesses mentioned earlier are exasperated by stress and worry. Stress kills, and anxiety causes disease. Brushing off one or both are not good for anyone. Protect your health by recognizing the damage stress and anxiety causes to one’s body. Develop positive coping skills to combat the effects and damage of stress and anxiety. Try to stay positive and not focus on negative things. Seek professional counseling if everything is overwhelming and it feels like the walls are closing in on you. Also, find positive activities, including exercise, a hobby, journaling, reading, or meditating. A healthy mind helps to keep your body healthy, too. 

Stay Connected With Family and Friends

During times of hardship, illness, or worry, some people disconnect from everything and everyone. Please do not isolate yourself from friends and family members. Protect your health by reaching out to people who care about your well-being. You may feel like you want to curl up in a ball and be left alone. However, you desire to be around people because we are social beings. We need to talk about how we feel and what’s going on. You want advice when there doesn’t seem to be an easy answer. Stay connected by reaching out to friends and family. 

Keep Your Workspace Clean and Healthy

One of the biggest things teachers can do to protect your health is to keep your workspace healthy and clean. The classroom should not be a petri dish. Create health and safety routines with your students. First, you need a few items to have a clean workspace and classroom. It would be best to have anti-bacterial wipes and gel, Lysol spray, masks, rubber gloves, paper towels, tissue for runny noses, and a few more items. Hopefully, the school can provide the supplies to have available for daily use. 

Establish a schedule in the classroom for cleaning moments. Delegate specific responsibilities to students (helpers for the day). They can help to wipe off desks; door handles, etc. Students do enjoy having duties and jobs in the classroom. Build out an hourly schedule, or between transitions, so the cleaning becomes a daily routine. Also, turn it all into a teachable moment about how a clean classroom environment reduces the spread of germs and illness. 

Essential School Supplies!

Students Need a Well Teacher

Educators, your health is a significant priority. Of course, students need a healthy teacher, but your family and friends need you to be whole, too. Put yourself and your health first! Even when we get beyond this COVID pandemic, the seven ways to protect your health remain essential to fighting disease and illnesses. 

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Life After Teaching

Life After Teaching Does Exist

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Life After Teaching

For several years, we read news about teachers leaving the profession. Now we hear more stories due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Educators are under a tremendous amount of stress and emotionally drained. Some may not make it to the end of this school year. Those that do make it will seriously consider a new profession. Others may fear what’s on the other side of teaching. Have no fear; life after teaching does exist.

How do I know that life after teaching exists? I experienced it and have first-hand knowledge. Here’s my story. In 2016 I left the profession, but it was under duress. After 26 years of teaching and being an administrator, I lost my job. District politics pushed me out of my principal position two weeks before starting the new school year. Without going into all of the details, I was beyond distressed for not only losing my career but leaving my students, staff, and families.

Hopeless and Depressed

Never had it crossed my mind to think about what one can do after teaching. Despite the heavy emotional load of the job, I planned to stay with it until retirement. Others had a different plan. I felt hopeless and depressed because I knew it is even harder to find a job at my age. Age discrimination in the workplace is a reality. Anger, sadness, sleeplessness, and grief were just a few emotions I felt at the time. It felt like I experienced the death of a close family member.  I did not have a plan for a day like this. However, it was time to regroup, recharge, and re-evaluate my options.

Abrupt Professional Changes

Life after teaching began abruptly, and I did not have time to plan for the transition. Thank God for years of saving for a rainy day. The savings fund gave me time to re-evaluate what I wanted to do and what skills I could bring to the new table. It was time to rewrite the resume and get ready for a new way to interview. 

After rewriting the resume, I searched for jobs using Indeed.com, educational sites, and professional references. Virtually completing and sending resumes to school districts throughout my state, my epiphany became very clear. I did not want to work as a teacher or principal ever again. Then I felt a heavy burden lift off my shoulders and mind. Life after teaching allowed me to take control of my next chapter. It was not easy, but now I have healed enough to share the journey. 

A New Journey Begins

Let me finish my story, and next, we’ll get to your next move. While my next steps did not come easy, I am happy with the choices that I made. My life after the teaching journey led to becoming an instructional coach for a not-for-profit organization. I also am a part-time professional learning consultant for an educational publishing company. Both positions allow me to train adult learners and coach educators across the country. For one position I responded to an ad on Indeed.com. A friend and former colleague assisted me in getting hired for the other position. Years of helping others returned the favor.

Reasons to Leave

On a personal level, my creative mind now has room to grow. I published a book and this blog for educators. Also, I have spoken at national conferences and freelance to write for publications. Free your mind, and the rest will follow. I learned to use and market my skills, knowledge, and expertise.

We know some of the reasons educators leave the profession. The Learning Institute created an infographic that lists six reasons for exiting. Why Do Teachers Leave lists these reasons: Inadequate preparation, lack of support, challenging working conditions, lack of compensation, better career opportunities, and personal reasons. Whatever your reason for leaving the teaching field, a career change is possible.

Preparing and Planning Your Exit

Now let’s talk about your life after teaching. How do you prepare for your next steps? First you are not alone in your feelings of wanting to leave. According to the Economic Policy Institute, fewer people are interested in teaching. A recent study states, “Schools will struggle to staff their ranks with well-prepared teachers if fewer individuals are attracted into teaching or if their training and preparation have weakened.” 

Now due to COVID 19, more educators consider this a good time to leave the profession. In an Edweek article, Did COVID 19 Really Drive Teachers to Quit, teachers from across the country were asked about leaving the profession. “Surveys showed that 1 in 5 teachers said they were unlikely to return to in-person instruction in the fall, and that the same percentage said they were more likely to quit at the end of last school year than they were before the pandemic.” While COVID 19 may not be the only reason you want to leave, here are three things to do before exiting the profession. 

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Plan Your Exit

However much you want to leave right now, take a moment to stop and breathe. It would help if you planned before you walk out of the door. First, are you financially fit to quit? If you do not have another job lined up, how long can you live without a paycheck? Figure out how much you need to pay your rent, mortgage, and bills. Write all of your expenses down and begin to think about the necessities and the things you can live without. Are you the only breadwinner, or do you have a spouse or partner to help out financially?

Have a plan before walking away from teaching..

References and Recommendations

Next, begin to collect references and recommendations. Who do you know that can help you with your career move? Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know helps to get the foot in the door. Reap some of the seeds you’ve sown over time. Think of all the times you helped others in their careers. Call them up! Time to use them as a reference and their recommendations. 

Assess Your Skills

Begin to assess your marketable skills. Educators often underestimate what they have to offer outside of the school buildings. Some transferable skills you have include problem-solving, coordinating projects, critical thinking, and instructing. Decision-making, managing time, multi-tasking, and more are skills to add to the resume. You also have skills at working in challenging positions and customer service. These are just a few items you can list on your new resume. Companies and organizations will love to have you on staff. Or you may want to start your own business. Go for it!

Stay Encouraged

Lastly, stay encouraged as you pursue the next chapter in life. Sometimes, the feeling of despair and desperation will show up in your mind. The pursuit of a new profession or career does not happen overnight. You must align many things. Life after teaching is a personal and professional journey; therefore, you must prepare emotionally and financially. Start planning your exit. Research your options. Stay positive and pursue your dream. Life after teaching does exist!

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Additional Resources

Why Do Teachers Leave – The Learning Policy Institute

https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/Teacher_Exodus_Infographic.pdf