9 Ways to Practice Teacher Self-Care at School
With burnout more prevalent than ever, many teachers are realizing they need to focus on their own wellbeing and practice self-care. While many of acts of self-care take place outside the classroom, there are actually quite a few things you can do while at school to take care of yourself too!
Involve your students. Self-care for you can be self-care for your students too! Try mindfulness or yoga breaks– there are tons available on YouTube and Go Noodle!
Take deep breaths. These are free and you can take one any time! This is also great modeling for students.
Avoid negative venting or gossip. This is a tricky one because I know staff friendships often center around complaining! But only focusing on the negative can bring down your mood and overall sense of wellbeing.
Plan your prep periods. We all know those precious planning periods disappear in the blink of an eye! Try planning out what you’ll do each prep period before the week starts (i.e., anchor charts Monday, grading Tuesday, copies Wednesday). This will allow you to be your most productive, which will help you feel better while at school AND allow you more time for rest and relaxation at home.
Wear comfortable clothes you feel good in. Go ahead and retire those too small pants and itchy sweater. Even if it means outfit repeating, stick to what you makes you feel good.
Bring a healthy snack. Being hangry isn’t helpful! There’s nothing wrong with a sweet treat, but something that will give you longer lasting energy, like an apple and cheese, or greek yogurt with fruit and nuts, is even better.
Create an environment you enjoy spending time in. You don’t need to create an elaborate themed room to have a comfortable classroom. Getting rid of extra clutter like textbooks you don’t need (ask if they can be stored elsewhere) or covering up stained walls with a tapestry can go a long way. A few cozy touches like plants or twinkle lights are great too!
Keep a self-care kit at school. Put together a pouch or container of self-care items to keep in your desk, like lip balm, calming tea, hair ties, and lotion.
The Teacher’s Guide to Self-Care
This list was adapted from my book, The Teacher’s Guide to Self-Care, a practical guide to taking better care of yourself as a teacher.
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