Winter Break Self-Care for Teachers
It’s been a long, busy semester, full of lessons both taught and learned, connections made, and barriers broken. Teaching is an emotionally, mentally, and even physically demanding career, one that calls for educators to employ a wide range of skills and talents every day. That’s why it’s so important to relax and unwind during winter break — you owe it to yourself and your students to use this time for self-care.
Self-care is important because it helps combat stress-induced health issues ranging from headaches to nausea, insomnia, and high blood pressure. It boosts productivity, promotes stability, and helps cement positive relationships with yourself and others. That said, self-care is not a fix-all. It should never be understood as a solution to issues beyond your control and can never take the place of compassion, support, and respect from those around you. It can, however, help you achieve a higher quality of life, so read on for tips to recharge.
Take a Break
When you have the chance, take time to unplug. Shut off email notifications and do whatever it is that makes you feel relaxed — whether that’s watching TV, curling up with a good book, baking for a holiday dinner, listening to relaxing music, or just taking a warm bath. Remind yourself that rest isn’t a privilege or something to be earned — it’s a necessity and a right, one that will help you meet your responsibilities both at home and at work.
Take Care of Your Mind
Sometimes, self-care means unplugging from major stressors, but other times it means reflecting on and working through them. Winter break presents an opportunity for teachers to look for a counselor or therapist — a process that unfortunately can be time-intensive given high demand for sessions outside of work hours. You can begin to reach out to providers that accept your health insurance using the search function on Psychology Today.
Alternatively, habits like journaling and meditation offer similar therapeutic benefits with lower barriers to entry. Mindfulness apps like Headspace or Calm help users incorporate meditation into their routine whenever and wherever they have a moment to spare. No matter the method, it is so important that teachers take care of their mental health to stay centered and avoid burnout.
Take Care of Your Body
Winter break is a great time to schedule medical appointments that you weren’t able to during the school year. It’s easy to let routine physicals or teeth cleanings fall to the wayside when so many other responsibilities feel more urgent, but preventative health care saves you time, money, and stress from dealing with issues that may escalate in severity.
You can also use this time to build healthy habits, like going to the gym or cooking nutritious meals — both of which help boost self-esteem, mood, and energy levels. Jumpstarting a healthier lifestyle will give you additional tools to be the best teacher you can be.
Take Care of Your Space
Another way to practice self-care is to make sure you have a clean and relaxing space to come home to after a long day. Your surroundings have a major impact on your mental health, which in turn has a major impact on your ability to navigate such a challenging but fulfilling career. Take some time to declutter and donate or throw out anything you no longer use. Consider rearranging your furniture to revitalize your home without having to buy new things.
You deserve to go back to school in January feeling well-rested and well-equipped to begin a new semester. We hope you have an amazing year!
As you gear up for a new semester, check out these free resources for teaching SEL:
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