5 Ways I Take Care of Myself in the Classroom
5 Ways I Take Care of Myself in the Classroom
It can be difficult to take care of yourself when you’re in the midst of the busyness of everyday life, let alone keep your sanity and energy in check as an educator. It’s especially important to take care of yourself when you’re starting to experience symptoms of burnout. Take time each day to do one (or all!) of these 5 things I do to keep myself sane and energized in the classroom!
1) Give Yourself Micro-Breaks Throughout the Day
I know...but we just have to. Our students need us to be at our best; we owe it to them, and ourselves, to take care of ourselves during those long days. However, giving yourself micro-breaks throughout your day can be difficult with so much going on. Look for ways to sneak these breaks into your schedule: listen to a podcast or audiobook while you’re getting ready in the morning or grab a snack before jumping into that group work activity you have planned for later. It's ok to sit down sometimes! And consider finding time in the day to not speak at all. Crazy, I know, but it feels great. When I taught lower grades, I built in moments when we "all had our work to do." Now that I'm teaching high school, I have "coffee shop time," where students can put their headphones in, have quiet chat, and get work done...like in a coffee shop. Teaching students to be independent in their work from an early age pays large dividends. And, having a moment to yourself can be lifesaving. Only you will know the tiny breaks that make a difference.
2) Manage Expectations
Sometimes, it’s not feasible to maintain high energy and enthusiasm throughout a full school day. It’s important to manage your own expectations for what you can accomplish on any given day. Be realistic about your capabilities, both mentally and physically. In all cases, remember that you are human too! You have limits and it is okay to stop working when you’ve reached those limits. Then, rest up and start fresh tomorrow. And maybe the Instagram-worthy unit would still get the job done without all the clip-art and extensions.
3) Focus on Relationships
We all know that it is incredibly important to nurture your relationships with your students during the school day. When kids know they have a friendly-mentor relationship with their teacher, it makes them more likely to listen and collaborate. Also, make sure to spend some time with co-workers! We all spend lots of hours at school every day and we need support from one another to maintain our sanity! Set up coffee dates with other staff members; treat yourself to a massage or facial, or maybe just a quiet moment alone after school; go for a walk outside on nice days; join an after-school activity (even if you don’t plan on doing much). It’s so easy for teachers to work all day, eat dinner as soon as possible, then crash on the couch in front of Netflix... but we do ourselves and others such an injustice when we become isolated like that. Find a good balance between talking with a friend and scrolling TikTok.
4) Give up Perfectionism
A major cause of teacher burnout is perfectionism. No one can be perfect at work all day, every day, for years on end, and teachers are no exception. Practice saying good enough when it comes to grading papers or putting together a lesson plan. If your stress level decreases, your energy will rise, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your students. Finding solid routines is more powerful than perfection.
5) Accept help from Others
Ask for help when you need it! As educators, we are often taught to be self-sufficient and not reach out for help. We become teachers because we want to make a difference and help our students succeed; it’s important to allow others to do that too. When you find yourself overwhelmed or simply at a loss as to how something should be done, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Find your own professional development that works. For me, EduProtocols has made a huge difference in my mental health and the success of my students. I’ve also found that finding communities that are like-minded is hugely beneficial. I’m very active on TikTok, Twitter, and a thriving Facebook group called EmpowerEDventure. I use these places to get help all the time. And when you need something right now, don’t be afraid of Teachers Pay Teachers. I often spend a few bucks instead of my own time creating something.
