What is self-care for Teachers?

Self-care for Teachers?

Due to the recent pandemic of the COVID-19 outbreak, educators are forced to adapt to all the new changes of the stay at home and virtual world. During this time, teachers are expected to continue teaching their students virtually. Although teachers are flexible to these changes, they might feel stressed and tired due to working endlessly to make sure their students are in the best hands. Before you completely use it, I hope to provide you with useful tips you can use to stay sane while teaching during this pandemic. Why? Because taking care of your health and making sure that you have everything you need is how you thrive as a teacher. 

1. Eating right is right:

Eating right is important to staying at a healthy weight, having good nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. During this outbreak, make sure you make time to eat and to eat a healthy meal. Not something quick and fast because you are constantly sitting in front of your computer giving instruction and directions to students and families. You need time to develop healthy eating habits. Benefits of eating healthy include weight loss, reduced cancer risk, diabetes management, stroke prevention, heart health, strong bones and teeth, improved memory and feeling better moods.

Listed below are self-care eating resources such as simple strategies for healthy eating, snack and dinner ideas & more reasons of why eating healthy is beneficial and important: 

2. Get up and Moving:

Move is important because moving your body gets your heart beating and your blood flowing.  Movement should be thought of as medicine since it benefits low blood pressure, controlled blood sugar, controlled height, relieves pain, lowers cholesterol and is good for your heart! Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term health benefits and most importantly can improve your quality of life.

“If you move well, you also think, feel and live well.”

Examples of Movement/Physical Activity:

  • Sports: Soccer, Lacrosse, Football, Volleyball, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball and more.
  • Fitness: Swimming, Biking, Running, Strength Training, Yoga and more.

Listed below are additional self-care approaches to physical activity:

3. Stay connected with your kiddos:

Although it might seem like you are doing everything to make sure your students are successful with their learning at home, it is hard to accept the fact that you aren’t seeing their smiling faces until the fall. Not only that, the students might come back not quite where they are suppose to be academically.

Teachers should stay connected with their students through technology during this time. Teachers can connect with students if they have access to technology through Zoom meetings, interactive messaging and learning games or video messages from email. Teachers dedicating their time to the students virtual learning is important, but also dedicating part of your day just to talk to your students can also make a difference!