Self Care for Teachers-Five Tips which can Make a Difference

Summary

The website content provides self-care strategies for teachers to manage stress, emphasizing teamwork, positivity, time management, work-life balance, and personal interests.

Abstract

The article "Self Care for Teachers" addresses the heightened stress levels educators face, especially over the past eighteen months. It suggests that by collaborating with grade-level teams, ignoring negativity, focusing on work during school hours, limiting after-hours work communication, and pursuing personal interests, teachers can significantly reduce stress. The author, a seasoned special education teacher, shares insights from over twenty years of experience, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and making time for relaxation to maintain professional effectiveness and personal well-being.

Opinions

The author believes in the power of teamwork to distribute workload and reduce individual stress by sharing responsibilities such as lesson planning and classroom preparations.
Negativity in the workplace is seen as a distraction that can impede productivity and should be managed by setting clear boundaries and maintaining a positive outlook.
The article suggests that teachers should prioritize work during designated school hours and be mindful of time management to avoid bringing work home.
Limiting work-related texting after hours is recommended to preserve personal time and prevent work from encroaching on weekends and evenings.
Engaging in personal interests and hobbies outside of teaching is considered crucial for relaxation and rejuvenation, contributing to a teacher's ability to return to work with renewed energy and focus.

Tips that will make a difference in your stress level

Over the last eighteen months, many teachers were faced with some insurmountable challenges. Using technology in a different way, limited materials at home, frustrated parents, students struggling to turn assignments in, and yet teachers remained committed to their profession.

I have been a special education teacher for over twenty years in two different school districts. I taught everything from self-contained classes, resource rooms, and co-taught in grades two through five.

I noticed different trends in education and one that stands out is the increasing demands on teacher’s time. Often, when a new challenge is presented, educators all tend to internally panic a bit. Teachers want to ensure they understand the expectations and how to successfully implement a new program or initiative.

Here are five tips for the upcoming school year to keep stress levels down.

One: Use Your Grade Level Team

If there are several items that you all need to do, work together and split up tasks. I have completed team lesson planning, Google Classroom posts, Google docs, and other assignments and shared them. Each member of the team can select a subject or two and create plans and consumables for the whole grade.

Two: Ignore the Negativity

Negativity is lurking in the hallways, the staff room, and even with the well-meaning co-worker who suddenly closes your door, needing to vent. Yes, things happen that are out of our control in schools. Yes, there may be short notice. Remind yourself that you are working from eight to three and that it may look different from year to year, or even hour to hour, on any given day. Spreading negativity becomes distracting from the limited amount of time there is to complete the work. It helps to have a canned exit phrase such as, “I understand.” and move on.

Three: Work at Work

Schools can be great for socializing. Especially the hallway as the minutes tick by until the adorable faces will be at your door. So listening to Suzy Sunshine recap her morning coffee spill will delay the time you need in your classroom. Keep interactions brief and set your time boundaries with anyone who starts to take up your time. I suggest splitting lunch into twenty minutes to eat and then about fifteen minutes to prep what you need for the afternoon. Using every available time slot to work on the to-do list will reduce the amount of time needed to work after hours.

Four: Limit Texting with Co-Workers After Hours

Nothing ruins a Sunday evening faster than an unexpected text notification from a co-worker who has some question that can be answered quickly on Monday morning. Or sometime during the next week. I reply briefly and say when I can address it further. I list my availability during the workweek to address whatever issue has arisen over the weekend. It helps to check in with team members at the end of the day to discuss anything, so there aren’t loose ends that would compel them to text. I set my boundaries regarding texting about work and try not to spend additional time outside of work hours talking about work.

Five: Explore Interests and Hobbies Outside of Teaching

Graduate classes, professional development, and catching up on paperwork are all important. I admit to having worked on all of that during my weekends and time off. However, the weekends that I fully engage in my fitness challenges, take walks, connect with friends and family, try new restaurants are the ones where I am fully able to relax. I will be driving my commute and literally cannot remember which math lesson I taught on Friday. Completely unplugging allows me to feel renewed and ready to tackle the workweek. I also enjoy the stories to share with my students during morning meetings.

Try some of the new habits as you gear up for the new school year!