Self- care is a popular topic among teachers recently. That's probably because as educators, we're constantly giving all of ourselves to the amazing little people around us daily that when we do have down time, we don't know how to use it! Let's face it, as amazing as our job is, it can also be completely exhausting. Because I am so passionate about being a teacher, it can sometimes be difficult to step away and find the time I need for myself. Yes, there are always items on all of our to-do lists, but what good are you to family, friends, or your students if all you ever do is focus on work and you never take time for you?
1. HOT TEA, A BOOK, AND A BATH
Simple. Free. Relaxing. Those are the words I'd use to describe this self-care activity. I personally know I need this when it's been a long day, or I'm feeling my stress level rise, or my patience thinning. When I recognize one (or both) of these things happening, I know it's time to light some candles, brew a cup of tea, grab a good book, and soak in a bath.
No, I'm not talking about the brain breaks your students do in your classroom, though I do love participating in those with my kiddos. The kind of breaks I'm referring to are those spent with myself getting a little bit of fresh air. There are 2 movement breaks I love - a walk outside with my dog and yoga. The walk is free, so that's definitely a great place to start! But I do love yoga. It gets me out of the house and adds a little variety to the very mundane sleep, work, eat, Netflix schedule that I would otherwise typically follow. Whether it's yoga, pilates, kickboxing, the gym, spinning ... whatever you think you'd love... finding time to get out of the house and focus on your health/happiness is always time well spent!
3. GO PHONE FREE FOR AN HOUR OR TWO
Each week, I pick 2-3 nights to put my phone and laptop away. I don't do this for the whole night, just an allotted amount of time. This is definitely the self-care activity I need to be better at, but when I do stay tech-free, I can literally feel myself getting more relaxed. I like to try (how sad is it that this can be difficult?) to put my phone and laptop away, read a book or catch up on favorite shows with my husband and our dog. When I'm not distracted by my phone, I am more focused on the present moment and after even just 30 minutes I feel more relaxed. A few other relaxing activities to try while going tech-free might be: journaling, coloring, or handlettering.
FREE DOWNLOAD
Sometimes being intentional about self-care means writing what I'm going to do for myself in my planner. I literally have to schedule it in there as a reminder and to hold myself to it. If you're like me and you know work can suck you in when you just need to take some time to rest, grab this free Self-Care Planner for Teachers below.
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*Stock photos used in this post were created by Ivory Mix.
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