It may seem obvious, but teaching is hard! Most teachers I know are strong, very emotionally well-regulated and deeply committed to supporting their students. Occasionally, you encounter a day, week, or even a term that tests your abilities and resilience.
I recently experienced a week like that. Two students, unrelated to each other, lost a parent. Another student suffered a concussion and faced significant complications that necessitated emergency brain surgery, followed by weeks of recovery. Also, a team member's contract was not renewed.
Here are five self-care strategies I used to get through the difficult moments:
Seek out a dark, quiet space for a short retreat — perhaps an empty classroom or an office belonging to someone who isn't on campus that day.
Take a walk during lunchtime — leave your phone behind and don't inform anyone of your whereabouts, enjoying the freedom of being unreachable.
Sweat it out — head to the gym or exercise vigorously right after work.
Make use of the Employee Assistance Program — it's free, confidential and designed for challenging periods like these.
Arrange to see someone special — in my case, I booked a trip to visit my 95-year-old grandmother, which made everything seem more manageable.
Comment below with your preferred self-care strategies.
Further Reading:
For help with self-care, schedule an online coaching or mentoring appointment.
