Six Self-Care Tips for Educators
At the turn of a new year, reflection often brings a raft of resolutions. It’s the perfect time for fresh starts, sowing the seeds to different habits and positive changes. No matter how much planning you do, however, daily tasks can take priority ahead of seemingly non-essential goals such as “self-care”.
This week I am sharing six self-care and wellness tips on three topics: Mindset, Habit Stacking and Journaling for you to consider adding to your wellness routine. Don’t have a wellness routine? I’d like to encourage you to start one and consider what works best for you and what might be a quick win! Keep things simple, manageable and reasonable. Do it for the sake of accomplishment and stick to it. When we overextend or overcommit ourselves and we don’t follow through it tends to make us feel bad. The goal is to feel good so pick small attainable self-care goals to ensure you accomplish them. You can always do some habit stacking and add more later. I say start small!
Mindset. The established set of attitudes held by someone. Mindset has everything to do with perspective. Our foundational beliefs, attitudes and biases naturally affect the way we process information and experience the world around us. Having an optimistic mindset increases the likelihood of formulating a winning perspective and achieving long-term success. Mindset also affects our likelihood of developing burnout and our ability to overcome it!
- Focus on behaviors not outcomes. For example, decide you are going to do a plank for one minute a day not that you are going to lose weight.
- Find yourself ruminating on the negative while you are emptying the dishwasher, watering the plants or putzing around the house? Pop in your ear buds and cue up a positivity podcast or peaceful piano on Spotify to drown out that negative self-talk and elevate your energy. This works for me 100% of the time. Here's my Spotify Playlist.
- Read a magazine on self-care and mindfulness. I love Breathe Magazine and have a subscription. Consider getting a subscription and they are sold at Whole Foods and most bookstores. Call ahead to save time if you are planning to make an in-person purchase.
- This is the ultimate in self care and a sustainable investment in yourself and your staff. Register for our informational webinar about ⭐️Joyful Leadership Institute ⭐️ and learn how to bring Joyful Leadership Institute (and all the benefits) to your school or District or schedule a Vision Call through our Calendly link to discuss now.
Habit Stacking. The idea behind habit stacking is simple: add a new behavior to your daily schedule by “stacking it” on top of an existing habit. By stacking enough habits, you'll effectively incorporate a surprising amount of extra physical activity or other target into your daily routine without even realizing it. I apply this concept to all of my daily routines and rituals.
- Do a plank for one minute a day (adds up to over 6 hours of planks per year!). Once you get that down, download the Peloton app and add a 10 minute strength workout to your plank routine. Have those two down on the daily? Add reading your daily affirmation card before your plank so you have something positive to ponder while you are moving your body. You can use habit stacking in any area of your life. Focus on small and manageable enhancements here and there!
Start a Self-Care Journal. In search of balance and self-care? There are many benefits to journaling. It strengthens your immune system, reduces stress and anxiety, improves your mood, reduces symptoms of depression, boosts your creativity, leaves a record for your future self and improves your mindfulness.
- Breathe Magazine publishes a beautiful self-care journal that I use. You can learn more about it and order it here :)
Next week I will be sharing a stress quiz, talking about some barriers to self-care and inspiring you with more self-care tips for educators! Stay tuned for a new project I'm working on. Educator Wellness Speaker Series featuring expert practitioners to support educators on their self-care and wellness journey. Is that something you would be interested in?
If this resonates with you, we invite you to explore our informational webinar on the benefits of the Joyful Leadership Institute or schedule a Vision Call through our Calendly link to discuss how our solutions can be customized to your District needs.
