Self-Care for Teachers: Quick & Easy Self-Care Ideas
As busy educators, we know that time is very limited. If you’re anything like us, you can find yourself pushing self-care lower and lower on your to-do list. Although nothing new, this year has brought to the forefront the impact that compassion fatigue has had on teachers’ well-being and shown us the importance of self-care for teachers.
The good news is, today is the perfect day to practice some simple self-care! There are many ways you can support your emotional well-being during challenging times, whether you need for self-care for teachers during distance learning or are simply aiming to put yourself first more often to avoid burnout.
You don’t need a ton of time to start practicing self-care for teachers. In this post, we break down five mini self-care sessions that you can do in 30 minutes or less. Follow the steps below each option to get started. Which one will you do today?
Ideas for Self-Care for Teachers
Do What You Want
How often do we fully give ourselves permission to do what we want? Set aside 30 minutes where you focus on you! If you have more or less time, that works too. The time doesn’t matter as much as going all-in on self-care for teachers.
What makes you feel happy? Do these things without judgement. Does eating cupcakes make you feel overjoyed? Do it. How about lounging on the couch in your pajamas? YES. Tune into what you want, right now. Then give the gift of joy to yourself.
Don’t let anything get you off track. Turn the ringer off your phone, tell your family not to bother you— anything that will protect your plans. You are worth this time.
Practice Self-Compassion
Right now is a great time to exercise self-compassion towards ourselves. When life is stressful, we are often our own worst critic. That’s why practicing kindness toward ourselves is one of the best easy self-care ideas. Follow the steps below to ensure you get the most out of this self-care activity.
Watch this short video.
Reflect on these questions:
What resonates with you?
Which reframe can you commit to this week?
Which reframe is the most difficult for you? What would you need to make the shift?
Record your thoughts in a journal or through drawing. What stands out to you? What are you still wondering?
Setting Boundaries and Choosing You
Let’s learn how to set boundaries and make ourselves a priority. This is often one of the most important things to do when working on self-care for teachers, because we often don’t have the best boundaries between our work life and family life.
Watch this video.
Reflect on these questions:
How am I setting boundaries in my life?
How am I choosing and honoring myself, even when times get difficult?
How am I choosing myself by saying "no" to commitments, spaces, people, & ideas that don't feel good?
Record your thoughts in a journal or through drawing or any other artistic medium.
Recognizing Negative Self-Talk
Tuning into how you talk to yourself can be one of the most powerful self-care practices. The first step towards positive self-talk is recognizing negative self talk. This self-care activity for teachers goes hand-in-hand with the activity above of practicing self-compassion.
Read the article.
Reflect on what stands out to you or resonates. (We love this quote: "Practicing positivity isn’t about disregarding the unfortunate nature of a situation, but instead acknowledging that you will find a way around it.")
Think about what practices you can take away from the article and use when your mind begins to spiral into negative talk or self-doubt moving forward.
Record your thoughts in a journal or through drawing or any other artistic medium.
Yoga Nidra
Self-care is a physical, emotional, and physical practice. Tune into what your body needs by bringing relaxation rituals into your life. Incorporating yoga nidra into your routine is one of our favorite ways to support self-care for teachers.
Read Relaxation Rituals for Uncertain Times by Tracee Stanley
Reflect on what stands out to you or resonates.
Try practicing a short yoga nidra meditation
Journal any clarity or clear seeing that emerges from the practice - did you enjoy this? Do you prefer active walking meditations and dancing? What does YOUR body need to feel whole?
Get Started with Self-Care for Teachers
As you can see from the examples in this post, self-care for teachers doesn’t have to be activities like a massage, pedicure or night out. Simple self-care ideas can be just as effective when it comes to help you relax, recharge and take better care of yourself.
Are you ready to commit to making these self-care strategies for teachers a habit? Be sure to get enough rest, spend time doing what you love, and honor what you’re feeling.
