Teacher Self-Care in the COVID World

Teachers, are you feeling drained? Exhausted by all the zoom meetings, lessons, and new technology? So overwhelmed that you are starting to re-think why you are even teaching?

Self care is critical to our emotional well being. As teachers, we know that self-care is the key to success. We preach it to our students daily about helping each other and being aware of the others needs. We stay awake at night worrying about their emotional well being, especially now that the COVID world has changed so many habits. However, let me ask you, when was the last time have you followed the advice you give to your students? We teach our students time management, organization, and all of the social emotional skills they need to be successful. When was the last time you took a break?

I know it is difficult to think of taking even a five minute break because you have grading left to do, lesson plans to finish, videos to record, extra meetings to attend, and the list goes on. However, if we don't pause and take that break we burn out. When we are burnt out, it takes more time and energy to do even the most mundane tasks. Managing ourselves, so we don't burn out, while at the start may seem tedious, will save us a lot of grief and time in the long run. We need to listen to our own advice and time manage. Leave some time for you and take that break.

There are lots of ways we can time manage as teachers in a digital world. Ask yourself, do you really have to learn that new online tool this week? Or could you take a few weeks to learn it? What specific tools, that you know how to use well, would help the students with this lesson? Do you really need that written test? Or could you find a different and easy grading way of assessing that the students understand the material. Being able to cut back on the things that you do not need right now, will help you have a little bit more time on your hands. My teachers have loved this advice and I am starting to see a difference in their happiness as they learn to re-organize their time.

After you figure out what you can cut from your never ending list of things to do, you will have those "five minutes" to take a break. However, I know my teachers, we can't just sit there. We have to plan those five minutes or it feels like we "wasted it".

So what do you want to do during your break? Go for a walk. Read a book, that you actually want to read. Journal and reflect on what you are proud of accomplishing. Stretch or do a workout video. Meal prep for tomorrow.

5 minutes is a lot of time. If you have an hour long class then 5 minutes is about 8% of your class time. That is the same amount of time students need to get settled, to start their "board work", to correct homework, to walk around and check in with all the students, etc. As a teacher, you know how to be productive in 5 minutes, especially if it is planned. Plan 5 minutes a day for yourself, to rejuvenate your teaching passion, increase your own happiness, and to be the best teacher you know you can be.

Share: What are the methods you use for self-care? What results have you seen since you started? How have you changed things around when something just isn't working?