Ten mental health and well-being tips for teachers
As schools reopen, it is important to prioritise and commit to taking care of your mental health and well-being – this helps you to have more positive energy for yourself, your students and their families. Here are 10 tips on how you can do it! , Set aside time to unwind, Think about what helps lift your mood and gets you through stress – whether it is playing with your children, going for a walk, talking to your friends, taking care of your plants, reading a book or cooking a new recipe. Keep some space to relax. These activities are as important as your working hours. It’s about allowing yourself to feel…, Plan ahead, As schools reopen, there could be a million things on your mind on how to engage with students and help them with the transition. Make a list of all your tasks and activities for the day or week early on. Use a day planner or notebook to plan your week. Set small goals and take appropriate breaks. It will help you plan your time better and…, Set boundaries, The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased stress levels in the lives of many teachers with a new way of teaching, personal health and family issues. Whether you are teaching online or in the classroom, you are continually taking care of students’ needs throughout the day. Make sure to set boundaries to have ‘me’ time, be with family, or…, Get vaccinated, Get vaccinated when it’s your turn. Getting vaccinated will protect you from severe COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and death and can alleviate the safety concerns of being back in schools. It will also protect your family, your students and their families. You will be required to keep taking precautions after vaccination, but feeling safer…, Adjust your expectations, This is a period of adjustment for everyone and keep things in perspective. You can only control certain things and circumstances during the transition period in your classroom. Don’t pressurise yourself to provide the same learning experiences as the pre-lockdown period. You are one single professional and doing your best to adapt to change. As…, Acquire new skills and appreciate the ones you already have, Teachers, across the globe, were largely unprepared to support the continuity of learning mostly because of limited digital skills. Acquiring and mastering new skills will help you in the professional journey and will provide greater confidence and comfort in work. You can sign up for online courses, virtual workshops, webinars, or watch videos to…, Be kind to yourself, If you are feeling overwhelmed, share your feelings with another teacher, friend or family member. Having a conversation with your supervisor or senior school leader will help them understand you and offer support. Remember, a healthy relationship will have a positive influence on the children you are teaching. , Stay socially connected, You can keep yourself physically apart to limit the spread of the virus, but it is important that you stay emotionally and socially connected with your friends, family and colleagues. Celebrate happy occasions over video calls, engage in virtual working groups or join online book clubs. When seeing others, prefer outdoor activities, and use masks…, Get your body moving, Physical activity is proven to be a powerful fighter to navigate stress and anxiety. With regular exercise, you can feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories and feel more relaxed and positive about yourself. Even a short 10 minutes brisk walking boosts our mood and can give an enormous sense of well-…, Seek mental health support if needed, Take care of your mental health and well-being and seek mental health support if you have signs of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Feeling tired and unhappy is not the same as being depressed. The major signs of depression, anxiety, burnout, and other mental health problems that need specialised mental health attention include fatigue and sleep…
Ukraine
