Look after yourself
Coping with stress – tips For educators
While school and teachers provide a cornerstone that offers a daily structure and routine to many children, it is also important to look after your own well being. Leah Davies gives us a few points to consider.
Before educators can help students cope with their problems and be ready to learn, they must first take time to care for themselves. The following are some ways educators can take control of their lives and manage their own stress so that they will be available to assist their students:
- Accept yourself as an imperfect human being
- Believe that you have value and that you can make a contribution to humanity
- Accept responsibility for yourself and your behavior
- Set aside time each day for recreation and exercise
- Eat well-balanced meals
- Get enough rest
- Avoid using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs
- Cultivate a hopeful attitude by saying encouraging things to yourself
- Develop effective communication skills
- Foster a sense of humor
- Seek out and maintain at least one close personal friend
- Enjoy the little things
- Make a list of things that you enjoy doing that are good for you.
Arrange to do one a day. - Write down how you see yourself a year, five years, or ten years from now. Share your ideas and goals with someone you trust.
- Write down at least five of your worries. Rank order your list by their importance in your life. By each worry write ACCEPT, CHANGE, or REJECT. For each worry decide what your first step will be toward accepting, changing or rejecting it.
Carry out the steps you listed.
Leah Davies, M.Ed.
Leah Davies received her Master’s Degree from the Department of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Auburn University. Her professional experience of over 44 years includes teaching, counseling, consulting, instructing at Auburn University, and directing educational and prevention services at a mental health agency.
See more from Leah at her Kelly Bear resources website http://www.kellybear.com/
Published by kind permission from the author, Leah Davies
Further Reading:
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/how-to-stop-worrying.htm
https://pdst.ie/teacher_wellbeing
http://www.teacher-wellbeing.com.au/resources/for-teachers/
https://survivethrive.on.ca/article-category/teacher-wellbeing/
Feature Image: by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay