Teachers are often some of the busiest people around. Between grading papers, preparing lessons, and meeting with parents, and your own personal lives, it can be hard to find time for yourself. However, it’s important to make time for your own well-being, especially if you want to stay healthy and energized throughout the school year. Here are a few tips on how to create a wellness routine for your new school year:
1. Begin with thorough planning.
As a teacher, planning is one of the essential things you can do to ensure your time prioritizes your well-being. Firstly, have a schedule detailing all the things you are supposed to do. Preferably your schedule should extend over long periods such as a whole term or a month. However, you can make one for shorter periods, such as a week or daily schedule.
Your schedule should include your appointments, both personal and professional. Your appointments include doctor’s appointments and meetings with friends and family. On the other hand, your professional appointments include teacher’s meetings or meetings with your student’s parents. Your schedule should also have due dates for ongoing projects and a schedule for all the classes you have to teach.
A schedule for your personal life could include a meal plan for healthy meals. It will be one less thing you must stress about. Social events such as weddings or birthdays in your personal schedule will help you stay updated on your social needs with family and friends. This is a good way to not forget important events when the school term is in full swing.
2. Eat a healthy diet.
Eating healthy is a major cornerstone to having a wellness routine, and this is because you have to nourish to flourish! You achieve a healthy body through maintaining a healthy body weight and having a high immune system to protect you from illness. Eating clean, healthy foods also ensures that your energy levels are high as required to function competently at your job.
You should also ensure that you drink at least 2 liters of water a day, which will help you avoid getting dehydrated. Teachers talk and stand a lot, so they are likely to be dehydrated and a stand by water bottle is a good idea to have in class.
Eat healthy by incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet to reap their benefits.You should also reduce the amount of caffeine you drink in coffee, as they have been found to accelerate conditions such as insomnia. As you are aware, avoid eating unhealthy junk foods that do not add any value to your well-being, only empty calories that increase your risk of a heart attack, diabetes type 2, high blood pressure and other lifestyle diseases.
3. Create an exercise habit.
All wellness routines need an element of movement, which is exercise. There are many forms of exercise you can do. These include yoga, cardio, and weight lifting, among many others. The form of exercise you choose to use depends on your preference and the time you want to dedicate to it.
One major benefit of exercise for any teacher is that it raises your energy levels. Exercising also helps you to maintain and work towards a healthy body weight. When you exercise, you release hormones such as endorphins, which are responsible for improving your mood and raising your spirits from any depression. Other benefits of endorphins is that it helps you to get rid of any pain in your body. You win when you exercise!
4. Create healthy boundaries.
Having boundaries helps you to protect your peace because you have limitations with your interactions and time. When interacting with people, setting boundaries can look like stating the type of behavior that you will not tolerate, like no use of curse words or lies. A boundary can also be stating how you want to be addressed or treated. Having boundaries in your interactions enables you to have your needs met while maintaining respect for yourself and the other party.
You must have boundaries with how you use your time and you must actively enforce it. For example, do not use what is supposed to be your free time doing work-related things. You also need to have this time boundaries while at work, with your friends, and most importantly, with yourself. Also, make time specifically to make yourself a priority. Self-care should always be on your to-do list!
5. Create a sleeping schedule.
Sleep is essential in ensuring that you are well. Sleep is beneficial for your body as well as your brain, because sleep rejuvenates us. You therefore need to incorporate a schedule that allows for 7-8 hours of sleep. You can do this by ensuring that you sleep and wake up at the same time every day. This can be achieved by setting alarms that prompt you to sleep or wake up.
Doing certain things can also improve the quality of your sleep. For example, ensure that you sleep in total darkness and silence. Keeping away from electronics an hour before bed is another way to get good quality sleep.
6. Reward yourself!
Whenever you have achieved a goal, be sure to reward yourself no matter how little it is! Rewarding yourself can look like indulging yourself with a treat or buying yourself a gift. Gift yourself with a Teacher Care Crate! A monthly subscription box curated thoughtfully and specifically for teacher's self-care and mental health. It is your monthly reminder to practice self-care. Each month's crate includes digital downloads for teacher (and student) use, inspirational art, bath & body items, on-trend accessories, and nourishing treats to make your teacher heart happy!
Conclusion
It is important to keep in mind that wellness is not a destination or rather a journey. What’s important is that you are well physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Do not compare your journey to anyone else’s. Concentrate on yours, and you will surely see progress!