16 Self-Care Gift Ideas for Teachers
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Teachers in our community have expressed powerful reasons for wanting to incorporate more self-care in their routines. The benefits of incorporating more self-care can include being more present for your students, having an improved mood during the school day, and feeling more at ease in your mind and body.
In a nutshell, a gift that supports self-care can have a profound, positive impact on a teacher’s life.
Below, I’ve composed a list to get you brainstorming on types of self-care gifts you could get a teacher in your life (or that you can put on your own holiday wish list!).
Mindfulness Gifts for Mental Stress Relief
Inspirational Sticky Notes
For little encouraging reminders to yourself, your teaching team, or your students that “You are enough”, “You are awesome”, “Good things are coming”, and more!
Empowering Question Cards
For the teacher who loves to journal, meditate, or discuss mindfulness using specific prompts. These are great to use on your own or even to share with your students to foster mindfulness discussions in your classroom!
Stress Less Cards
Similar to the idea of the cards above, these are great prompts to journaling, meditation, or discussion. They center on grounding and gratitude practices to ease stress and anxiety during busy school weeks.
For the reflective teacher strapped for time. These quick daily journal prompts will boost mindfulness during the day without taking up too much of your day.
Guided Visual Meditation Breathing Buddha
This little Buddha shifts colors to signal to breathe in for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8. The visual can be used on your own if you would like more structure for a meditation/breathing practice. Or you can use it as a brain break with your students!
Gifts for Physical Stress and Tension Relief
Weighted Blanket
For the teacher that struggles with sleep, a weighted blanket can be a great tool to try. Weighted blankets have been shown to calm the nervous system, ease anxiety, and improve quality of sleep. And as we know, a good amount of quality sleep (or lack thereof) can impact everything from your energy-levels to your mood to your ability to think on your feet in your classroom.
Cold Therapy Migraine Relief Cap
If you or a teacher you care about experience tension headaches, a tense jaw, or migraines, this would be a great gift to consider. It offers tension and headache relief and can help provide moments to pause, slow down, lie down, and process the events of the day.
Essential Oil Shower Steamers
Treat yourself or a teacher you care about to a spa-like experience. These essential oil steamers can help relieve tension and help you relax in mind and body after a long day.
Acupressure Massage Rings
For a comforting way to ease tension and stay mentally grounded - even while on the go. Acupressure tings massage pressure points in the fingers that can help relieve mental and physical tension throughout the body. They can help easy tension, boost concentration, and improve circulation in the hands. They also feel nice and relaxing to use any time - whether doing work or relaxing after a busy day.
Ginger Turmeric Latte Mix
Stress can negatively impact digestion and cause inflammation in the body. This ginger and turmeric latte mix is a nourishing way to calm inflammation, ease digestion, and help you take a moment to slow down. Plus, a warm beverage is always a comforting way to warm the soul. This is a lovely gift for yourself, for a friend, or heck, to have on hand for you AND your friends to share.
Epsom Salt Bath - Melatonin Sleep Soak
If you struggle with joint pain or relaxing the body and mind after a long day, an Epsom salt bath can be an extremely soothing act of self-care.
Books that Promote School Year Mindfulness and Wellbeing
Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Boundaries are an essential skill for preventing burnout in education (which is why we have a whole ebook on it!). This book is an excellent jumping off point that can help you discover how healthy your boundaries currently are, why you might avoid boundaries, and how to start healthfully communicating your boundaries for a happier, healthier school year.
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer
This workbook has a plethora of exercises to practice mindfulness and self-kindness during the school year. If you struggle with feelings of “not enough” or tend to be self-critical when you make mistakes or are struggling, this book is a healing balm.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
If you or a teacher you care about wants to establish healthier habits during the school year, consider this book! It gives easy tricks and habit hacks to help you make long-lasting behavioral changes.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
I am including this book because the mindset that can result from these four agreements can really help educators foster positive mindsets and stay grounded during the school year. The simple agreements can help us all stay rooted in our self-worth, no matter what is happening in our external world.
Mindfulness for Teachers by Patricia A. Jennings
This book includes proven mindfulness techniques that you can use in the classroom. Written by a long-time educator, the techniques were chosen based on what is realistic and attainable for classroom teachers.
Want more on teacher wellness? Check out one of our 2 ebooks:
I hope you find this list helpful as you search for gifts this holiday season!
Happy holidays to each and every one of you! May we support and uphold each other in this challenging but rewarding work.
Want to bring burnout prevention strategies to your whole school community? Learn more about our burnout prevention workshops here.