Protect Your Wellbeing Starting Day 1 of School
Your wellbeing matters each and every day of the school year.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the hustle culture that exists in many schools at the beginning of the year, and how the pressure to be perfectly prepared on day 1 can affect a teacher’s wellbeing.
Read 3 tips I have, as a health coach for educators, that can help you prevent burnout and protect your wellbeing, starting Day 1 of this academic year.
3 Tips to Protect Your Wellbeing, Starting Day 1 of School
I.
Let go of the beginning of the year hustle culture.
The push to “hit the ground running” at the beginning of the school year is not helpful. For anyone. Instead, we need to be focused on how to create a sustainable routine of work and rest, starting day 1. If you feel you’ve been running yourself ragged to prep for day 1, stop and take 3 deep breaths. Ask, “Is this pace of work sustainable for me?” and “Would I stay happy and healthy working at this pace all year?” If the answer is no, build in more breaks now - TODAY. Yes, the beginning of the school year is a bit busier than other parts of the year, but no, that does not mean you need to get extreme in your work habits. Those habits lead to overwhelm and burnout fast, and you and your students deserve better.
II.
Let go of the lie that things must be “perfect” on Day 1 of school.
If you know me, you know I like to say I’m a recovering perfectionist, and let me tell ya, I used to put a LOT of pressure on myself to make things “perfect” before the first day of school. And I know I’m not alone, so if you find you’re treating the first day of school as a finish line, and are setting overwhelming goals to achieve before day 1, please take a step back with me. Take a breath. Day 1 is just the beginning, my friend. There will be plenty of time to adjust, change things, and set things up after day 1. Just do the best you can, trust you are doing enough and that you are enough, and remember - There’s no such thing as perfect or being perfectly prepared. Just do your best with the limited energy and time you have today. Are you still breathing? Take another deep breath if you’ve made it this far reading. You’re doing enough.
III.
Pay attention to and respond to how you feel at the end of Day 1.
If you come home from the first day of school exhausted, that should be a big, fat red flag that you need to work with your administration, your team, and yourself to create a more sustainable, happy, and healthy daily routine.
Because that first day can become a week of overwhelm, and that week becomes a month. And then by October teachers find themselves burned out, beaten down, and wondering what went wrong. How you feel after each day, including day 1, matters.
2 Quotes from Others
I.
“Destroy the idea that you have to be constantly working or grinding in order to be successful. Embrace the concept that rest, recovery and reflection are essential parts of the progress towards a successful and ultimately healthy life.” - Unknown
II.
“A day without a nap is like a cupcake without frosting.” - Terri Guillemets
1 Question For You
Do you feel you have a healthy balance between productivity and rest planned for today? If no, what’s a tiny change you can make to feel more balanced TODAY?
If you found this week’s 3-2-1 helpful, share it with an educator you care about :)
Until next week,
Emily Hemmingson
Health Coach for Teachers
Founder of The Teacher Wellness Center
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