Non-Negotiable Self-Care for Teachers
Many educators struggle to keep their wellness needs on the to-do list when the school year gets busy. If that’s been your experience so far this year, you are not alone.
As a health coach, I want to help you prioritize your health each day because it is the foundation of everything you do in the classroom.
Everything becomes more difficult when you don’t feel well-cared for.
Below, check out one simple strategy that can help you keep your health a priority - both during the busy holiday season and into 2023.
And if you’re not yet, make sure to register for our workshop, Build a Sustainable Self-Care Plan, to build a 2023 health plan that incorporates boundaries and self-compassion.
Your Non-Negotiable Self-Care.
A question I love to ask my health coaching clients is, “What is your non-negotiable self-care this week?”
During the school year, there are weeks you may not have a ton of time. But your health (Note: basic needs for rest, care, and connection) should still be in the picture during those weeks.
So the question here is, What are the habits that make the biggest difference to your overall wellbeing?
What habits for your mind, body and spirit absolutely cannot leave your to-do list, even when life gets busy?
Take a moment to write a list of 3-5 things now! As an example, some of my non-negotiables on busy weeks are 7-8 hours of sleep a night, a daily walk, and quality time with my partner.
A few mistakes to avoid when choosing non-negotiable self-care:
Try not to choose too many habits to focus on at once.
This may seem obvious, but don’t choose self-care habits that make you feel bad (I’m looking at you, restrictive diets and punishing exercise regimens).
Don’t ignore your needs in the moment (i.e. On an exhausting week you may want to prioritize rest more than your go-to movement routine).
Consistent self-care starts on paper - don’t not write your plan down (how’s THAT for a sentence?!)
You have needs every week - You deserve time and space to meet those needs every week. For more support incorporating the boundaries and mindset shifts to help you do this, make sure to register for our upcoming workshop!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.”
- Audre Lorde
If you found this teacher wellness post 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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Thank you for taking a moment to join me, and for giving yourself a moment to consider your needs this school week. You can get actionable ideas each week in my popular email Teacher 3-2-1 newsletter. Each week, I share 3 burnout prevention ideas, 2 quotes from others, and 1 wellness question to think about. Thousands of teachers are already subscribed. Enter your email below to join the community!