How to take care of yourself to be able to take care of others?
dr Magdalena Śniegulska
Celebrate your success: show your happiness after you or your team (class or friends) have achieved something. If parents or your pupils are grateful for your help, accept it and remind everyone that it was a team effort. But don’t wait for ultimate victory. Celebrate even the smallest achievements on your path. It’s really worth it.
Be good to yourself: it is worth devoting 5 minutes at the beginning of the day to start working in a relaxed way. Take your time when sipping your morning coffee before class or take a few deep breaths before the lesson starts.
Routine is key: daily routines make you feel safe and protected, which is exactly what we all need. Doing exercise, listening to your favourite podcast or other daily activities will help you take control.
Be open about changes: there are certain school rituals and routines you cannot change, but not everything is like this. Sometimes we need to introduce changes to improve our physical or psychological condition. Help your pupils understand and accept changes. Talk about what they can expect instead of just saying what will change. Being open and candid helps make your actions more transparent and predictable. Plan activities a week ahead. Time will show what happens next. Show curiosity when listening to your pupils’ ideas. Accept the fact that changes are a part of our lives.
Travel: both near and far – pack your bags, get your car or bike and travel with friends or family. A change of the environment will charge your batteries.
Disconnect from school: teachers tend to socialise with their colleagues – great minds think alike! However, try to meet with friends other than colleagues to make sure you focus on other people and topics, and take a break from school issues.
Do something pleasurable: engage in hobbies, go on a vacation, look for a chance to relax in your free time, regenerate your body and soul. This is also important for your pupils. Make sure you tell them how important it is to relax and disconnect from school. Share your experiences and impressions. Walk the dog, learn a new language, do something for the first time, cook something delicious. Engage in something that really makes you happy.
„How to take care of yourself to be able to take care of others” is available based on an international Creative Commons Non-Commercial license (CC BY-NC 4.0). Some rights reserved by the School with Class Foundation. The material was made as a part of the Let’s talk with class! project implemented by the School with Class Foundation with the use of funds granted by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. Any use of the content of this material is admissible provided that this information, including the information on the license, copyright and the Let’s talk with class! project is included. You can access the terms of the license here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/4.0/deed.pl.