Teachers face numerous challenges and pressures that make self-care essential for their overall well-being. While individual self-care practices can help, they don’t address the systemic issues that contribute to teacher stress and burnout. Schools must take an active role in helping teachers and facilitating self-care. This is why it’s so important to prioritize teacher wellness. Encourage teachers to take breaks, promote healthy habits, and provide physical activity and mental mindfulness opportunities. For example, schools can organize on-site yoga or fitness classes or hire mediators and mental health experts. Any wellness activities should be optional so that teachers don’t feel any added pressure to participate, especially if they already have a self-care routine that works for them. Ultimately, it’s imperative for schools to provide these opportunities for their staff as it can make a lasting difference over time. To learn more about the ways in which schools and teachers are improving their self-care routines, take a moment to read the resource featured alongside this post.
Check out Teacher Self-Care 101, provided by Curriculum Associates; an organization specializing in formative assessment strategies.