Children's Literacy Initiative
The Importance of Educator Wellness
The world is changing. From classrooms to Zoom chats, from textbook to E-book, educators, we thank you for continuing to mold young minds. We know that taking care of your classroom is the top priority. However, in order to best take care of your class, you have to take care of yourself, too! Below, we break down 4 areas of wellness that are crucial to maintaining the health of educators in the classroom.
PHYSICAL WELLNESS
Physical Wellness and emotional wellness go hand in hand. This aspect of Wellness hones in on ensuring that your body is operating in the best health. Make sure to check out the resources from the NIH.
Tips for Physical Wellness
- Get moving: lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol, and maintain your mental health with as little as 30 minutes of exercise per day! Grab your walking buddy, pop on a Zumba video or join a gym.
- Eat breakfast: when you start your day with breakfast, it lets your brain know that it doesn’t need to drop into conservation mode.
- Listen to your body: the clearest communicator, your body can tell you what’s missing. Make sure to pay attention to any changes in appetite, sleep habits, aches, and pains.
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
Emotional wellness encompasses all of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Negative or positive, emotions should be identified and accepted. Especially when there are life changes, stressors, and difficult times, it is good to check-in with how you’re feeling. Learn more over at Familydoctor.org.
Tips for Emotional Wellness
- Get enough sleep: sleep deprivation can lead to irritability and impulsivity. The recommended amount of sleep for adults is between 7 to 9 hours.
- Focus on the positive aspects of life: while negative emotions are important in learning how to become more resilient, positive emotions help us to get through the tough stuff.
WELLNESS APPS
Check out these fantastic free apps for educators! These apps are useful tools that educators can use as we work through these challenging times.
Headpsace
Cost: Free
Headpsace is a mindfulness app geared towards focusing more, reducing burnout, and stressing less! This app promotes taking moments to meditate and offers additional resources for classroom use.
MyLife Meditation
Cost: Free
This app helps guide you to find your quiet place. Track your emotions, breathe mindfully, work through guided meditations, and log your progress. Teachers, sign up for a free, lifetime premium membership here.
Simple Habit
Cost: Free
Simple Habit offers wellness & sleep therapy sessions with guided mindfulness, meditation, daily motivation, and more! Work towards feeling less stressed with the help of the Simple Habit team. You can find the app here.
SOCIAL WELLNESS
Social Wellness focuses on your ability to maintain and form strong relationships. In this age of digital connection, there are so many ways to keep in touch with those around you.
Tips for Social Wellness
- Scheduling: put friends and family on your calendar! Make time to call a friend or send a text message to a loved one. Join a local community group or a virtual yoga class. Find out more from NIH.
- Practice active listening: take time to understand the conversation. Active listeners build empathy and compassion. Learn more about active listening here.
- Seek professional support: we have resources available for distance learning and coaching available here. Also, check out the resources we have on learn.cli.org!
INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS
Intellectual wellness is all about participating in scholastic, cultural, and community activities.
Tips for Intellectual Wellness
- Pick up a good book: reading informs you, encourages critical thinking, and helps to open up the mind to new possibilities.
- Travel: while you may not be able to jump on a plan, you can hook up your computer and go places from the comfort of your own home. Indulge in your wanderlust and visit new places around the world.
- Get out of your comfort zone: experiencing new things allows you to expand your horizons. Change up your coffee order, jog in a new park, see a movie that you wouldn't normally pick—the options are endless.
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