On a previous blog, I talked about restarting the new semester with our students.
Now let’s take a look at how we can restart the new semester and year for us as teachers.
- Have we already fallen off the wagon?
- Are we forgetting to fill our cup?
- Are our needs being put aside already?
As parents, spouses and teachers, we tend to put ourselves last. Not only is this common and feels like the right thing to do, in hindsight it couldn’t be any further from the truth.
When I was a young teacher and up until a few years ago, I was always scheduling appointments on days off or vacations because I didn’t want to miss work, or it was too much work to miss work.
But what happened each and every time, is if I didn’t take care of myself, then there I was sick trying to make sub plans, which is the worst! (Do yourself a favor, at the start of the school year and new semester make Emergency Sub Plans for all classes ahead of time, keep them in a specific spot in your room. You will thank me later!)
A few years ago, it hit me that I needed to take time for myself and take days off when needed. We have sick/personal days for a reason… and we need to start using them! Even if it is just for staying home, laying on the couch and watching Netflix. (I like to call that a mental health day!)
We cannot pour from an empty cup. I know too many teachers that have put things off for various reasons, myself included, and sometimes a simple cold turns into a sinus infection or worse. I know we always want to be there each day for our students and colleagues but the best way that we can be there and 100% is by taking care of ourselves.
Let’s make some teacher resolutions for this year:
💟Use your personal/sick days when needed NOT when you have to
💟Make those appointments and keep them (doctors, dentist, therapy, etc.)
💟Leave work at a reasonable hour (I would only stay 30-60 minutes after the final bell)
💟Leave your school work at school! (Use your planning and lunch time to get things done so you don’t have to take it home with you. Best thing I ever did for myself!)
💟Don’t grade everything! (My students never knew what was going to be graded, or just a participation grade, therefore they always had to do their best)
💟Clean up your classroom, desk, etc. before you leave for the day no matter how tired you are. Your morning self will thank you!
💟Make it okay to resume activities, games, resources! Don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to! Or go ahead and purchase items that you have wanted to get on TPT to make your life easier! (Click here to shop at my TPT store!)
What are you going to do this year to make sure your cup is not just full but overflowing?
As always, I hope that you have found this information useful and helpful to you!
Merci,
Amanda