Despite the benefits and joys of teaching, educators are under intense stress. Educating, teaching, correcting, planning, and grading can consume a teacher’s schedule and leave little room for self-care or attention to personal needs. This contributes to teachers becoming unhealthy, partly due to them constantly looking after students and neglecting themselves.
What is the remedy to this? Start living a healthier life. While more easily said than done, here are some tips and tricks to stay healthy and happy as a teacher. By selecting one area and starting today, teachers (and anyone, really) will be able to live a happy, healthy, fulfilling life.
Get the Right Amount of Sleep
Sleep is crucial to overall health, but very few people get healthy hours of sleep every night. Adults should get about 7-8 hours of sleep to fully and properly function at their best. When getting enough sleep, people will feel more energized and enthusiastic and have a better disposition. They will be able to make better decisions and healthier choices throughout the day. They will also be able to better control their temper, have a good attitude, and be patient with others. The benefits of enough sleep are endless!
If rising around 7:00-7:30 a.m. each day, consider making it a goal to be in bed, with the lights off, between 10:00-11:00 p.m. Be sure to avoid staying up late on video games, computers, or phones; technology gives off a form of blue light that stimulates brain activity and makes it difficult to sleep. Proper exercise and helpful wake-up routines can also contribute to better sleep schedules (Barile). If there is difficulty falling asleep, consider drinking tart cherry juice or taking melatonin supplements (Barile).
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is becoming a popular part of meditation in modern culture. Mindfulness is defined as “intentionally [focusing] our attention on our sensory experience as it unfolds moment by moment” (Anonymous). Mindfulness is not a religious practice; rather, it is being conscious of the way one’s body, breathing, and ability to think feels in the present moment (Anonymous). Practicing mindfulness is proven to reduce stress, boost immunity, sharpen focus, regulate emotions, and encourage the growth of compassion toward self and others (Anonymous).
While mindfulness can be practiced at any time, make it a goal to practice mindfulness and focus on the body and mind’s well-being when waking in the morning or going to sleep at night. Those who practice yoga can easily incorporate mindfulness as part of their daily meditation routine. Several instructional videos and practical listening guides exist as YouTube videos and podcasts. One could also download a mindfulness app that directs listeners in a calming routine.
Get Help for Mental Wellbeing
Teachers are often afraid to speak out about the mental strains of teaching for fear of being demonized or losing their jobs. However, maintaining mental health is important for all individuals, including teachers. Being mentally healthy is important in the happiness of individuals and contributes heavily to one’s physical health, eating habits, and exercise tendencies (Boudreau).
Educators suffering from career-related depression or anxiety, or those who feel drained to their breaking point, should seek help or guidance from a therapist, coach, or counselor. Teachers should not be afraid to voice their concerns or struggles about teaching or about listening to other teachers and what they have to say (Boudreau). Remembering to spend time pursuing personal interests, eating properly, exercising regularly, and participating in activities outside of one’s career are important steps in developing and maintaining personal mental health. When teachers are mentally healthy, they are happy; when teachers are happy, they can change the world.
If teachers would like to schedule sessions with certified, experienced life coaches, they can book an appointment with a success strategist at https://coach.edguru.co/ .
Eat Healthily
Food consumption is an important part of staying healthy. Food provides energy and nutrients that are essential in maintaining weight, performing day-to-day functions, and feeling healthy. Eating the right foods can also prevent further health complications down the road and decrease the chances of experiencing a potential hereditary disease (Barile).
Teachers should make sure they have a varied diet that consists of 50% vegetables and fruits. Proper intake of proteins (beans, meats, nuts, seeds) and grains (wheat, rice, oats) is also important. Make a goal to increase vegetable and fruit intake while limiting sugary or processed foods. When hungry, snack on something healthy. Be sure to drink at least 8 cups of water a day to stay well-hydrated. Consider making a weekly meal-plan to avoid compulsively buying junk food or snacks, focusing on creating a practical, nutritious dietary schedule (Barile).
Exercise
Exercise is another component of a healthy lifestyle. People often consider workouts to be time-consuming, expensive, and difficult. However, exercise doesn’t have to be done at the gym and doesn’t have to be time-consuming. Just 30 minutes of exercise each day is proven to reduce the risk of certain diseases, contribute to easy weight loss, and quickly promote the production of chemicals in the brain that contribute to happiness.
Teachers should make an organized goal to set aside time each day for a jog, walk, or exercise session. Consider enrolling in an aerobics, ballet, or yoga class. Bike riding, running with friends, training for a marathon, and participating in sports and martial arts are great ways to stay active, make social connections, and relieve stress.
While there are many ways to start living a healthy lifestyle, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, being aware of mental health, eating healthily, and exercising regularly are practical ways to start. Teachers should focus on making gradual, organized steps toward progression and be sure to work with what their bodies need. In time, teachers will experience the mood-lifting and health-promoting benefits that accompany a healthy lifestyle.
For more lifestyle tips and teaching ideas, subscribe to the EdGuru Edge blog at https://blog.edguru.co/.
References
Barile, Nancy. Hey Teach! “7 Steps to Take if You Want to Be a Healthy Teacher,”https://www.wg
u.edu/heyteach/article/7-steps-to-take-if-you-want-to-be-a-healthy-teacher1806.html. Accessed July 6, 2020.
Anonymous. The Mindful Teacher Foundation. “About Mindfulness,” https://www.mindfulteacher.
org/mindfulness. Accessed July 6, 2020.
Boudreau, Emily. Usable Knowledge. “Safeguarding the Mental Health of Teachers,” https://w
ww.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/19/12/safeguarding-mental-health-teachers. December 3, 2019.
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