Make Wellness Your Superpower

This is an ongoing series on The Worthy Educators’ Principles of Educator Agency and Efficacy and their implementation in our efforts to transform the profession. This piece addresses the non-negotiable right of principle , Wellness: prioritizing our health and well-being over the endless demands of the institutional status quo. See the accompanying infographic below and share this resource with colleagues. We invite educators everywhere to join us in this important work!

Watch the video accompaniment to this blog post!

There has never been a more demanding time to be an education professional. Everyone wears multiple hats and the expectations for meeting standards and benchmarks is exhausting. Staffing shortages and dwindling resources only put more strain on those who remain committed to the work, and the polarization of stakeholders in deciding public education priorities has ratcheted up stress levels as we try to keep our focus on what is best for the children we serve. For these reasons, we must prioritize our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellness by mindfully and intentionally practicing self-care as an important part of our busy daily schedules. 

Incorporating these twelve strategies into our lives is important if we hope to enjoy long-lasting, successful careers and even longer, happy, healthy lives:

Prioritize: rank your most important tasks and focus on those first, delegating and eliminating less critical things. 

Enforce Boundaries: demonstrating your access and availability to colleagues, family and friends based on your needs. 

Plan: create realistic timelines that reflect the rhythm of your life, with dedicated slots for work, play and quiet time. 

Schedule: allocating blocks of time based on your predetermined boundaries, priorities and planning.

Rest: create a consistent sleep schedule with a relaxing bedtime routine without electronic devices for at least an hour before you go to sleep. 

Eat: consume a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, drink plenty of water and choose healthy snacks to avoid energy crashes.

Recreation: stay active, even if it's just a short walk or a quick workout and simple stretching exercises at your desk, and participate in activities that bring you joy.

Avoid Harmful Habits: prevent yourself from starting compulsive habits that undermine your wellbeing, like smoking and excessive drinking, eating and gambling.

Manage Stress: practice mindfulness and make time for reflection to reduce stress and improve focus, and take regular breaks to disconnect from work and recharge. 

Medical Maintenance: get regular and annual checkups and screenings, follow your doctor's recommendations, and take proactive steps to stay healthy.

Seek Support: purposefully stay connected, talking to friends, family and colleagues and even a counseling professional when needed. 

Create Positive Workspaces: mindfully build open communication, teamwork, and a comfortable environment that's conducive for creativity and productivity. 

By incorporating these practices into your everyday routine, you build your capacity for a longer, happier, healthier life with the ability to leave a lasting legacy as a career educator.

The Worthy Educator offers group and individual Championing to support you in realizing your full potential and achieving your goals.

Learn more, view testimonials, and join us here.