If I had a dollar for every time someone has said we are living in “unprecedented” times, I could retire. Today. And so could you.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the US last spring, every week seems to bring something new. Something we didn’t expect. In other ways, what we are experiencing is beginning to seem normal. It doesn’t feel odd anymore to see people wearing masks in public or sanitizing everything they touch.
One consequence of all the “new” becoming “normal” is the negative way it has affected people. For many, life just feels heavier now than it did last fall. If that is you, then I want to ask…
How are you taking care of yourself?
We all know in our heads that we have to care for ourselves in order to take care of others, but we don’t always put this into practice. What is true for you and your family is also true for your students. Whether you are teaching fully remote, fully in-person, or some combination of both, your students need you. You can’t give your best to them if you are not caring for yourself well.
I looked through Dear Dr. Mooney articles about this subject from the past year and compiled several worth reading again. Each one touches on a different area in which you might need to take better care of yourself. Take a look…
Eat well
Find a new friend or reconnect with an old one
Remember your limits
Deal with your emotions
Find creative ways to relieve stress
If you have not taken the best care of yourself recently, today is a great day to start. Choose one thing to do for yourself today. Your future self will thank you!
If you have focused on taking good care of yourself for the past few months, yay for you! Is there a teacher around you that could use some support in this area? How could you help?
