Why self-care is important?

For the child who has just lost both her parents in the 11th grade and has sunken into the dark hole of depression, undeniable, teachers are a special group of superheroes. Unfortunately for a large cross section of educators and those we would go to great lengths to save a life, sometimes we are not willing to do the work to save ourselves. Why do so many educators believe that self-care is insignificant?

Sadly, too many educators feel that it is selfish to take care of themselves. They truly struggle with the decision of should I take another week of maternity leave? Rather than consider what will happen if my body breaks down now? they are more prone to thinking what will happen to my students if I do not show up? They contemplate the financial ramifications of taking time off but hardly ever the health benefits they could derive if they took the time to improve their health and well-being.

It is not surprising that thought leaders associate good health with simply going home to sleep. And while enough studies are out there which sings the praises of sleep, self-care does not only include taking time off to sleep. I have found listening to uplifting music and talks in the morning, going to the movies in the day, gardening, learning a new hobby, spending a few hours at the beach, taking a trip to a new country, walking the bridge or exercising, having a new dining experience are all self-care strategies.

Imagine you had a cup filled with orange juice. And you shared some of that juice with everyone who asked of you. Eventually, your cup would go empty. A wise teacher knows when to stop giving. And I do believe that our students need to be reminded of this important fact too! I teach them that no matter how little they have they can still give. A reciprocation of who gives and takes is an important part of the equation.

Of late I have learned that self-care is spending time with people who will as Oprah says, “fill your cup”. Caring for others while you care for yourself indeed is a balancing act and sometimes, we have to fight hard against the forces of culture and leadership to get it right. But please know teachers you are worthy and more than deserving of care.

According to Waterford.org, “Over 40% of teachers report feeling high stress.” Often this stress is associated with a lack of technological skill, behavioral challenges, or pressure that relate to standardized test results. The outcome of such stress can lead to poor health. This stress is compounded with all of the challenges brought on to the pandemic.

Some of those considerations are, should I take the vaccine? Which one of the vaccines should I take? What happens to me or my family if I should have an adverse reaction to the vaccine? My husband lost his job, and I am the only breadwinner in the house. How do I still help him to feel like a man now that he is not working? The stress level today is at an all-time high. So now more than ever self-care must not only be our priority but our mantra.

And how do we make self-care our mantra? Bahamian Playwright and producer, James Catlyn used to say, “We must laugh at we sef.” So, let’s take time out to share jokes, and make silly faces with the family. I personally love watching Tik-Tok because there is always a video there that just “cracks me up”! You can also, take small breaks to “slap up” or talk with friends. I especially like dancing so I dance every chance I get even if others laugh at me or seem to think it is not something I should be doing. Ellen Degeneres seem to be a big fan of it too. All in all, self-care is taking the time to do things that makes you feel good about yourself. And the better you feel about the “man in the mirror,” the more your family, colleagues, and students will enjoy the persons standing in front of them. academiamasters.org

August 23 2021