Teacher Self-Care 101

Teacher burnout is a societal issue, not just an individual one. As such, extensive change is needed to protect the mental well-being of those shaping our society’s next generation. When combined into a two-pronged approach, both individual-facing interventions and organizational-level changes can make a substantial difference in reducing educator burnout. The activities that make up these individual based doings range from small- to large-scale habits, such as taking a walk after work to help with the physical aspects of carrying stress or preparing for work by practicing mindfulness meditation. While many may dismiss these actions as “superficial,” they can accumulate to something effectual over time and positively impact a teacher’s life and performance. In today’s hectic climate and with so much of a teacher’s energy focused on others, self-care has become vital in maintaining good mental health. At the organizational level, teacher-directed interventions are successful in lifting morale and reducing the high instances of turnover. A few methods institutes can turn to for the sake of their teachers include increased pay, free counseling programs, mindfulness training, peer mentorship and connected support learning systems. For more information on how both teachers and their schools can do more in the name of self-care, see the resource supported alongside this post.