Teachers have long been viewed as Superheroes for the support, compassion and dedication they provide to students and communities. Like many superheroes, focusing on other people’s needs is natural, but attending to our own needs through self-care requires planning. Here are some tips for the HERO to Heal Thy Self:
H-Help
Asking for help is not always natural for us as educators. Day-to-day we are expected to have the answer key. Forgive yourself for not having all the answers during this unique time. Identify resources that are available to provide answers and guidance and be willing to ask for help. This is a great opportunity for us to model the skill of Asking for Help to our students and let them know that if we don’t have the answer, we know who to ask.
While practicing accepting help for yourself, helping others is also a great way of self-care. People who help others get sick less often and live longer. Helping has also been shown to improve a person’s self-esteem, foster a rosier view of the world, decrease risky or problematic behaviors, and stave off depression. “Helping others takes the mind and emotions off the self, allowing the mind to move past anxieties and rumination,” said Stephen G. Post, PhD, director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University. “Even when helping others as only external action, our emotions over time tend to shift to joy and kindness, especially with good role models.”
E-Encourage
It is important to stay positive during difficult times to maintain well-being. Take time during the day to list the good things that have happened. Send encouraging messages to students and parents. Be intentional to engage in activities that bring you joy. Take breaks from social media and the news and focus on the positive things around you. When we are intentionally focusing on the positive things around us we are better prepared to encourage others.
R-Reflect
Reflect on your accomplishments of the day and identify your “ahas” and “uhohs”. This is a time of exploration and learning for all of us. Keeping a journal on what is working and things that are challenging can help us develop better processes and plans to improve learning from a distance. This is a great opportunity for us to share lessons learned and develop new tools. Forgive yourself when things don’t go as planned, share your experiences with others, and reconcile when necessary. Being reflective throughout this situation will create resiliency and hope to get through tomorrow.
O-Overcome
We all know that superheroes always come out on top in the end. They overcome all obstacles no matter the hurdles or poor odds. Our Teacher Heroes will also overcome this pandemic and come out stronger. Apply this HERO approach for self-care and continue to be the hero that students and families need.
Click here to download our Self-Care Idea Guide
If you have additional questions, please ask one of our experts!
