• Home
  • About Me
  • Work with Me
  • Advertising for Bloggers
  • Become A Subscriber
  • Freebie Library
  • Disclaimer and Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Main Categories
    • My Personal Journey
    • Minimalism
    • Self Care
    • Mental Health
    • Parenting
    • Teaching
    • Pregnancy/Babies
    • Books/Reading
    • Crochet
  • Gumroad
Tidbits of Care

Lifestyle blog for self care, mental health and personal growth

Teaching  /  January 27, 2021

How To Improve Teachers Mental Health: Teachers Need Mental Health Days

Teachers are a breed of martyrs, and they, like everyone else rarely think about how to improve the mental health of teachers. They have a ton of responsibilities outside of teaching and grading. Some are self imposed like ensuring their class is super cute and welcoming for kids, others are are just part of the job like attending staff meetings, heading up committees, coaching and others still feel like they aren’t part of the job, but who else is going to do it? And so, teachers are often working through lunch breaks, staying after school or arriving early all to stay on top on the endless pile of work that is teaching.

And hey, every job is like this. There are things no one signed up for but we have to do as part of our job. No one likes it, but we do it right? But in teaching, there is an odd mindset that no one else can do it like me. I’ve known teachers who don’t take sick days even when truly ill because it’s just too much work to make supply plans. There’s just “too much to tell the supply” and while a part of me understands me this, there’s another part that thinks, so the day is a bit of a write off. So what? Are the students really going to fall behind because you weren’t there for one day? Is that big of a deal if they didn’t sort living things in a Venn diagram and realized that hey, frogs can live on land and in water? Can’t that be done tomorrow? No wonder by Christmas the teacher memes all over Facebook portray teachers with frazzled hair sticking up in all directions, looking a bit like Bellatrix Le Strange and chugging too large to hold glasses of wine.

So today I want to assure teachers everywhere that it’s okay to take care of you. To practice self care. To take a mental health day. Really, it is. I promise you.

Everyone Deserves a Mental Health Day

How to improve teachers mental health is the same as how we improve health of everyone else. By practicing self care—and that includes taking a mental health day! I am here today to remind you that we are all human beings. Imperfect, frail, and that we all need a break. We all need and deserve a mental health day. It’s totally fine, and the days of feeling guilty about it need to be long behind us. I think as a society we are starting to see that life is demanding. Like, seriously demanding. Maybe more demanding than it’s ever been and that it takes it toll. And the fall out can be huge. Taking a day off to unplug from work, from social media, from responsibilities is at times, necessary, in order to keep going. Life sometimes feels like a hamster wheel, but hamsters get off that wheel from time to time, and we should too. We deserve to take care of our emotional well being. Have a day to just sleep in, read a book, not look at emails or chat with co-workers about…well, work. We deserve a day that is all about us. What we love to do, what we need to do. It recharges our batteries, uplifts our spirits and keeps us going. No matter what your job is, what your responsibilities are, you deserve that mental health day. Putting yourself first is not selfish when it’s balanced with the rest of your life. This is how to improve teachers mental health, by allowing them those much needed days—and teachers need to allow themselves those days too.

self care photo

Teaching is Emotionally and Physically Draining

I had no idea when I became a teacher how emotionally or physically draining teaching would be. Like, no idea. Being around little kids is demanding–each of them wants your attention this instant for everything. From help with a math question to tying their shoe, you have twenty plus little people who want you now. I’ve had as many as four students talking to me at once and I had no idea what any of them wanted. So, I patiently made them wait their turns and tried to solve the problems. And sure, that’s part of working with kids. Because guess what? Even as they older, they are just as demanding, the demands are just different one. But all of this cuts into teaching and learning time. You are always watching the clock and before you know it, your entire social studies period is over and all you’ve done is read the page from the text book. You haven’t even started the activity page or created that anchor chart. Your head hurts, your ready to tell the kids that it doesn’t matter whose blue crayon is it, and you drag yourself home feeling like a wet rag. And that’s just a small taste of the exhaustion that comes with teaching.

Sometimes you have this on top of students with diverse needs who can’t tell you what they want, or what they need and that’s a whole other level of tired, a whole other way of teaching. And that is what often leaves me in tears, being torn between my class and my kids with diverse needs who need me so much more, but knowing that I have to juggle both. That’s what gets my anxiety heightened, makes my heart pound and my breath come short. Anyone with a job this emotionally draining needs their mental health days, plain and simple.

mental health day for teachers photo

Related Post: 6 Easy Self Care Tips for Stressed Teachers

Putting Off Mental Health Days Can Lead to Burn Out

If you are feeling stressed, anxious, or are having trouble focusing, you definitely need a mental health day. Putting this off can lead to total burn out as the stress and anxiety increase and began to drain your body physically. Your life is busy–you have work, family obligations, errands and chores and these things can all quickly and almost permanently take you away from the things you love to do, and enjoy doing, the things that relax you and reduce your stress. The more you give to these obligations, the less you give to yourself, the more stress and burn out you’ll experience. This true of everyone, and we teachers are no different. How to improve the mental health of teachers—acknowledge we need those days because at times we think that we have to be on all the time because our job is on all the time. Every moment you’re in front of the class, or working with a group of kids, even when you’re out on recess duty, you are on like the Engerizer Bunny that just keeps going and going. Look that one up on Google if you have no idea what I’m talking about *wink* But unlike that bunny, you don’t run on batteries. Your batteries run out, and need recharging and taking a mental health to indulge in things you enjoy you doing is recharging those batteries.

And if you are still not convinced…consider that

Your Class will Fine without you, Really

I get it. It’s your class. These are your kids. You know them best, they respond best to you and you have a plan for every unit you are teaching. Taking a day off feels like you’re upending all of that, but honestly your class will be fine without you. Even if the supply teacher is totally inept, you can always pick up the pieces of the lesson later and move on. It’s not the end of the world. But you might not be fine without that day off! You don’t want to give yourself pneumonia do you, just because you refused to stay home and rest? Or have a nervous breakdown because you are exhausted from planning, writing report cards, parent teacher interview night, the special education meeting for the new student you who just joined your class and coaching for volleyball? Does it sound worth it? Your class will be fine without you. Honestly.

Here are some tips and suggestions to help you in your journey towards improving your mental health and practicing self care.

Teachers, share your thoughts about how to improve teachers mental health in the comments section. I truly want to advocate for us as I know the challenges we all face.

Related posts:

6 Easy Self Care Tips for Stressed Teachers in 2021
Funny and Strange Things Students Have Said to Me
Amazing Gratitude Journalling For Teachers

Tags:

  • happiness
  • ,
  • mental health
  • ,
  • self care
  • ,
  • stress
  • ,
  • teachers
  • ,
  • wellness

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn
  • Pocket

Post navigation

Ill with My Frightening Condition, OTC Deficiency
How to be Alone, but not Feel Lonely

Meet the Blogger

Hi! I'm Giulia
I write a lifestyle blog that seeks to inspire others to begin to their own journey into self care, one tidbit at a time. I am passionate about sharing my own journey from the last decade, and what I've learned along the way. I love chips and dip and Tudor ficiton.

Follow Me

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry
  • Etsy
  • Goodreads
Buy my product

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Translate

Topic Bits

I’m Looking For…

Let's Connect: Instagram

Today has been a wonderful, quiet day—after all the cleaning was done that is. I cherish quiet days. It’s nice to just melt into them and enjoy the sense of peace that comes with them. I love to read, or crochet on quiet days, or watch the baby as he plays. Who else loves quiet days? #tidbitsofcare #peacefulday #selfcaresunday🌸 #quietdayathome #lifestyleblogger #blog #selfcareblog #timetoreflect🙏
I really want to see green things and flowers again. We had a mild winter until March hit, then snow and wind and rain. I know it’ll be a while till I see green and springs blooms, but who says I can’t indulge in spring like things? Or delight in the longer days? It’s spring in my mind today. When life gets too blah, your imagination can really lift your spirits! Do you imagine warmer days, upcoming vacations or yummy dinners? #tidbitsofcare #selfcareblog #bloggerlife #springiscoming #spring2023☀️ #springtime🌸 #lifestyleblogger
Yesterday I ran errands and did some housework but I also got on me time and got my nails done. I’ve been doing more light, neutral shades lately. They just feel more me and more elegant. But if I’m in the mood, I splash into colour too! It’s all about just being myself. Because it’s okay to just be me ☺️ #tidbitsofcare #personalgrowth #selflove #selflovemoments #blogger #lifestyleblogging #bloggers #selfcareblog #bloggerlife #bloggerstyle
Life needs living. But each moment doesn’t have to be a blur. Take time to just be. It’s easier than you think! #tidbitsofcare #selfcareblog #personalgrowth #bloggers #blogging #blogs #bloggerlifesyle #bloggingcommunity #mindfulness #mindfulmonday #mindfulnessmoments
I try to live my best life everyday; be the best mama I can be, but also enjoy the little things, like these. What little things have you enjoyed lately? #tidbitsofcare #selfcareblog #lifestyleblog #bloggers #blogs #personalgrowth #selfcareispriority #selflove #selflovesaturday #bloggingcommunity #bloggerlife
Change is life, is living. #tidbitsofcare #personalgrowth #selfcarebloggers #selfcareispriority #blogggers #blogs #aspiringblog #selfcarepost #blogger #lifestyleblog

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe to get more content and access to our freebie library.

    We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
    Built with ConvertKit

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

    2 Comments

    • Ira says:
      January 29, 2021 at 1:04 am

      Love this post! Am not teacher. my mom is. had seen her distraught over these and emotionally drained as she was home which I figured from her commitment with the job and at home being mom. and now she is doing good! You’re right that everything needs a balance. Balancing your life, and your job. Thank you so much for this post! Bookmarked this post.
      Ira recently posted…HOW TO BUILD A SECOND BRAIN WITH BUJOMy Profile

      Reply
      • Giulia says:
        January 29, 2021 at 9:14 pm

        So glad this resonated with you! I often thinking teaching is a sadly misunderstood profession.

        Reply
    Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

    ConvertKit Form

    I’m Looking For…

    Like My Facebook Page

    Like My Facebook Page

    Tags

    anxiety baby blog blogging blogs books christmas crochet crystals fall food gifts goals gratitude happiness haunted health hobbies home intentional living journalling life lifestyle love mental health minimalism movies parenting personal growth pets poems pregnancy reading selfcare self care shopping stress teachers teaching travel wedding wellness worklife writing yarn

    Archives

    • March 2023
    • December 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    © Copyright Tidbits of Care by LyraThemes.com. All rights reserved.
    Cressida Pro by LyraThemes.com