Self Care Extras

Follow what other high stress professions do...

As a profession, doctors recognize the need for self care in addressing the high stress level of their jobs. Self care includes "any intentional actions you take to care for your physical, mental and emotional health."  As educators we need to take care of ourselves, and teachers can learn from doctors in working in a stressful occupation.

From the University of British Columbia Faculty Medicine:
There are many components to a self-care practice. Look at the different effective strategies to maintain self-care below and try choosing one from each area that you will actively work to improve.

Physical self-care:
Eat regularly (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Get regular medical care for prevention
Get massages
Dance, swim, walk, run, play sports, sing, or do some other physical activity that is fun for you
Take vacations
Wear clothes you like
Get enough sleep
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Emotional self-care:
Spend time with others whose company you enjoy
Stay in contact with important people in your life
Give yourself affirmations, praise yourself
Allow yourself to cry
Play with children
Identify comforting activities, objects, people, relationships, places and seek them out

Psychological self-care:
​Make time for self-reflection
Write in a journal
Read literature that is unrelated to work
Engage your intelligence in a new area, e.g.: go to an art museum, history exhibit, sports event, theatre
Practice receiving from others
Notice your inner experiences – listen to your thoughts, judgments, beliefs, attitudes and feelings
Say “no” to extra responsibilities sometimes

Spiritual self-care:
Spend time in nature
Find a spiritual connection or community
Cherish your optimism and hope
Be aware of non material aspects of life
Be open to not knowing
Meditate
Pray
Sing
Take in inspirational content (literature, talks, etc.)