Mental health is something that teachers often take for granted, focusing on supporting their students over their own mental health. However, it's important to remember that teachers' mental health is just as important as their physical wellbeing. In fact, there are many ways in which you can safeguard your mental health and protect yourself from becoming overwhelmed by the pressures of being a teacher.
A teacher's mental health is just as important as their physical health.
As a teacher, your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
It can be hard to admit when you have been affected emotionally, but so important to remember that you are human! In all industries and walks of life we come across negativity and moments where we need to pause, and teaching is no different. Ignored stress will impact not only your day-to-day life but also the way that you interact with students and other staff members in your classroom environment. If left unchecked over time, poor mental health can lead to burnout and even leave teachers unable to perform their duties effectively at all; which can have lasting effects on students' learning experiences too!
Make sure you have strategies for coping with stress.
If you’ve had a bad day, here are some key strategies to help clear your mind of stress and get back to the vocation you love.
Take regular breaks. It's easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day that you forget to take breaks, but this is essential for your mental health. Make sure your lunch break is not full of classroom related tasks, and focuses on giving you some time away.
Get enough sleep at night and try not to burn the candle at both ends by working late into the evening too often. Sleep deprivation can lead to irritability and low moods, which will make teaching difficult!
Eating healthily is a great way to help our bodies cope with stressful situations. Try not to skip meals because this can cause an increase in appetite later on when we're hungry which results in overeating/binge eating etc, leading again back down the path toward poor eating habits. Aim for 3 balanced meals per day plus snacks if needed.
Whilst these day to day strategies are great for maintaining a healthy mindset, there are also lots of other ways you can protect your mental health.
Communication is key.
If you're a teacher and have been feeling isolated or alone, it's time to reach out. Find a mentor, friend or colleague to talk to - the more people who know what you're going through and can offer support the better. Everyone has a story to tell, and finding others to confide in can automatically relieve stress.
Don’t forget, that at Gold Education Recruitment, we pride ourselves on offering a personal service that treats all of our clients and candidates with care and consideration. If you are one of our clients and need to talk about any mental health concerns you can always contact us during your placement.
You may also want to consider speaking with a therapist or coach who specialises in working with teachers and educational staff. The right person will be able to help you understand your mental health concerns fully so that they don't get in the way of your work anymore.
Knowing there is a listening ear available is often half the battle to helping your mental health as a teacher.
Teaching what you love and care passionately about.
Teaching is a vocation, not just a job. If you're passionate about your subject and want to share that with others then teaching may be right for you. However, it's important not to forget that teachers also need time for their own interests and hobbies outside of school. This can help keep you feeling refreshed so when it comes time for lesson planning or marking work, you have the energy required for these tasks.
Doing a job you love and care about can also mean that minor issues can mean a lot. It's worth remembering that you are only human, and sometimes things go wrong. There's nothing worse than beating yourself up over something minor like forgetting someone's name right? Please don’t be hard on yourself when things don’t go to plan or you make a mistake. Children learn by what they see, a lot more than what they are told, and so if they see you giving yourself a hard time over a mistake, you can create a classroom culture where mistakes are not accepted. Knowing you can make a mistake, learn from it and appreciate the humanness in mistake-making is a good, and useful lesson, for all.
Set boundaries
Setting boundaries is important for your mental health. You may be tempted to take on more than you can handle, but always consider the long-lasting impact it may have on you, your enjoyment of your job and, importantly, your mental health. If you're feeling overloaded or overwhelmed, ask yourself if there are any tasks that could be delegated to someone else. If there aren't any options for delegation available (and this isn't the case for most teachers), then consider saying no when asked to take on new responsibilities.
It's easy to feel guilty about saying no, especially when it comes from a boss or supervisor who has power over our careers, but remember: saying yes when we really want and need to say no, will only lead us down a path toward burnout and frustration; both of which can have negative effects on our physical and mental health.
Boundaries will also help you maintain a healthy work/life balance. You must remember that you are not a superhuman (although you do the job of a superhero!). You are a regular person who needs time for yourself and your family, like everyone else. This means that it is ok to say no to things that are not important in the long term, or even just not your favourite thing to do.
If you have a big project coming up at school, don't take on another one right before it starts! You need time for preparation and planning so that when the project begins (or ends), it runs smoothly without any problems or issues along the way. If there's something else coming up soon after this big project ends, then maybe consider taking on another one then--but only if it doesn't interfere too much with preparing for or completing those other responsibilities first!
Learn how to prioritise your own mental health as a teacher and find a way to 'switch off'
As a teacher, you are constantly working and interacting with people. Therefore, it is important that you learn how to prioritise your own mental health as a teacher and find a way to 'switch off' from work.
** TOP TIP **
A great way to make sure you have time for yourself is to specifically plan time each week/month for activities outside of school (such as going to the gym, park, etc) which help you to relax and unwind after a day at work. This allows you to return refreshed and ready for another day at school!
What next?
As a teacher, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. You need to make sure that you have strategies for coping with stress and that you're looking after yourself as well as your students.
Do you have tips on how to maintain a healthy mindset as a teacher? Let us know and we can add them into our social media posts for others to share and see.
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