Supporting Teacher Well-Being on National Stress Awareness Day
Image credit: https://acacia.edu/blog/9-simple-stress-management-techniques-for-teachers/
Teachers pour their hearts into everything they do, from lesson planning to student support, to all the unexpected tasks that come up day-to day. Even though being an educator is rewarding, it can also be very demanding. This National Stress Day (November 5th), is a good time to pause and reflect on what’s contributing to your stress, and consider how you can shift your routines and mindset so that you’re both effective in the classroom and healthy outside of it.
Why this matters for teachers:
-
Chronic stress affects well-being. Prolonged exposure to stress can have serious impacts on your physical and mental health. Some examples include heart disease, increased inflammation, digestive problems, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. This resource from Mayo Clinic can elaborate: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
-
Teaching is inherently stressful. Balancing curriculum, individual student needs, behavioral dynamics, administrative demands, and even parent communication can be emotionally and physically taxing.
-
You can’t pour from an empty cup. A healthy teacher makes a healthy classroom. Taking a day to focus on stress isn’t indulgent—it’s how you keep doing what you love without burning out.
What you can do to combat stress:
I’m sure you’ve heard it all when it comes to handling stress. Get better sleep, practice mindfulness, try breathing techniques, etc. But I thought I would share what actually works for me when I am having a long day of looking at course content and editing:
-Going for a lunchtime walk. I love to listen to a funny podcast while walking my dog around the neighborhood. It’s the perfect midday reset.
My dog, Miles, on one of our walks.
-Reading a good book. Right now, I am into mystery books to match the fall vibe.
-Cleaning. It might sound crazy, but when I am extremely stressed out, I will deep-clean my house. Something about the routine makes me feel at peace.
-Prioritize tasks. When things get overwhelming, I will take a break and make a list of all the things that need to get done today. It makes work and life much more manageable, and it feels great to be able to check things off the list as the day goes by!
As a teacher, it is important to plan for long-term resilience to avoid burnout. Here are some ways you can achieve that:
-
Create a supportive classroom environment by incorporating routines to reduce chaos. This blog includes tips on creating a calm classroom: https://www.writingmindset.org/blog/no-classroom-chaos
-
Try taking a class for professional development. This mindfulness course from TCL offers great tips for teachers and students to manage stress: https://www.connectinglink.com/courses/mindfulness-in-the-21st-century-classroom
-
If possible, build a clear boundary between work and home with a short transition ritual to help your brain shift out of “teaching mode.” Listening to music in the car on your way home or disconnecting from electronics are great ways to reset your brain after a tough day.
You chose this job because you care and you know how much impact teachers have. On National Stress Awareness Day, take a moment for yourself, because teaching well does not mean burning out. Here’s to a less-stressed, more sustainable year ahead.