How can you prioritize teacher wellness and mental health?

1 Recognize the signs of burnout

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by chronic stress and dissatisfaction with your work. Some common signs of burnout include feeling overwhelmed, drained, irritable, cynical, detached, or ineffective. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to acknowledge them and seek help from a professional or a trusted person. Ignoring burnout can lead to serious health problems and affect your performance and relationships.

2 Set healthy boundaries

Setting healthy boundaries means defining and communicating what you can and cannot do, what you need and expect, and what you are willing to accept and offer. Boundaries help you protect your time, energy, and well-being, as well as respect those of others. For example, you can set boundaries by saying no to extra tasks that are not essential or aligned with your goals, limiting your work hours and emails, delegating or sharing responsibilities, and asking for support when you need it.

3 Practice self-care

Self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity for your wellness and mental health. Self-care means engaging in activities that nourish your body, mind, and soul, such as eating well, sleeping enough, exercising, meditating, relaxing, having fun, expressing yourself, learning new things, or connecting with others. Self-care can help you reduce stress, boost your mood, improve your focus, and increase your resilience. Make self-care a regular part of your routine and find what works best for you.

4 Seek social support

Social support is the network of people who care about you, listen to you, help you, and encourage you. Social support can buffer the effects of stress, loneliness, and isolation, and provide you with emotional, practical, and informational resources. You can seek social support from your family, friends, colleagues, mentors, or other teachers who understand what you are going through. You can also join online or offline communities, groups, or forums where you can share your experiences, insights, and tips.

5 Cultivate a growth mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that you can learn, improve, and overcome challenges with effort, feedback, and strategies. A growth mindset can help you cope with the difficulties and uncertainties of teaching, as well as enhance your motivation, confidence, and creativity. To cultivate a growth mindset, you can adopt a positive and curious attitude, embrace challenges as opportunities, celebrate your progress and achievements, learn from your mistakes and feedback, and seek new ways to grow and develop.

6 Seek professional help

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may still struggle with your wellness and mental health. If you experience persistent or severe symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, it is advisable to seek professional help from a therapist, counselor, or coach. Professional help can offer you a safe and confidential space to explore your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and provide you with effective tools and strategies to cope and heal.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?