Self-Care
Healthy employees are a critical component of a thriving school.
Staff in a healthy workplace are happier, more satisfied with their jobs, and perform better. They are absent fewer days and more likely to stay in their positions. Healthy employees provide the continuity and stability that’s essential for educational success.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Self-Care Resources for Educators and Other Helping Professionals — Mindful Teachers
Calm Breathe Bubble | Breathing Exercise
Morning Guided Meditation for Teachers
6 Mindfulness Exercises You Can Try Today
45 Simple Self-Care Practices for a Healthy Mind, Body & Soul
10+ Incredible Free Guided Meditation Sites & Apps (Updated 2022)
Apps
Physical Self-Care
Yoga For Teachers | Yoga With Adriene
Mindful Movement to Nourish Your Spine
Mindful Movement to Ease into Sleep
17 YouTube Yoga Channels We Recommend for Free Yoga Videos
Happiness, Laughter, and Humor
Babies laugh over 400 times a day, adults take that number down to a paltry 15 times a day.
Laughter, According to the Mayo Clinic:
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Enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and causes your brain to release positive neurochecmicals such as dopamine and endorphins
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Decreases your stress response
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Decreases inflammation
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Soothes tension by stimulating circulation and muscle relaxation (which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress)
Bring laughter into your meetings. Begin your weekly team meetings with a funny YouTube video or silly quote. Laughing as a group creates camaraderie and bonding. Appoint an employee of the month to find something appropriate and loosen things up with a good laugh. Relaxed minds produce better results.
Videos (Humor)
Other staff wellness ideas for Social Emotional wellness: after-school walk ‘n talks, hikes, fitness circuits, FAC’s, support buddies, potlucks, etc.
Design an environment that promotes creativity. Line a wall with a huge white board or paint it with chalkboard paint. Encourage doodling and the sharing of funny quotes or pictures. Doodling enhances creativity so use a wall that’s accessible during meetings. An alternative to a dedicated wall is to provide construction paper and crayons at each meeting. These are good childhood reminders that bring the fun side out of anyone. Source: Inc. Magazine
Give each staff member a small can of playdoh. Each month decide on a theme (or object). Staff create their masterpiece which are voted on at monthly staff meetings.
"Adults need to have FUN so children will want to grow up."
Erica Bauermeister
Inspirational and Self-Care Videos
Isabel, pet portraits | WestJet Above and Beyond Stories
The Time You Have (In JellyBeans)
Matt Cutts: Try something new for 30 days | TED Talk
Life Vest Inside - Kindness Boomerang - "One Day"
Getting stuck in the negatives (and how to get unstuck) | Alison Ledgerwood | TEDxUCDavis
The Power of belief -- mindset and success | Eduardo Briceno | TEDxManhattanBeach
Laura Vanderkam: How to gain control of your free time | TED Talk
The happy secret to better work - Shawn Achor | TED-Ed
How to make stress your friend | Kelly McGonigal
How to practice emotional first aid | Guy Winch
The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown
Kindness
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation | RAKtivists®
2020-21 Certified Kind Classroom Challenge
Gratitude
Lesson Plan: What is Gratitude? | Heart-Mind Online
Book Study Ideas for Staff
Self-Care Articles
How Do We Teach and Have a Healthy Life?
12 Ways Teachers Can Build Their Own Resilience | Cult of Pedagogy
Social-Emotional Learning Starts with Adults
Onward – Cultivating Emotional Resilience
Health and wellness information from websites and other sources, and notices regarding events or opportunities offered in the community are provided as information only. Thompson School District makes no warranty, express or implied regarding the information, event or opportunity and assumes no responsibility or liability for loss, cost, damage, injury, claims and causes of action whatsoever, arising out of or related to providing this information.