Kicking off the new school year is exciting! It’s like January 1 for so many teachers and students, the start of a brand new year! In the business and activity during August and September, it is easy to get caught up in helping others, and we lose sight of taking care of ourselves. If we are not careful, it is easy to slide right down that slippery slope of putting the needs of others before our own and heading right into the pit of burnout. To be proactive with your self-care this year, you must create a plan to prioritize yourself. As the flight attendant says, “You need to put your oxygen mask on first before you can help others.”
How do you want to feel this year? Are you energized, vibrant? After coming up with your word, take it a step further; what is the vision accompanying this word? For example, I want to have the energy to do activities with friends after work or wake up feeling refreshed and do a yoga class each morning.
Create your schedule, how we spend our time is a choice! Create a time allowance; how many hours each week will you spend in the classroom, with friends and family, moving your body, doing activities you love? Make a list of essential items and “must dos” each week, and how many hours you will spend doing them. Create appointments on your calendar to be sure they are prioritized and take place. For example, if I don’t schedule time for an end-of-the-day walk or dinner with my best friend each month, work and chores take over, leaving the activities I enjoy a faint memory.
