Teacher Mindfulness Leads to Wellness

By Kathleen Palmieri

As a veteran educator, I have prepared for many new school years. There’s the excitement of a fresh start – planning out the classroom arrangement, reading over the roster of students and building the energy and creativity to welcome students to a wonderful new school experience.

However, let’s face it, that old saying is true: “there is no tired like teacher tired.”

Now that we are into the flow of a new school year, it’s extremely important to put some boundaries in place and incorporate teacher wellness.

Listen, I realize I am preaching to the choir when it comes to all the physical and mental tasks in a school year. But I’ve also come to realize there is an emotional side to the incredible work educators do that often goes unnoticed or under-acknowledged.

Positive Collaboration

Creating a welcoming and inspiring learning environment is crucial for fostering camaraderie and kindness. This is important not only for students but also for educators who must model the behaviors we expect from them.

Regardless of whether you’re a veteran or in your first year, it’s important to value what each member contributes to the team. Veteran teachers offer a wealth of practical knowledge that new teachers might not find in textbooks, while first-year teachers often bring fresh perspectives and the latest technology that can enhance the classroom.

Often, when educators share ideas, the perception that “they’re just trying to tell me what to do” can overshadow the genuine exchange of knowledge, resources, and advice. Additionally, age differences can sometimes lead to cliques among veteran educators or new teachers that can exclude others.

These behaviors are counterproductive and emotionally draining for those being excluded, and hinder the creation of a creative and inspiring educational environment. While you don’t need to become best friends with your colleagues, respect and kindness should be fundamental to your working relationships.

Taking time to be healthy

Setting boundaries with your time is incredibly important to your emotional health. Teaching is a profession that is not a 9 to 5 job. New ideas and different ways to address challenges are always running through our minds. However, it is extremely important for educators to set limits for our physical time in the school. As a teacher I have been guilty of going in way too early and staying way too late, only to do more planning/work at home. Let’s face it – this is not healthy and this practice does nothing but lead one down the path to burnout.

Be mindful of your time; even set a timer for your “must leave” moment. While being part of the school community is great, you don’t have to be part of every committee or after-school activity. Use your planning time at school to actually plan, or use this time to meet with your team. That is what planning time is for – planning! Promise yourself not to use your lunch time for work. Educators must be mindful of their own needs during this brief downtime – not cram another planning period into their day.

As an educator it is essential to remember that you have a personal life and need time with family and friends. Set aside (and guard) “life” time to enjoy those you love and those who make you smile and laugh. This is so important to your mindset and emotional health.

Take time to relax and give yourself moments of self-care. This can include something as simple as a warm bath with a good book, a walk on a beautiful day, or just peace and quiet as you allow positive reflections to comfort you. It is not selfish to have “me” time, and it is crucial to realize that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help, teach, or inspire others.

Embracing mindfulness

Mindfulness is more than just a trend; it represents a crucial state of being essential for both emotional and physical well-being. When someone feels emotionally overwhelmed or defeated, it impacts their overall health and even the well-being of others.

For educators, wellness extends beyond physical self-care; it also involves self-awareness, emotional support, respect, and kindness. Psychology Today online offers 6 Research-Based Self-Care Tips for more on this topic.

My mantra is, “Kindness counts. Pass it on!” I encourage you to embrace this mantra or devise one of your own. By giving ourselves the self-care, kindness, and time we deserve, we might inspire others to follow our example.

Kathleen Palmieri is a proud, renewed National Board Certified Teacher (Generalist/Middle Childhood) and NBCT Professional Learning facilitator. She is a fifth grade educator in upstate New York who reviews and writes regularly for MiddleWeb. With a passion for literacy and learning in the classroom, she participates in various writing workshops, curriculum writing endeavors, and math presentations. As a lifelong learner, she is an avid reader and researcher of educational practices and techniques. Collaborating with colleagues and globally on X-Twitter https://twitter.com/Kathie_Palmieri and expanding her education adventures at www.kathleenpalmieri.com are ongoing practices.

Feature image by hayyans from Pixabay