We know how working in early childcare can be rewarding yet also very challenging at the same time. With changing health guidelines, staffing shortages, and huge responsibilities, managing your stress and prioritizing your mental health is critical. Taking care of yourself allows you to take better care of your students and families!
Here are 25 ways you can prioritize your mental health:
Consider what helps you cope with stress and lifts your mood, whether it’s playing with your children, talking with friends, taking care of your plants, or reading a book. Allow yourself some time to unwind, especially during your breaks or after work.
Make a list of your tasks and activities for the day or week as soon as possible. It will help you better plan your time, get the right materials and reduce the stress of having too many unplanned activities.
Setting goals is an excellent way to gain focus, direction, and motivation. So make an effort to ensure that all of your objectives are attainable, measurable, and have a clear endpoint.
Talking over issues at work with a colleague or manager may help them understand your situation and offer support to help you work through a specific work challenge.
Develop a strong professional learning network that extends inside and outside your daycare or preschool.
Teaching can be an emotionally draining job with a variety of challenges. Hence create structures that allow you to concentrate on solutions rather than problems.
When you’re good at something and constantly improving, it boosts your self-esteem and confidence which is beneficial to your mental health.
An educator’s job never truly ends with activity plans, messages from parents and classroom inspections. However, setting healthy work boundaries allows you to devote more time to activities that relieve stress and make you feel good.
When chores are disorganized, stress levels rise. Find the most effective ways that work for you to keep your life in order, whether it involves spreadsheets, managing finances, keeping your workplace in order, or creating schedules.
Being available all the time can leave you stressed about work. Therefore, it is critical to establish a ‘switch-off’ time for yourself. Make it clear to your students and their families that you will be unavailable but will contact them as soon as your work week resumes.
Form an educator support group that can meet regularly to share stories, struggles, and ideas as it can help to prevent and reduce feelings of burnout.
A good night’s sleep can boost productivity during the day, allowing you to work smarter rather than harder.
Consider simple ways to incorporate gratitude and kindness into your daily routine.
Self-care should be on your “to-do” list. So be honest about the things that aren’t necessary and move them lower on your list to make room for self-care.
When you’re already overburdened with work, and someone assigns you additional tasks, be polite and say “no.”
Use a teaching strategy so that you and your students enjoy the difference you’re making in their lives.
Avoiding things that are ‘toxic,’ such as people, departments, committees, and events while developing strategies to deal with challenging teaching situations.
Improve your time management skills by learning ways to be more productive and accomplish more in less time.
A well-balanced diet gives your body (including your brain) the nutrients it requires to function properly. Also, remember to drink plenty of water!
Whether a stroll through a park or a hike in the woods, spending time in nature can boost energy, reduce depression, and improve overall well-being.
Exercise releases endorphins, which give your brain a boost of happiness.
Consider simple ways to reward yourself whenever you achieve a goal, such as going for a walk in nature, cooking your favourite meal, or indulging in a massage.
Spending time with your pet reduces the stress hormone cortisol and increases oxytocin, which promotes feelings of happiness.
Smiling may not be natural when stressed, but it can help you relax and lower your heart rate.
If you need mental health support (in the form of therapy or medication), get it. Don’t wait until you’re truly unhappy.
KinderPass is a comprehensive solution for educators to streamline their daily childcare tasks. It is an efficient tool that helps them save time on daily tasks like creating and sending daily sheets, keeping attendance, and communicating with families with only a few taps. Check out KinderPass to learn how it can help you save time, reduce stress, and prioritize your mental health.
