Mindful Monday: Self-Preservation

We're a month in, and things have gotten REAL!

 
I fear that as educators, both women and men alike, and many of us as mothers and wives, we tend to not validate our own feelings. We strap on the role of caretaker and are so focused on those around us, that we leave ourselves no space to feel all the feelings. And even worse, we don't leave time to process and deal with what we are going through/feeling. 

Teaching is no joke. Teaching during a pandemic is unheard of. And teaching this year, at times, feels even harder than last year, and we didn't even think that was possible. 

It's ridiculous that we've normalized, accepted and are even praised at times for running ourselves ragged and into the ground. 

This is not one more self-care pitch. It's just the opposite, it's self-preservation. 

Instead of thinking of self-care as something to be done, as one more thing on your to-do list, I would implore you to rethink it as a way of life. Rethink how you live your life and where you put yourself on your list of priorities. If it's not at the top, then we are doing it all wrong. If we don't take care of ourselves, who will? 

Take a moment to read through the below graphic. Consider printing it out and reading through it at the end of each day. Validate what you are feeling and take the first step to putting yourself first. 

-Consider taking the long way home to give yourself an extra few minutes to process the day or decompress. 
-Put on your favorite playlist during your lunch break.
-Better yet, take an actual lunch break! 
-Find a friend to hold you accountable to putting yourself first. 

ANYTHING you do to invest in yourself, you won't regret!