How to Improve Your Mental Health as a Teacher

I don't know about you but I had no clue what I was getting into when I chose teaching as my profession. I literally thought I would be Miss Honey from Matilda. I would wear a cute dress every day, my students would be sweet and good listeners and I would change lives! I know...... I can hear you laughing at me from here.

While I know I changed lives as a teacher my picturesque vision of teaching was a joke. I've taught in schools where parents and admin bullied me into sacrificing my physical and mental health. I've had students with behavioral issues, attitude issues, physical needs beyond what I could provide and trauma I can't even imagine. I've worked well beyond my contact hours somehow thinking it would make me stand out as a dedicated, passionate, and devoted teacher. I could go on and on but I think you're getting the picture and I'm sure you are relating to my experiences.

To put it simply my mental health suffered severely as a teacher and I'd bet my dog that yours has too. So let's work on improving things, shall we?

Journaling

Journaling is my personal favorite self-care method. It's peaceful, quiet, and personal. A blank journal will do just fine but if you're like me you like organization and a little direction. I searched high and low for a teacher journal that would help me focus on my mental health with absolutely no luck. That's why I spent months creating a Teacher Mental Health Journal. It's designed with teacher needs in mind and offers prompts to help improve your mental health both in and out of the classroom. It's 40 weeks of reflection, self-care, affirmations, and mindfulness.

CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOURS

Meditation

When my therapist told me to practice meditation I scoffed. "Not that weird hocus pocus crap?" Well, I'm here to say I take back my scoff! Medication is LIFE-CHANGING! I love the app Insight Timer. I use it daily to pause and be still for just a few minutes every day. (I'm not sponsored or anything, I just love it!)

Therapy

Therapy to me was my saving grace. It was my starting point for digging myself out of the deep dark ditch I was in. I have learned so much from therapy over the years. It can be very hard to find a therapist that's a good fit but I so encourage you to keep trying. If access to therapy is tough for you here are a few helpful resources I have used in the past when getting started or changing therapists due to a move.

• Psychology Today- Great for finding a therapist

• Information on Types of Mental Health Professionals

• 988- Suicide Hotline

Happy Teaching!

Lindsey is a former elementary teacher with a passion for education. She loves supporting teachers and students with resources that make an impact on the lives of students!

Shop my TPT Store