Teach Middle East Magazine Apr - Jun 2020 Issue 3 Volume 7 - Page 53

Wellbeing
of the loss of income will be felt for
some time to come. It, therefore,
means that teachers will need help
in restructuring their finances at this
time. So, when I ask how you are
doing. I also want you to think about
how you are doing financially.
Strategies to help improve
your wellbeing during
COVID-19 and beyond
These strategies are things that I
personally try to do as much as
possible to improve my wellbeing.
I hope you will try to put as many of
them in practice as you can.
Accept your emotions
Teachers are known to be strong. We
take most things with a smile and a
broad shoulder. The fact is we are still
human, and if we continually deny
our emotions, we may cause more
damage to ourselves. If you feel like
crying, cry. Sometimes all you need is
a good cry to make you feel better. If
you feel lonely or lost, admit it and find
ways to improve the way that you are
feeling.
off the sofa and do some exercise, but
you simply have to. There is a plethora
of free work out videos on YouTube.
Find one that you like and dedicate at
least 30 minutes a day to exercising.
If you have stairs in your home or
building, as long as it is safe to do so,
use them as a part of your workout.
Climbing the stairs for at least 15
minutes will get your heart pumping.
Pilates and yoga are also good.
Be Present
Paying more attention to the present
moment can improve your mental
wellbeing. This includes your thoughts
and feelings, your body and the world
around you.
Some people call this awareness
"mindfulness". Mindfulness can help
you enjoy life more and understand
yourself better. It can positively change
the way you feel about life and how
you approach challenges.
Give to others
Research suggests that acts of giving
and kindness can help improve your
mental wellbeing by:
5 5 creating positive feelings and a
sense of reward
5 5 giving you a feeling of purpose and
self-worth
5 5 helping you connect with other
people
It could be small acts of kindness
towards other people or larger
ones like volunteering in your local
community.
Join a virtual get together
There are a number of webinars, online
parties and other ways to connect
virtually. Join in. You might find that you
really enjoy it. If you cannot socialise in
person, that does not mean that you
cannot connect virtually. I have heard
of people cooking together virtually,
celebrating birthdays and even visiting
museums, all online.
It might be quite some time before
things go back to normal, if they ever
do, but you do not have to put your life
on hold or ruin your wellbeing while
we go through COVID-19.
Laugh
Find something that makes you laugh
every day. Watch a funny video clip on
the internet. Call a friend who makes
you laugh even when things are tough.
Read a book that is fun and light
reading. Watch a comedy on Netflix.
Make a deliberate effort to laugh. It
will do wonders for your wellbeing.
Limit the news
Watching the news is important to
stay informed, however keeping the
news channel running all day in the
background, might do you a great
deal of mental harm. As depressing
as the current news may be, it is
there to keep us informed on what is
happening, however we do not have
to be constantly taking it in. I suggest
limiting news intake to 15-20 minutes
a day, maximum, should be enough
for you to get the major headlines.
Be physically active
Trust me, I know how hard it is to get
After the Bell
Term 3 Apr - Jun 2020
53