TEACHERS- CHOOSE YOURSELF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR Choosing Yourself is not selfish .
Teachers are natural-born givers . This is a great characteristic for a teacher to have , but when you give to others without giving to yourself , you run the risk of burnout . In this article , I will outline a few ways you can choose yourself , while still being the best you for your students and colleagues .
1 . Set Boundaries
People without boundaries will eventually feel as if they are being run over . This is because others do not know what you will or will not tolerate . It is often not the fault of others when they overstep their boundaries , and it is often because they do not know what the boundaries are . I find that people will respect your boundaries once they are clearly and calmly stated .
For example , let your students and parents know when and how to communicate with you . If you do not accept WhatsApp messages , let people know . Boundaries are vital because they offer others guidelines on how you want to be treated . People will overstep your boundaries , be brave enough to let them know that they have .
2 . Say no
No , is a very powerful word . It might be one of the best words for you to use when choosing yourself this academic year . In keeping with setting boundaries , your ability to say no , means that you are choosing to treat yourself as someone sacred . It also means that you will not overcommit because you did not use the power of your no . Everything is important to someone , but everything cannot be important to you . Figure out what your priorities and goals are , and start saying no to anything that does not move you in the direction of fulfilling your goals this academic year .
3 . Be protective of your time
This also goes hand in hand with setting clear boundaries . You cannot say yes to every project , committee or social invitation . If your heart does not leap for joy at the proposal or invitation , then do not accept it . In fact , before you accept any invitation or proposal , take time to think about how this will fit in with all the other commitments that you have . Will it affect your ability to rest , exercise , prepare healthy meals or anything else you do to take care of yourself ? If the answer is yes , then you do not have the time .
Also , be careful of who you spend time with . Some people will simply waste your time . Be very mindful of the fact that you can put yourself on your calendar and when you do , treat the appointment with the same seriousness as you would any work assignment .
4 . Speak Your Truth
Make it a habit to speak your truth . When you are feeling tired , say it . If you are experiencing any form of mental or physical illness , acknowledge it , seek help and let your managers know about it . Sometimes it might feel very difficult to share , but hiding your suffering only makes it worse . I have found that when I share what I am going through , people are generally very understanding and willing to help .
5 . Gratitude
One of my favourite things to do is to make a physical or mental list of things that I am grateful for . Every time I make that list , I feel good . In choosing yourself this academic year , choose to be grateful . Make it a habit every day to make a list of all the things that you are grateful for . This will help to free you of the burden or comparison or feeling that you do not have enough .
Be self-aware this academic year .
Every time you begin to feel overwhelmed , stop , reassess what you are doing and how you are doing it , then take the necessary steps to begin choosing you again .
54 Term 1 Sep - Dec 2021 After the Bell