Prioritising Self-Care: Essential Tips for Educators:
Working with children can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, but it can also be incredibly demanding and stressful. Most educators are often so focused on taking care of their children that they forget to take care of themselves.
Whether you’re a seasoned educator or just starting your career in childcare, these tips will help you nourish your mind, body, and soul, and help you to prioritise your well-being.
Finding a workplace with a positive culture
Look for a workplace that aligns with your values, respects your boundaries, and cares about your life outside of work. When you feel valued and supported, you will feel much happier and more fulfilled at work and in your personal life.
Supporting and asking for support
Offer your time, knowledge and resources to support your colleagues, and don’t hesitate to seek assistance when you need it. Communicate with those around you, whether it’s to solve a problem or just have someone listen.
Enjoy your workday
Children have a real zest for life, and working with them is so much fun! Incorporate activities that you and the children can enjoy into your program, such as reading, yoga, or dancing with the children.
Understand your “why”
Working in an early childhood setting can be stressful, but when we stop and think about why we chose to work with children in the first place it can help to build our resilience and coping skills.
Seek help when you need it most
It’s okay to not be okay. Being able to acknowledge when you need help and reach out to those around you for support will make a big difference.
Tips
Identify (if you can)
- What your feelings are and why are they occurring
Think
- what can you do right now that will help
- what do you need to plan for to help long term
- who do you need to talk to
Act
- Do something! Make a change, talk to someone
Understand
- What you can control and what you can’t control
