When you send your children to school, you want them to come back educated, but also safe and well. But their emotional health is just as important as their physical health, and it’s often overlooked.
Emotional health is about how we think and feel. It’s about our sense of well-being, our ability to cope with life events and how we acknowledge our own emotions as well as those of others. It doesn’t mean being happy all the time – that’s an unrealistic goal. How everyone feels can be different every day, and for those working in the education sector, it can be a challenge given some of the everyday pressures you have to deal with.
The past few years have been especially challenging, with the COVID-19 pandemic leading to social isolation, anxiety, and depression among many young people. Now more than ever, schools need to prioritise nurturing students' mental health.
How could they do that, though? Perhaps incorporating mindfulness practices into the curriculum, training teachers on trauma-informed instruction, or offering counselling services. The goal should be helping students build resilience, process difficult emotions, and feel genuinely excited to learn.
But you can only do that if you prioritise your own well-being too. And you don’t have to be a policy maker, senior staff or even a head of year to boost your well-being while you work. The tips below can help anyone working in a school or MAT setting to do just that.
How to Prioritise Your Well-being When Working in Education
- Encourage group discussions among colleagues - Having regular open and honest discussions with your peers can help you realise you're not alone in how you feel. Sharing concerns, worries or just chatting helps build connections.
- Set up a staff social group - Organising social events helps bring people together in a more relaxed setting outside of work. This could be a monthly team breakfast, after-work drinks, or activity sessions. Having fun together boosts morale. However, don’t feel obliged to join in - some people prefer to leave work at work, and that’s okay too.
- Ensure you set boundaries to avoid taking on a higher workload - Be aware of your limits and don't be afraid to say no if extra responsibilities will impact your work-life balance. Your health should be the priority.
- Have personal goals that inspire and excite you to help the divide - Identify activities or hobbies outside of work that you're passionate about. Having something to look forward to can provide an escape and a sense of fulfilment.
- Speak to your Senior Leadership Team about some of the challenges as they may not be aware - Don't suffer in silence. Your SLT wants to know if you’re struggling so steps can be taken to provide support. Ask for help early before problems escalate.
"Having an outlet and people to confide in has really helped me during stressful periods over the years" says Kirsty Treherne, iAM Compliant’s Education Lead. "I've learnt not to bottle things up and to take time for myself when needed. My top tip is to talk, try not to take work home and do what makes you happy."
As we celebrate Emotional Health Day, it's important for you, and others working in education, to continually prioritise your well-being. By being more open, setting boundaries and making time for enjoyment, you can better cope with the demands of the job. Your health matters, so take steps today to look after your emotional well-being. In turn, you can help make a difference and offer emotional support to those kids you teach.
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