Another year down and finally the summer is within reach! I know it’s SO HARD not to just throw everything in a cupboard and start running for the beach, but I have a suggestion.

Let’s take some time to slow down and honor this transition.

Let’s pause at this threshold to reflect on what has passed, release what is no longer in our power to control, and prepare ourselves to truly TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE of this summer ahead of us.

I don’t know about you, but the more years I taught, the more our “break” during the summer never quite felt like ENOUGH of a break. I was fleeing from burnout into the summer months and dragging myself back into functioning come August. If this isn’t you, please, tell me your secrets (no really – send me an email!). If it IS you, then I’ve reached my intended audience!

This post is the first in a THREE PART series of reflections. Check out my journaling freebie – there are images at the end of the blog if you’d like to get a closer look at what your free download will be.

What do I mean when I say: self-care and advocacy?

When I use the term self-care, I’m not talking about some “woo-woo” thing like simply getting your nails done or drinking another glass of water (although these could be part of it).

I’m talking about really TAKING CARE of yourself: nutritionally, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self-advocacy is about being able to speak up for yourself and make decisions that are best for you and your life.

Both of these are about really bringing awareness to your own life. You can’t really care for yourself if you’re not aware of what you need, and you can’t create what you need without knowing how to create boundaries, ask for support, or communicate how you’re feeling.

Of all of the things that fall into a teacher’s lap, why this topic first? It’s first because YOU are the center of your world AND the center of your classroom. Overlooking yourself is likely the single-most irresponsible thing you could do (and the biggest mistake I made in my ENTIRE teaching career – – and I’m NOT being melodramatic either).

This is not being self-centered or self-important, it is the reality of a classroom. You as the teacher run the show: the stage & the “behind-the-scenes”. If you’re not functioning at full capacity, then neither is the rest of it. If you’re feeling underwhelmed, overwhelmed, or anything in between, so is the rest of the space.

This doesn’t mean that everything that goes wrong is “your fault”, but it does mean that tending to YOUR NEEDS is vital in tending to the well-being of your classroom and your students. So if you’re one of those, “but the students…” teachers (as I was), this reflection section is MOST-DEFINITELY a required assignment ;).

What do we need to ask ourselves?

Start with: How do I feel about the concepts of “self-care and self-advocacy”? Are they something I have consciously tried to focus on in the past? Are they challenging for me? if so, what is challenging and why? or do I excel at them? Where do my strengths lie? My weaknesses?

Use the reflection questions below to dive more deeply into your own well-being and how you did or did not make sure your needs were met.

Off the clock:

1. What were my mornings before school like? Smooth, stressful? What worked, what didn’t work? Did you feel prepared for the day or did it feel like you were in a haze?
2. What were my evenings after school like? Restful, productive? What worked, what didn’t work? Is there more you’d like to accomplish? or is more rest needed?
3. How did I use movement, nutrition, and rest to support my body? Think about water, whole foods, and movement that FELT GOOD for your body to do.
4. What did I do that helped me to feel rested? What coping mechanisms did I use that didn’t help me feel rested?
5. What actions did I take to bring joy to my life? Did I have fun? If the answer is no or not enough, what activities would bring more joy and fun into your life?
6. How did I make myself the main character in my own story? How did you make your life about YOU and what YOU want/need as opposed to caring for everyone else around you?

On the clock:

1. What time of day was my favorite? Why?
2. What time of day was my least favorite? Why?
3. What brought me down? What emotions came up for you? What was triggering or depressing about it?
4. What filled me up? How might you create more opportunities for this?
5. What did I find overwhelming?
6. What seemed like a waste of time?
7. Did I take time during the day to breathe and reset my mind?
8. Did I use my lunch to ground myself and nourish my body?

Take note of what things TOOK energy and what things REPLENISHED energy. If you love highlighters, you could even go back over your writing and highlight these in different colors to really help your brain get a bigger, clearer picture of things. Then use this big picture to decide how you’ll structure these same things for next year.

Now what:

1. How often did I communicate (and to whom) when I was struggling to meet my needs? What are my own signs that I need to ask for help or find time to reset and ground?
2. What do I want MORE of? How could I bring more of this into my life?
3. What would be best to have or do less of? What supports or boundaries do I need to put into place to make this happen?
4. What took center stage in my life? Do I like it that way? If not, what do I want front and center? What adjustments do I need to make for this shift to happen?
5. How can I be PROACTIVE about caring for myself? What things can I SCHEDULE in or add to my existing routines?
6. What things can I outsource (using support from a partner, family, or other community resources) in order to support myself? (Think cleaning, grocery delivery, carpooling, etc.)

So reflect…

Reflect on one, two, three, or twenty of these prompts. Regardless of how many you pick, remember that this process is to help you grow. This reflection is to help you UNDERSTAND yourself better. Use it as a way to BUILD a life that supports YOU and centers your NEEDS.

If you’d like a place to collect your thoughts, I’ve created a free journal download. Click on the images here or the button below.

Again, I remind you…

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

I know we’ve heard this SO MANY TIMES…

but when will we start to actually live it. To TRULY BELIEVE that OUR CUP deserves to be filled (just as much as we know this for others).

So, let’s raise a glass…one that’s overflowing.

Let’s make a toast to ourselves. May we be our own greatest care-takers and advocates!

With love,

Talk soon.