Festive season wellbeing tips

Following another difficult year, most of us will be looking forward to the Christmas break and a chance for a well-earned rest. However, the festive period can sometimes be hectic and challenging, and the work for teachers doesn’t really stop. So, we thought we’d pull together some top wellbeing tips for teachers to get you through the festive season.

Plan ahead and write a list

Whilst writing a list may remind you of Santa (remember he’ll be checking his twice!), it’s a good way of getting organised and stopping you feeling overwhelmed by the holiday teacher work you need to complete. Once you’ve made your list, you can then plan in when you’re going to get the work done; either at the start or end of your break, whichever feels right for you. You may find planning a day immediately after term ends would be best as you’re still in ‘work mode’, meaning it should be easier and quicker to get your tasks completed. Besides, if you get it all done early you won’t spend the whole holiday thinking about all the work you still need to do.

Work-life balance

So, you’ve written your list and organised when you’re planning to complete your work before next term starts, now it’s time to focus on yourself. The ‘work’ part is done, let’s turn to the ‘life’ part of this work-life balance, and a little bit of ‘me time’ where you can concentrate on resting and doing all the things you enjoy. You’ll get some much-needed wellbeing moments from doing the things you enjoy; whether that’s catching up with family, taking the time to cook up a feast, watching Christmas movies, wrapping presents, or going for a walk in the fresh air. Of course, taking time to rest and recover is an important part of your overall work-life balance too. There’s always a danger of trying to pack everything into a two-week school holiday, only to find you’re more exhausted than ever when you’re due to return to the classroom. Treat yourself to a few lie-ins, rest your brain and your body to make sure you’re fully recovered and raring to go when you return to school or college.

Look after your health

The festive period can be a time for over-indulgence, so it’s important to keep an eye on how much you’re eating and drinking. Try to stay active and exercise regularly, this doesn’t have to be a full-on workout, it can be as simple as a walk to blow away the cobwebs. Also, aim to stick to a good sleep routine; burning the candle at both ends won’t make you feel great. Having said that, it is the holidays and you definitely deserve a treat, so don’t be too hard on yourself!

Avoid resolutions – set goals instead

We all know that most New Year’s resolutions are already broken by the end of January, so why not go into the new year with a set of goals instead. Take some time to consider why you’re setting these goals and plan how best you can achieve them. Think about what you want to achieve in 2022, what steps you’ll take towards achieving your goals, and how will it feel once you’ve hit your goal. Finally, make a note of your ambitions so you can refer to them at any time during the year.

Most importantly, don’t forget you should make time for wellbeing all year round, not just during the festive period. Wishing all you teachers a relaxing and stress-free break - you deserve it!