SELF CARE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR

 WHAT CAN LOOK LIKE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS?


EVERYDAY ACTS OF SELF CARE

·         Get enough sleep.
·         Do 5 minutes of Yoga to stretch out your back, legs and shoulders.
·         Take 10 minutes to drink your tea or coffee in the morning before starting your day.
·         Start the day by thinking of 5 things you are grateful for.
·         Prepare for your day the night before to avoid stress in the morning.
·         Carefully massage your body lotion into your skin instead of mindlessly applying it.

Use your commute in a way that you actually enjoy it: read a book, listen to a podcast or music.

·         Have a healthy breakfast and continually nourish your body throughout the day.
·         Stop yourself when you are comparing yourself to other people.
  
Go to bed BEFORE you are tired and actually allow yourself to wind down with a book,some cuddles, a cup of tea or some relaxing music.

·         Take a five minute break in between tasks and just breathe.
·         Move your body in a way you like it most — dance, walk, bike yoga.
·         Make the most out of your lunch and coffee breaks: do whatever serves you need right now.
·         Create something.
·         Draw, doodle or colour something.
·         Burn candles or incense.

Spend time in your favourite place. A coffee shop. A bench in the park. Your cozy couch. Alibrary. A beautiful garden.

·         Take a bubble bath. Even if you're a man, it is magic for your soul.
·         Put on some good music
·         Cozy up with a cup of tea, a warm blanket, and good book.
·         Cook a meal just for yourself and enjoy it without distractions.
·         Do your favourite childhood activity.
·         Do a quick facial at home.
·         Do one thing that makes you laugh, every day.

DEEPER ACTS OF (EMOTIONAL) SELF CARE

·         Ask for help or for what you need.

·         Putting yourself first.

·         Set boundaries around yourself and get comfortable with saying no.

·         Forgive yourself and let go of the past.

·         Take a step back.  Ask yourself, who is this serving?

·         Go to therapy, even if you don’t think you “need” it. Everyone needs some mental health care.

·         Express your feelings to the most important people in your life. Tell them what is really going on.

·         Release your thoughts and emotions through journaling.


DEVELOP A DAILY SELF CARE ROUTINE

START SLOW.  This is a long game.  You are changing your lifestyle.  This is a process with an end result, but the highlight is on the process. 

MAKE IT SIMPLE.  Do not try to change or implement everything at once.  Choose an overall maximum of five things you'd like to do every day as part of your self-care routine.  Then implement only one thing a day until it become habit.  Repeat.  Implement ONLY ONE THING A DAY.  It takes a month to create or break a habit.  Remember this is not a race.

CREATE HABITS. 

·         Set the bar very low.  Five minutes of yoga in the morning.  One paragraph in a journal.  One serving of fruit today. Social media less five minutes of whatever duration your used.

·         Set a schedule not a deadline.  Focus on the process more than the end goal.  One thing at a time, one day at a time.  Increments not the end.

·         Never miss two days.  So, you missed a day, make it up tomorrow.  Forgive yourself and move on. Just don't miss two days in a row. 

THINK WEEKLY, MONTHLY AND SEASONALLY.  Add somethings you'd like to do weekly, monthly or seasonally routine.

·         Long drives to listen to music or a podcast to clear your head, every weekend?

·         Monthly road trip to the country for treasure and antique hunting?

·         Going to the festival of lights in winter, tree cutting at Christmastime, or the buskers market in summer.

"Find things that you can make into personal feel good traditions."

CHANGE BEHAVIOUR – CHANGE ROUTINE – CREATE NEW HABITS

Many ECEs want to create new or better self-care habits, but hectic days can fizzle the best intentions.  However, changing daily behaviour can alter routine which in turn will create a new habit.  So…

·         If want to read before bed, put the book on your bed so it's waiting for you.

·         If you want to make coffee at home instead of going out for coffee, have supplies ready.

·         If you want to exercise, plan for a walk and set an alarm.

·         If you want to start a morning gratitude, put out the notebook you're going to use.

·         If you want to start taking morning vitamins, put the vitamins next to your breakfast.





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