We’ve all been there — feeling like what we’re doing is just not worth it.
Here’s a self-care tip to help you keep going: encourage other teachers.
Wait, isn’t this tip supposed to be something that takes care of you?
Believe it or not, this tip DOES help you. Whatever you put out in the world tends to come back to you. So if you want to be encouraged, find someone else to encourage. You can give a compliment, leave a post-it note, write an email, give a hug — whatever feels comfortable for you.
When people see you as a positive force and as an encourager, they will tend to give the same gift back to you. Maybe not right away, but it will happen.
Today I talked to two teachers. Both of them were people with whom I worked in the past, and both are in transition — trying to figure out their next steps in teaching. One was wondering about leaving the classroom for another position and the other was discouraged about teaching in general and considering doing something different.
I don’t know that I had any great insight or inspiring “words of wisdom” for them. But what I do know is that I could give the one thing they needed most: I could listen. And as I listened, I could chime in here and there with encouragement: reminders of things that I know they do very well, things about them that make them a positive force for good in the world, all the good things I have seen them do in their classrooms.
At the end of the phone calls, both thanked me for encouraging them. And it made me wonder — how many times do we think we need to “fix” something or give advice when all the other person wants is to be heard and to be encouraged?
Take care of yourself and be an encourager for others. Look for the good. Others will see that in you and return the favor. Encouraging teachers and reminding them of the good they do is my goal for this blog’s content. I hope you will find some encouragement here.