Dear College of Education Community,
As we look toward a new academic year, it’s understandable to feel both excitement as we renew our work and time together, but also apprehension about the possibility of more changes, safety issues, and other stressors that we continue to experience. It is so important to take care of ourselves and engage in strategies that support our resilience. Resilience has been defined by the American Psychological Association as “the human ability to adapt in the face of tragedy, trauma, adversity, hardship, and ongoing significant life stressors.” Taking care of yourself helps to keep you ready to deal with challenges that require resilience. According to an online article in Resilient Educator, “if you take the time to help yourself, then you will be in a better position to help those around you who need assistance.” Below are strategies recommend by this article to build resiliency, whether you are an educator, staff, or student.
Connection is key-Make time for relationships. Looking to your family, friends, community groups, and, yes, even co-workers, can provide you that social and emotional support you might be needing when life throws a curveball your way.
Take a moment for yourself-Time alone, especially when unexpected changes show up, can be essential to strong wellbeing. Doing an activity or seeking out a moment of solitude can be rejuvenating and can offer a space to reflect on current situations. It can boost creativity and even help build a greater capacity for empathy for those around you. Adding some quiet moments to your life can be as simple as going for a walk or a hike. Spending time in nature has shown to have numerous psychological benefits from restoring attention and enhancing focus to being a stress reliever. Even a 10-minute walk around the block can leave you feeling refreshed.
Break a sweat-Whether it is swimming, walking, riding a bike or chasing your kids around the yard – exercising that gets your heart pumping is especially important when taking care of yourself. Make exercise and moving your body a priority – you owe it to yourself!
Catch some zzz’s-We’ve all been there: We have too much on our plate and are feeling overwhelmed or concerned about the unknown. When this happens, one of the first things to go is sleep. We find ways to justify it and push its importance under the rug. However, sleep is often the very key to ensuring that we are not only taking care of our own self but ensuring that we are energized, clearly thinking, and patient with those around us. Be sure to practice a good sleep routine and try to stick with it.
To read more of this article go to https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/building-resilience-starts-with-self-care/
For a list of other self-care options, you can also go to our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care
May we all practice strategies to maintain resiliency in this new academic year!
Warmly,
Shari