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5 Tactics to Decompress and Recover
Recovery Rhythms
It’s that time of year again in the Southern Hemisphere. The end of term is fast approaching, and the pressure is mounting. As educators, we often put our wellbeing on the backburner in favour of our students. But if we’re not taking care of ourselves, how can we expect to be at our best for the communities and families we support?
A common experience for teachers is that we get unwell during the holiday break as our body shuts down and succumbs to the stressors of the term. I always found this an odd bodily rhythm. Have you ever experienced it? Often it would take a week to tune into a slower rhythm of recovery.
Here are five tactics to reduce the overwhelm and decompress at the end of term and on your break.
1. Set realistic expectations
It’s essential to be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day, a week, or even a month. Trying to do too much towards the end of term will only lead to burnout. Know your limits and stick to them.
Establishing realistic expectations is also true at the start of your holiday break — be practical and mindful of the change in rhythm. Your mind, heart and body will need time to adjust and recover.
