Fit and healthy teachers – stay on top of your wellbeing

You can only do your best at your teaching job and support students if you’re mentally and physically well. We hear a lot about mental health and physical health and both are crucial to being excellent at your teaching job. At this time of year it can be tempting to hibernate, but it’s crucial we stay on our top of our being to be great teachers. Here are few tips.

Use an app

We hear that technology and phones are bad for our mental health, but there are actually lots of great resources out there. One of the most robust and clinically validated app is Wysa, an AI powered CBT mental health app that has been shown to provide support. The mobile chatbot that uses emotionally intelligent conversational AI to promote wellbeing, positive self-expression and mental resilience. Wysa guides users through evidence-based therapy exercises to self-manage symptoms associated with mild to moderate generalised anxiety and depression.

Go for a walk to keep fit

A new survey finds that fewer than 1 in 3 (29%) of the UK adult population walk every day in winter – and astonishingly 10% never go for a walk. The research, from Walking Home For Christmas, the annual Christmas fundraising campaign run by military veteran support charity, Walking With The Wounded, also found that 84% of us watch TV at Christmas, compared to 63% who go for that traditional walk after dinner. Prioritise your wellbeing with a daily walk, even of 15 minutes to keep the blood pumping.

Get some fresh air to challenge SAD

Seasonal Affective Disorder is sometimes known as “winter depression.” People with SAD experience low mood, fatigue and a lack of motivation in the winter months due to the lack of Vitamin D and serotonin they get from sunlight. You can counter this by making sure you get outside in the middle of the day to get any kind of sunlight there is. Playground duty suddenly became more appealing!

Talk to people for mental wellbeing

One of the best ways to manage your mental health is to talk to people. Call a friend, go for coffee, see your family, or undertake therapy. Whatever you need to do to get your worries and stresses off your chest and find a new angle to take will help your mental health. Or write it down. Having a journal that acts as a safe space is a great way to release tensions and get your thoughts out at the end of the day.

Exercise first thing

Do you ever think about exercising after work but then the time comes and you’re exhausted, tired, and just want to crawl home and eat a mountain of pasta? Try to fit in some easy exercises as soon as you get out of bed. Squats, star jumps, lunges, crunches and push ups will see you get your heart rate up in a full body workout that you can do from home.

Eat the rainbow

Eating a variety of colours is crucial to maintaining your vitamins and minerals. Red tomatoes, green leafy spinach, bright yellow lemons – go for colour and variety. But don’t skimp out on the carbs – you need them for energy and fuelling to do an intense teaching job. Winter is not the time to only eat salads.

What are your top tips for staying fit and healthy for your teaching job?

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