To say that these are unprecedented times is an understatement. To say that these are stressful times is a drastic oversimplification. No one could have predicted that 2020 would bring a global pandemic, the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, and societal change that—while crucial—has led to periods of civil unrest in our communities. School faculty and staff that have predicated their education modalities on in-person engagement for years are now being challenged to learn new technologies to help students advance academically, socially, and personally through unfamiliar, remote technical interfaces. This year has been stressful, but one lesson that we have learned is that we need to give ourselves the time, space, and grace to accept that these are challenging times and come to terms with the unexpected changes in our personal lives and our work environments.
As a school leader, your faculty, staff, and students need you to follow this advice. Prioritize your mental health and emotional wellbeing to ensure that you can continue to be the best leader, mentor, and family member needed by all the people in your life. What follows is our advice for self-care during these ongoing, stressful times.
Ask for Help
Perhaps you have lost somebody that you love due to COVID-19. Maybe you fear you will not meet expectations from parents and community members to ideate innovative solutions to remote or hybrid learning challenges. Perhaps you are understandably scared to contract a virus that has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. You most certainly are feeling pressure to be the most accessible and capable version of yourself for the people in your life. Know that when you feel like you cannot continue to carry the responsibility of work and family on your own, it is wise to ask for help.
It is responsible to ask for help even as a leader and a seasoned veteran educator. If you need time to care for an impacted love one, learn new procedures or technology, or even a mental health day, ask for what you need. None of us can adjust to the new normal alone. It will only be through shared collaboration and cooperation that we will overcome adversity. Ask for help and know that there is no shame in needing to take a breath to learn a new skill or reassigning a task to somebody with the skills better suited to complete it well.
Take Time To Be With Your Loved Ones
Even though you are invaluable to your school district, you are irreplaceable to your family. If you are struggling to balance homeschooling your children, caring for an impacted loved one, or carrying the burden of earning your household’s income because your partner is not an essential worker, take time to be there for your family and friends. Work certainly matters, and ensuring a consistent quality education for our young generations is vital. However, just as you want staff members to support their family during this difficult time, your team will help you do the same. By being present for your family, even to manage difficult situations, you will be alleviating any stress or guilt you might feel by not being present for those you love when they need you most of all.
Talk to Your Fellow Leaders
No one should feel that they are alone during this difficult time. Talk to other administrative leaders to determine how they are adjusting to the new needs for school safety and remote learning. Discuss best practices, share resources, and offer support. While every district’s needs are unique, administrators can learn from one another how best to continue communicating with parents, engaging the community, and ensuring a safe and clean environment for students. Every school is experimenting with strategies to mitigate educational barriers and support students who have the unexpected challenge of continuing the normalcy of education during a global pandemic. Sharing learning and resources are crucial to success.
Take Care of Yourself Physically
Many Americans are electing to delay routine medical care out of an abundance of caution. Many people worry about overtaxing our healthcare system, while many others fear being in a health care facility in which fellow patients may have contracted the COVID-19 virus. While these concerns are understandable, you cannot overlook your health. Especially during a physically and emotionally challenging time, when you might be putting in extra hours of work, homeschooling your own children, or coordinating family responsibilities, you must still prioritize your wellbeing. Do your best to get 30 minutes of exercise at least five days a week. Take part in stress reduction activities such as yoga, stretching, or meditation. Ensure you are still enjoying the hobbies and activities that give you comfort and bring you joy as long as you can do so safely and in a socially distanced manner. Such activities might include hosting virtual social events with friends and family, hiking, playing a musical instrument, and spending quality time at home with your family. Continue to eat a healthy balanced diet even if the once routine grocery shopping process has turned into a stressful uncertain situation. Consider food delivery services, meal prep kits, and healthy delivery options that can take some of the burden out of food preparation while still ensuring that you are maintaining a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet that will keep you energized throughout the day.
Pay Attention to Signs of Stress
If you find that you cannot sleep at night, regularly have an upset stomach, chest pain, headaches, nausea, or other physical symptoms of stress and anxiety, talk to a health care professional. Emotional stress can create extreme physical reactions, and if left untreated, can escalate into a severe health scenario. If you are concerned about going to your doctors’ office, inquire if telemedicine is an option. Many healthcare organizations are now allowing telemedicine services to treat patients for routine services and non-emergency care while maintaining safe social distance from the comfort of their homes. Your insurance plan might also cover such convenient services, so refer to your benefit plan or call your insurance carrier to confirm coverage.
The faculty and staff in your school district rely on your leadership, guidance, and consistency. To be the best resource and the best version of yourself possible, ensure that you are taking time for regular self-care. When we finally look back with the satisfaction of knowing that we beat COVID-19—and we will—you will want to also look back with pride knowing that the stress and uncertainty of a global pandemic never destroyed your hope or damaged your health.