To ask your self care advice?

[missmartini]

I'm a primary teacher in Scotland and we have had a lot of input at in service days about children's mental health, ACEs, self harm and inclusion...all have been very intense and quite overwhelming at times. It was noted by one organisation how much as a school we were doing effectively in all these areas but we were all ignoring "self care" and suggested things like meditation and mindfulness etc. This was suggested to the full staff but not necessarily having to be carried out as a whole staff if that makes sense - we can all suit ourselves with "self care".

The skeptic in me thinks, all very well and good but if I leave work earlier than 5:30pm to meditate or whatever then I still need to catch up with the planning, paperwork, marking etc anyway. Very rarely do I leave without something to bring home to do. I work full time and a single mum to a 6 and 3 year old so time is precious! I do sit and watch tv at night when they're in bed and I've finished what work I've had to do but I don't feel like this is what they mean!

I'm wanting to give it a shot and see if it does make a difference. I do feel like I'm constantly spinning plates and constantly exhausted...so what do you do as "self care"? Me time to get away from it all? Has you tried anything that has really changed your outlook more positively not just on working life but on life as a whole?

Hey OP - Self care can be considered as anything where you are spending time doing something for YOU. If you choose to relax in front of the TV, that is time spent doing something that benefits only you, which is great. One really key thing that can benefit your mood, improve wellbeing, lower blood pressure, increase cognitive capabilities and a whole host of other benefits which I'd always recommend is spending time outside in nature. Even if it's a ten minute stroll, or just standing outside once you've put the kids to bed watching the sun set or listening to the last of the bird song for the day. It really does benefit you. Other examples of self-care could be: treating yourself to a new book, a bath with some candles, making a hot chocolate and watching your favourite film under a blanket, spending time on yourself like painting your nails, shaving your legs and moisturising, using a new body scrub, making a nutritious smoothie etc. Good luck, I'm sure you can squeeze something into your busy life xxx

Oooh, I can empathise that you must have your hands full being a teacher and two little ones and all that running a home entails. That really must leave little time.

The only thing I can say about self-care, in my case, I just wrote a list of things that I personally like, things that made me feel better in myself and I tell myself to make these my non-negotiable things.

So in my case, a yoga class to stretch my limbs and feel good in my headspace, a couple of swim sessions - my brain unravels and resolves problems while swimming, and maybe a sauna. If I fit those in, then life is generally good.

So maybe make a list of things you like? - start small, incorporate one thing to begin with, develop it and see how it goes?....Audio books/BBC Sounds app to catch up in bed on Woman’s Hour/The Archers omnibus/Book at Bedtime/you-tube yoga stretching at home...

Sorry if it’s not much help though.

I suffered quite badly with my mental health after an extremely traumatic event. I completed counselling for ptsd but found out it opened flood gates into past issues and traumas.

I undertook some psychotherapy sessions. I worked out what were my needs rather than wants and altered my life to cater for all my needs and a few wants.

When I’m getting stressed, I switch off the tv, find somewhere quiet and refocus on distinguishing my needs for wants. We get dragged into confusing the two. Once I had stripped out chasing after things that weren’t necessary the pressure of modern life seemed to lift.

Just be present in the moment, taste every mouthful of food, look at all the different greens in the countryside. Notice the shape of the clouds, the feel of the air on your face. Notice the smell of your children’s freshly washed hair.take time to notice the things that are rather than the things you wish would be.

Life sounds very busy for you OP. As a single mum of young DDs, I empathise. The best thing I ever heard about self-care was 'treat yourself how you'd treat a child'. So, healthy dinners, baths and early nights, clean clothes, not being harsh or critical of yourself, playtime (whatever that means for you). And for me, getting out of my head and into my body works... So I run, do yoga, lie on the floor and look at the ceiling of an evening instead of sitting down (I sit at a desk all day so this is good for me!). Anything to stop my mind whirring...

Good luck, self-care is one of the best things you can do x

Thanks so much everyone! I really like the idea of a list to start with and take from there. I've been wanting to try to fit in swimming when I can do this might give me the push I need to do it!

Life is busy but I wouldn't have it any other way! I spent a bit of time tonight prepping some healthy lunches for the rest of the week and chopping up fruit etc for easy to get to snacks and stuff so I feel a wee bit better already tonight by taking steps to make sure I'm not just eating on the go and putting some goodness in me! Will speak to my mum and see if I can borrow her for some baby sitting and try and fit a swim in this week too!

Thanks for all your help everyone some great ideas already!