Let’s Build a Teacher Wellness Center
“If stress burned calories, I’d be a supermodel.”
Make Your School Awesome Staff
June 18, 2021
March is full of exciting school events! It is a time for creating lucky four-leaf clover bulletin boards and posting NCAA basketball tournament bracket boards in the teacher’s lounge. This long month is full of important events such as Women’s History Month, Pi Day, St Patrick's Day, Music in Our Schools, Read Across America, and the First Day of Spring. This month is truly action-packed!
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Many teachers describe March as one of the most exhausting months to teach as many push through several breakless weeks preparing for everyone’s favorite - standardized assessments. This is the perfect month to provide your teachers with a bit of relaxation and a place for them to destress and unwind. Building a staff wellness center is the perfect way for staff to get that much-needed mental break during this action-packed month or school year. Remember, a healthy teacher is a productive teacher!
How to Build a Staff Wellness Center
1. Find a quiet and private location (Teachers sometimes need alone time and a place to unplug and decompress).
2. Create a space that is relaxing and inviting! Use calming neutral colors to paint or accent the room.
3. Bring plants into the space to help create a fresh look. They help provide clean air and reduce stress and anxiety.
4. Bring Positivity! Hang inspiring quotes or posters throughout this space.
5. Flexible and therapeutic seating is recommended. Provide comfy movable chairs throughout the space with possible dividers to supply privacy for coworkers in need. (i.e. Bean bag chairs/bounce-ball chairs/wobble stools/traditional chairs)
6. Just like a spa, utilize a mini speaker to play calming music in the background (soft natural sounds / classical music/raindrops/forest sounds).
7. Stretching is great! In a small area, provide staff with yoga mats to encourage participants to lay down or stretch out. Display beginner yoga posters demonstrating some stress-relieving poses (e.g., child’s pose, sphinx pose, reclining twist).
8. Mindfulness activities are a perfect solution for an overwhelmed staff member. Provide mini desks with stations to allow staff to practice breathing, adult coloring books, journal writing, soothing puzzles, play putty, or any activity that encourages relaxing and clearing of the mind.
9. Diffuse essential oils. By providing fresh organic scents throughout your space, these oils will promote wellness and aid in lowering anxiety. I highly recommend using lavender oil!
10. Based on your space and natural lighting availability, it is vital to create a tranquil environment. Bright lights can be overstimulating and may not be best for this area; utilizing twinkle lights and curtains may help create a zen environment.
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Important teacher takeaways!
Teacher burnout is a serious issue that plagues thousands of teachers each year. It is important that teachers have the appropriate outlets to destress throughout the day. Mindfulness activities and practicing healthy breathing techniques can help with focus and fatigue.
TEACH, SHARE, INSPIRE
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