Long Lost Post - Importance of Self-Care

So, I found this post, unpublished and forgotten, and felt it was worth posting, even though it has been a long while since I first wrote it. It has been a tough year for me - this is the first year where I have really felt that I've hit a wall, and that I need the summer to help recover. 

This post was from November - I was taking two courses at the time (yes, I know that's crazy), and this one was referring to the online course I was taking about Indigenous history in Canada, called Stolen Lives. Certainly an important lesson, though difficult, and I believe it's worth the share.

Here it is:

The past week or so have felt so long and arduous. There has been so much to do, but it has felt like there aren't enough hours to complete it all.

In the Stolen Lives course I am taking, we have been learning more about the Residential School system, and hearing and/or reading first hand accounts. It has been a very heavy week, as this material is difficult and carries a lot of emotions with it. I actually had a very emotional response to a video that we watched of a survivor's account. In reaching out to my course Elder, she was able to help guide me through the emotions and help me to recognize that my response was likely due to the burdens that I carry with me, and the guilt that I experience in the many roles that I have: student, teacher, Mom, wife, etc.

I am grateful that she was able to guide me and help me to recognize the emotions and burdens that I deny on a daily basis. This also made me think about the burdens of my students, and the stresses that they experience on a daily basis. I often forget that they may also be struggling with their own lives and emotions, but I need to keep these in mind, and I need to be aware of any emotional triggers that may be present in my course or course material.

It also reminded me of the importance of wellness and taking care of ourselves. As teachers, we take on a lot of extra responsibilities outside of the classroom, and we need to be aware of the effects that all of these responsibilities have on our well being. We need to remember to take some time for stress relief - my time is cardio kickboxing for 2 hours per week. It amazes me how lighter I feel after an hour long workout. It's almost like my brain has hit the reset button, and I'm able to take on the challenges of the week. If I have to miss a session because of work or childcare, it makes a huge difference - I have come to rely on my two evenings a week and the release that comes with these classes.

I think that my biggest lesson during these long and difficult weeks has been the importance of taking care of myself. I can't take care of everyone else all the time - there comes a point where you just can't give anymore. We need to recognize our emotions and burdens, and try to live in such a way that embraces the good things.