With a new year comes new opportunities and new challenges. To be your best self, it’s important to greet 2025 with a balanced and considerate approach to your mental health.
The work of an educator can be overwhelming, and sometimes we have to be reminded to put on our own oxygen masks first. This is especially important to remember during winter, when the demands of the holidays mount and people are vulnerable to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can cause feelings of sadness and depressions, physical exhaustion, social withdraw, and even thoughts of self-harm. For all the joys the season can offer, there are still many things that can bring us down.
To bolster your mental health this year, try thinking about the Four Rs of Relaxation, and consider a few tips to implement them in your daily routine:
REST – Make time for breaks from whatever is weighing on you, whether that means work, social situations, personal projects, etc. and just be still for a while. “Doing nothing” isn’t wasted time – getting plenty of rest, and particularly a good night’s sleep, is essential to allow your body and mind to recover so you can be at 100% later on.
Take a nap
Eat healthy meals and drink lots of water
Spend less time on social media
Unwind in a bubble bath
Listen to your body and don’t push yourself too hard
RECHARGE – Put your energy into activities that bring you joy. There are plenty of things you have to do that you don’t enjoy, but it’s okay to limit the time you spend on them. Setting firm boundaries on who and what has access to your personal and emotional space makes a world of difference in your personal wellbeing.
Communicate your boundaries to coworkers, family members, and friends
Spend more time with people who make you feel happy and energized
Cuddle with your pets
Enjoy a good book, movie, song, podcast, or game
Allow yourself to laugh or cry out loud when you need to
RESET – Pause and reflect on how life is going. You may be able to find ruts you’ve gotten into or habits that don’t align with your wants, needs, and values anymore. Making life changes that will leave you feeling more fulfilled could be as simple as taking a few minutes to refocus.
Create a self-care plan or vision board
Reevaluate your personal values and goals for the year
Keep a journal to express yourself
Declutter your environment
Try something new in your everyday life
RENEW – Remember your “why”. Even the noblest work can feel pointless if you forget what you’re doing it for. You have a major positive impact on your students and your community, and keeping that in mind will help keep you going on the hardest days.
Celebrate your own accomplishments
Practice forgiveness of both yourself and others
Think about the things you’re grateful for
Use mental health resources like local therapy, the Employee Assistance Program, and the mental health emergency hotline at 988
Remember that you have a team behind you that wants you to thrive and succeed
For more information on mental health resources available to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools employees, reach out to Mental Health Clinician Keisha Horton by phone at (336) 748-4000 ext. 70557 or (336) 306-4840, or through email at kshorton@wsfcs.k12.nc.us.
Written by Mental Health Clinician Keisha Horton and Senior Writer Jake Browning