The demands of teaching, mentoring, and academic service can take a toll on even the most seasoned educators. That’s why instructors from a variety of institutions came together to share practical strategies that help them maintain their mental well-being throughout the academic year.
This list is meant to offer encouragement, normalize the challenges of the profession, and remind us all that we are not alone. Even small adjustments can have a lasting impact.
We hope these tips from fellow educators provide a sense of support, solidarity, and actionable ways to care for yourself.
- Check your email over coffee in the morning then when you get to campus, just go to class and teach. Then, check again after.
- Move your body each morning and drink water on the way to work.
- Have a running checklist of things to do. It’s nice to have a visual of things that are checked off.
- Set specific “shutdown” rituals at the end of your workday such as closing your laptop, walking your dog, or writing a short “to-do list,” consistent routines help mentally transition out of work mode.
- Let critical conversations sit for 24 hrs then schedule a time to meet once everyone has collected their thoughts.
- Create clear boundaries for office hours—and stick to them, helping students respect your time and gives you space for work or personal breaks.
- Go for walks in the sunshine.
- Listen to whatever mood music suites you—rap, piano, etc.
- Have fun / Take breaks / Get Rest / Eat a Balanced Meal
- Use anonymous mid-semester feedback surveys that give you a chance to learn about and address issues while there’s still time.
- Let students do their coursework where and when they want to. This reduces several stressors that can help reduce anxiety and even depression.
- Use course templates or previous semester materials to reduce prep time.
- Put out little notes that remind you to ANT: Avoid Negative Thoughts. It’s a reminder to slow down and realize things like a dirty kitchen means we spent our time with our kids.
- Keep personal and work emails separate and disable notifications.
- Build “no meeting” blocks into your calendar for uninterrupted time to plan, reflect, or decompress.
- Take a walk and observe different plants.
- Make it a habit to quickly respond to any emails that require no other input or work outside of writing the response itself. If I address those shorter emails, it helps me feel less overwhelmed. For those that require more work, send a response of receipt and articulate the plan and timeline for further response.
- Forcing time for yourself. I like reading, so I make sure to take at least 5 minutes to read a novel every day.
- Automated email reminders for my students and myself. It means that things I promise at the beginning of the semester don’t drop off as I get busy.
- Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. We all want to give our students the best, but we cannot give constantly. We have to take time to recharge and that might mean not implementing every idea you have.
Recent posts