Something about seeing our district’s school busses during the summer, before school starts, gets me excited!

I feel a sense of pride and energy to do better, “go harder” and create amazing learning spaces for students and the educators who support them. 

We carry our students and their families in our minds and hearts when we go home. Our brains do not turn off when we go to sleep; we wake up at 3 am with brilliant plans for our students. Our partners could probably substitute for us at work with ease because we’ve talked to them ad nauseam about the work we love so much; unless of course, your partner has already given you a cease and desist order to stop talking about work (I haven’t received one yet, but I am on the verge lol).

However, this year I am reminding myself and my colleagues to create self-care practices that allow us to disconnect and re-engage with who and what we love (other than work). I am learning that self-care is productive because I come back each Monday re-energized and ready to take on the week! I have been a hypocrite for years, preaching self-care but practicing none. I treated myself like I was a machine but, like the title of a book I am #NowReading “The Body Keeps the Score,” if we are not careful the continual self-neglect can trigger physical symptoms that force us to slow down to take care of ourselves. We are not machines. Yet, the work we do is the most important work (I am unapologetically bias), we must take care of ourselves to give our students, families and colleagues our very best each day. 

But most important, the people who love us also need us to come home each day and they deserve our best selves. When guilt attempts to creep in for practicing the self-care you deserve and need tell guilt, “nope, not today” then give yourself permission to enjoy your time. #SelfCareIsProductive