I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had a little cry when I’ve felt overwhelmed
Former Teacher at Twinkl
As part of the Our Frontline campaign to support the mental health of all those out working to protect us during the coronavirus crisis, we’ll be regularly sharing stories, tips and other thoughts about what life is like for them at the moment, in their own words.
Becky is a former teacher who now works for Twinkl. In this blog, she introduces the new toolkit Twinkl and Mind have collated, and offers some advice for educators working during this stressful time.
Hey there, Becky from Twinkl Twinkl Twinkl is an online educational publisher, producing teaching and educational materials. View organisation here.
It certainly has been a year unlike any other, hasn’t it? As an ex teacher myself, I’ve always felt I had to wear a lot of different hats and deal with a lot of pressure. Whilst the pandemic has been around this has only increased that pressure and stress a lot more on my teaching friends and the wider community. Having to adapt to so many changes such as government updates, online teaching, social distancing and a school re-opening where the classroom has changed significantly, can only spell stress and a fair few headaches!
It’s essential for educators to take care of their mental health and wellbeing
As members of the school community, we’ve definitely endured the struggles of juggling family life, work commitments and the needs of our pupils and their families during the pandemic. What I think Covid-19Employers: coronavirus and mental health Acas have put together a video to help you look after the mental health and wellbeing of your employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. By: Acas View resource really has taught everyone about teachers is our creativity, compassion and dedication to our roles to accommodate everything during this time, don’t you think?
Unfortunately, it’s easy to not believe this and could be triggered by a few bad days at work, a troublesome pupil or struggling to adapt to a new changeCoping with change Change in the workplace is often inevitable, but the impact it can have upon employees will differ. This guide helps managers guide their staff through stressful periods of change. By: RBS Group View resource. Now more than ever, it’s essential for educators to take care of their mental health and wellbeing. The best way I find is to acknowledge how we’re feeling and be open to ask for help if we need it. There are only so many cute pictures of cats, dogs and memes that we can look at. Which is why it’s great Our Frontline’s experts (Samaritans Samaritans Samaritans provides emotional support to anyone who is struggling to cope. View organisation, Shout Shout Shout is a free 24/7 text service for anyone who’s struggling to cope and needs immediate help. View organisation, Mind Mind Mind provides advice and support on mental health, and campaigns to improve understanding, across England and Wales. View organisation and Hospice UK Hospice UK Hospice UK is a national charity for hospice and palliative care. View organisation) are available 24/7 for confidential chats and advice should you ever need it.
Teachers balancing so many roles often provide their brilliant care at the expense of their own mental health, wellbeing and regular self-care which can leave you feeling inevitably burned out or fatigued. A teacher, or anyone for that matter, with low health and wellbeing, experiencing high levels of stress at workWorkforce stress and the supportive organisation The NHS National Workforce Skills Development Unit has created this framework aimed at helping health and social care employers improve the mental wellbeing of their employees. By: National Workforce Skills Development Unit View resource, will not perform to the best of their ability. At Twinkl, discussing and being open about mental health with others is a top priority for us.
So, we’ve teamed up with Mind Mind Mind provides advice and support on mental health, and campaigns to improve understanding, across England and Wales. View organisation to create a brand-new bank of resources to help you manage your mental health during this crisis. Mind is a charity that helps and supports people with mental health issues. It offers help and advice to those experiencing problems and campaigns for better education and understanding about mental health.
In this toolkit, you can find resources that have been selected by Twinkl’s teachers to help reduce your stress and anxiety and encourage self-care. This includes wellbeing booklets, end of the day checklists, tips for mindful momentsTeacher wellbeing during the pandemic This web page can help you to plan a healthy routine, find times to relax and support you through this difficult time to be a teacher. By: Twinkl View resource and more.
Remember that it’s ok to feel lost, stressed and demotivated during these uncertain times. Take it easy on yourself. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had a little cry when I’ve felt overwhelmed, even for something as mundane as finding a gluestick without a lid!
You’re doing the best that you can in this ever-changing and unique situation. Let’s do all we can to look after ourselves and each other!
