One way to easily burn out in any job is to be overwhelmed by the amount of stress it causes. Whether it is from deadlines, the number of responsibilities placed on one worker, or covering for someone when they are out or released from a company, it is easy to compromise one’s own wellness to continue collecting a paycheck. This is why it is integral to incorporate a strong wellness program for district members in the school community. Promoting quality of life and lowering the risks for illnesses or diseases should be a goal of every district.
A wellness program isn’t always just focused on those working in education. It can involve every community member, including students, educators, and whole families. Wellness is intended to strengthen the physical and mental health of those involved. So, what are the components of a solid wellness initiative?
Components of a Comprehensive District Wellness Program
The first major step is to have a wellness committee, one that consists of action-oriented people who are willing to direct and advise others regarding school policies and procedures. These members will collaborate to build wellness opportunities into the school day or professional learning days, where time permits, to balance out the academic portions of those professional experiences. They must research and provide health-related initiatives comprehensively throughout a district in order to support health in numerous areas: mental, spiritual, physical, intellectual, and social, to name some examples.
That committee can then promote the different activities that will engage members. Some examples include exercise challenges between teachers and staff or groups versus groups. These range from the most steps walked in a week or month to the most weight lost healthily during the course of a month. It can even be related to spin classes, yoga gatherings, and weightlifting, for example.
The committee may even promote prizes, such as paying for the first three months of a gym membership or reimbursing someone for six months of an exercise membership if that member attends a certain number of times per month.
Benefits for Educators
Implementing a health fair annually or bi-annually can help members buy in to pay attention to their health. Working with local health agencies and hospitals, an entire “fair” of options can be so beneficial. Having blood drawn provides a snapshot of health for those participating; providing massages and/or chiropractic sessions is another avenue toward building one’s health and relieving stress; presenting resources pertaining to substance and alcohol abuse can be helpful for those who might be or have family members who are experiencing these issues.
Attending nutrition seminars can be invaluable in building better health as a community. Knowing the importance of eating right will build productive employees with energy and less fatigue, providing better and more enjoyable work time. This correlates also with appropriate amounts of sleep on appropriate mattresses, a whole different concept to research in order to live a healthy life. Feeding the body and sleeping well will enhance the brain to improve overall functioning.
Also, being part of a wellness community builds friendships and provides accountability partners who can support each other throughout the process, especially when times get difficult, or it becomes tough to keep moving forward. Sustaining these friendships and promoting collaboration among peers are vital parts of the social elements of health. Those in education did not enter the career because they wanted to work in isolation. Educators have a desire to have a significant impact on as many lives as possible and doing that in a socially healthy way is so important. And wellness committees can provide these moments of support and encouragement.
Benefits for Students
Establishing and promoting these healthy living concepts translates into all levels of interactions, specifically with students. If teachers and staff are optimistic and energetic during their workdays, it only makes sense that this energy will transfer to students.
Incorporating the elements of teachers’ wellness initiatives will benefit all students, whether it is by providing healthy snacks, such as carrots and celery instead of typical candy rewards; engaging students in small exercise movements while they are learning a lesson; or celebrating a correct answer with a jumping jack for elementary students or Around the World vocabulary games for middle and high school students. Integrating any strategy to get students moving and out of their sedentary mind frames is a positive goal for any and all lessons.
One area that is not mentioned as often is intellectual wellness. If educators become stagnant in their strategies or professional research and knowledge, it will certainly translate into bad teaching, and students will observe this type of attitude. By stimulating the academic and intellectual portions of their lives, educators can transmit information to students in a way that challenges them to evaluate ideas cognitively, thus promoting healthy living to another generation. Testing one’s mind is as important as testing one’s physical nature, regarding a balance in maintaining wellness.
Promoting students’ emotional and social well-being is a significant responsibility for educators. Instilling healthy ways to live and recognizing those negative aspects that can influence bad choices will help all community members lead fruitful and satisfying lives. But those in education must take the time to improve their own lives before they can help build others up in positive ways. To sacrifice oneself does nothing to help others, and that is the business to which we have all committed ourselves.
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