Taking Care of Ourselves

This week has me thinking about how we can take care of ourselves during times of stress. I feel like many people around me are thinking about the same thing. We all have so much going on in our lives and it doesn’t take much to upset the balance. I recently read a post by Starr Sackstein talking about this very issue, she lists some of the things she does to take time for herself. She also talks about why it is important for her to do this. I think the consequences of not taking time for ourselves are especially powerful, such as misplaced anger. I think taking time can lead to being more productive in the long run too.

Taking time for ourselves often feels like the last thing we are able to do, but it is so important. Right now, my go to activity for stress relief is to grab my dog and head out for a quiet walk. Sometimes we just go for twenty minutes, sometimes we go for more than an hour. I purposefully leave headphones at home and use that time to not only notice my surroundings and appreciate the beauty around me but as a time for quiet reflection.

How do you take time for yourself? What are your favorite methods of relieving stress? How can these skills make us better teachers?

Health and Fitness, First Day

I really enjoyed the first session of my Health, Fitness and Issues of Abuse Class. I left feeling excited about the next few weeks and the upcoming activities. I’ve been interested in health and fitness issues on a personal level for many years and believe that being physically healthy is an important part of a happy, healthy lifestyle.

During the first class session, I found myself reflecting back on the the life skills course I taught during my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I had a class of fifty teenage girls and over the course of the school year we worked on topics such as healthy communication, positive self-esteem and body image and setting goals. We spent a lot of time learning about HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health.  I wanted my students to feel empowered to make healthy choices for themselves and to be educated about their lifestyle decisions. I believe these issues were a vital part of their education and deeply valued my role in working with my students.

In class, while we were thinking about what health education is, one of my group members brought up how we should tie health issues back to the environment and our communities. I really like this idea and it seems like a logical way to integrate health topics into the wider curriculum.

I’m passionate about these issues and I can’t wait to learn more strategies for teaching health and fitness.