Self-Care for Teachers in Higher Education: How Looking After Ourselves Helps Us to Support Students and Colleagues
摘要
Due to the high levels of stress and burnout experienced by teachers in academia, many are experiencing a decline in their wellbeing, leaving them either considering leaving or leaving the profession. Teaching in academia is complex and involves myriad roles and relationships, resulting in teachers being pulled in multiple directions and faced with many demands. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. Building a self-care practice provides an antidote to this. Through information and exercises, this chapter will explore the importance of teachers learning to care for and support themselves—and each other—to effectively support their students and colleagues. It addresses the causes of burnout and the importance of self-awareness and self-care in building resilience. Finally, it emphasises the importance of taking time to reflect on life in all areas—work, home, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual—to keep in tune with what the life balance is like at any given time. When teachers function at their best, students and colleagues benefit enormously.