Mental and physical health, large smiles, less worries and open souls. Big words, isn’t it? And they define a new concept called well-being, well-being in schools, well-being during classes, well-being in relationship with our students, their parents and the community teachers work in. Moreover in the context of online teaching.
In all the schools, the well-being of teachers is built like a shelter, it starts with the foundation, with a good organization, a clear allocation of responsibilities, a culture of support and collaboration and so on. After that, all sorts of ingredients are added to increase that safe feeling for teachers: engagement, being completely absorbed in activities, open relationships, understanding or professional support.
In order to help ourselves to increase the well-being in us, the teachers, we must reconnect to our goal – to remember every day why we have become teachers. It is recommended to adopt an open mind set – not to forget that we are also people who learn, who reflect ideas, who make and accept mistakes. We must focus on kindness and generosity – these always bring us positive emotions, good vibes, as long as we treat people as we want to be treated.
It is well known the fact that our behaviour at work influences our personal life. That’s why another important aspect that should be taken into account is to clearly delimit home from schooling – when we get home, let’s forget that we are teachers. Once back home, we should build our emotional resilience – spend time with friends and family, read, watch movies, take care of our hobbies. It is important to give time to ourselves: make our own „gifts” – a walk in nature, a romantic dinner or to sleep well and as much as necessary – this will keep us in a state of physical health.
To reach the state of well-being, it is also helpful to find someone in the institution to talk to about problems at school – a colleague, a mentor, a coach. We must speak our mind, reveal our fears or ask for help when we are not sure on a problem or a task. Communication is the key of success.
Last but not least, we must set goals that can be achieved – this will motivate us to work enthusiastically by making new connections and relationships – for example, trying to get to know our colleagues and students better, but also the parents of the children we work with.
The school can no longer afford remaining a prisoner of the past, where the educational act was built mainly on the reality of subordination between teachers and students, a relationship that we must recognize that most often was based on respect born of fear rather than professional appreciation or the human quality of the teaching staff. We cannot have school success and happy children if the teachers do not work with love and pleasure on every child.