School is Starting! Are You Ready for the New Year?
Calling all teachers, high school students, school health care providers, college students, family members, professors, support staff, and all those impacted by school out there, let's have a conversation about the new school year approaching!
“It is crucial that in this time of transition we prepare ourselves to succeed.”
As a current professor and through my memories as a teaching fellow, teaching aide, and after school/during school activities facilitator, school starting can be filled with emotions. All the emotions that come with the beginning of the school year are valid. We just need to begin thinking about how we take care of ourselves and how that lessens the likelihood of burnout throughout the school year.
Here are a couple of tips that I have for us to think about:
Routines: What routines do you have? Is there a certain type of time of day that you are waking up and going to bed? Are you eating regularly? Are there parts of a routine that you need to begin to implement again? Thinking of all of these different factors can be daunting and exciting at the same time. However, it is important that if help and support is needed, we reach out and ask for them. It is crucial that in this time of transition we prepare ourselves to succeed. Understanding and changing up our routine so they work for us is an important way of doing that.
Expectations: There are a myriad of commercials, ads, TV episodes, and movies that talk about going back to school and they range from being very excited to experiencing dread. The spectrum that we see can very much reflect real experiences. However it is important to remember expectations are helpful to have but they should not be the final word of how the school year goes. The year tends to be full of surprises and expectations can shift throughout the year. That is OK!
Support: This may be a great time to think about your mental health plan and what supports you will need to lean into. Is it a counselor at your school or college campus? Or a provider on your parents insurance? Or someone paid out of pocket for therapy? Each option can be great and can meet needs regarding accessibility. Finding the right fit and access for you can start your school year off with a bang!
As we all go back, let's all take a collective deep breath and know we need to remember to give grace and receive it from others. What are your thoughts on the school year?
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