1st Edition
The ‘How’ of Self-Care for Teachers Building your Wellbeing Toolbox
Providing insights, ideas, strategies and compassion, this book offers a new way of looking at self-care for educators experiencing exhaustion and stress, or who may simply be feeling more tired than they should be.
Drawing on personal experiences of burnout, as well as research in wellbeing literacy, self-care and positive psychology, Narelle Lemon presents a new framework for self-care. Designed especially for teachers of any discipline or sector, the framework is based on five key dimensions:
- self-compassion,
- mindful awareness,
- habits,
- time, and
- empowerment.
Evidence-based and easy to follow, these dimensions scaffold the tools and strategies offered in the book, allowing the reader to create their own toolbox based on what resonates with them most. The book is designed to be flexible, so the reader is encouraged to follow the recommendations as closely as they wish, or to take inspiration for their own ideas, acknowledging that tools will change over time and across contexts. The practical tools in this book are further supported by reflective prompts, as well as opportunities for extension with tips for leaders, working groups and the education sector more broadly.
Written by a teacher for teachers, this book gives you not only the tools but also the permission to look after yourself. It will show you that self-care is an act of self-love, self-compassion, and self-awareness, and that it is relational and you need to care for you in order to care for others.
Introduction: To my colleagues 1. A ‘toolbox’ for self-care 2. Self-care and me, time to become closer 3. Developing your self-care muscle 4. Cultivating your self-compassion 5. Empowerment and tuning in to your own self-care 6. Being mindfully aware 7. Habits, boundaries and you 8. The elusiveness of time 9. What gift are you able to give yourself?
Biography
Narelle Lemon is a VC Professorial Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, and an interdisciplinary scholar specialising in arts, education and positive psychology. Her research focuses on enhancing wellbeing literacy in K-12 schools, teacher education, higher education and community settings, emphasising evidence-based practices for proactive flourishing.
“What a treasure trove of scientifically informed self-care strategies! It’s clear that this wonderful text is written by someone well versed in the challenges of being a professional educator. Prof Narelle Lemon provides practical, tried and tested strategies that are "non-negotiables" for anyone working in education or other helping professions.”
Dr Suzy Green, D Psych (Clin) MAPS, Founder and CEO The Positivity Institute, Sydney, Australia
“As a time famished high school teacher who moonlights as a teacher educator, I rushed to print out the manuscripts 9 chapters. I can’t wait to curl up with the bound edition once sealed. So much love poured into the text - a GREAT reference! I hope to engage my high school students in some of the reflective practices. I especially love Dr. Lemon’s candid approach to what felt like a fireside chat with a best friend!”
Dr Linda Noble, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Education, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, USA
“Informed by positive psychology, "The How of Self-Care for Teachers: Building your Toolbox for Wellbeing" offers educators research-based strategies to reset and reinvigorate individual | collective wellbeing. The book is a gentle, timely, reminder that habits of self-care require our constant attention and cultivation in micro moments as well as sustained practice.”
Dr Malgorzata Powietrzynska, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Education, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, USA
“Be gentle on yourself is such a powerful message that resonates with me as a longtime NZ educator. Being everything to everybody is challenging. Looking back I realise how stress is insidious in that you don’t realise how much you’ve been subconsciously absorbing it, often by putting self-care to the side. Narelle draws on her own experiences in an unflinching and proactive manner to encourage us all to take care of our own wellbeing. A must read for potential educators in preparation courses as well as those in the field. This is a generous book which will keep on giving to us all.”
Associate Professor Joanna Higgins, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
