Take Care of Yourself This School Year

School is starting. You ready to freak out?

Maybe you’re excited to finally get some you time with your kiddos in school or maybe you’re a teacher like me and the thought of hot coffee is slowly slipping by and being replaced with cold, stale coffee.

Whichever one you are, you can still get in the trap of not taking care of yourself once that school bell rings. All of a sudden there are before and after care activities, ball games, art projects, and nightly folders. If you’re anything like me you find yourself six weeks in wondering how you got off track when it comes to taking care of yourself!

Yet, never fear, Faith is here 😉

I’ve got some incredible tips that will help make sure this school year your mental health doesn’t fall behind. This time around you are making yourself a priority!

Ways to Take Care of Yourself

Exercise:

Girl, I know. It’s not my favorite, but man when I get done with a workout I’m beaming from ear to ear. I’m so incredibly proud of myself and the health benefits are insane. Insane in the membrane. 😉 There are many ways to work out. Go on a walk, join a gym, or find an at-home workout on Pinterest. While you’re there make sure to click that follow button so you can continue to get more great workout ideas!

Eat Healthy:

For those that know me know I struggle when it comes to cooking. Honestly, I believe my perfectionism comes out and I feel I need to create a Pinterest worthy meal or it’s not worth cooking. Then I had Lydia and I realized I needed to step up my cooking game in order to make sure she was getting the nutrients from me that she needs. A friend told me about Your Dinner Is Planned. (No, this isn’t a paid ad. Although, that would be the bees freakin’ knees) Check her out on Facebook. You pay $18 a month and she sends you 5 recipes a week. All things I’m obsessed with. Green apple, pecan salad. Sure! What about enchiladas? Uh yes! Or steak and mango chutney?! Stapph. I’m dying!

Another way to eat healthy is of course, checking out Pinterest. There are so many incredible recipes from freezer meals, to meal prepping, to crockpot galore. Make it a plan to use Sunday to schedule out your week. Meal plan if needed. Set yourself up for success from the start! This way, when you come home from work, dragging you already have a delicious crockpot waiting for you!

Drink Water:

Yep, I’m your 8th grade health teacher now. Remember growing up, they’d tell you all the time “Drink more water!” But, you were 14 and Hello! Obviously we are way smarter at 14 than we are now. We are especially smarter than our teachers. Right? Anyone else like that in Jr. High?

Yet, what did we find out when we got older? Oh, drinking more water does have amazing health benefits. The biggest one for me is that if you become even slightly dehydrated, 1%-3%, your overall mood and energy is hindered. Wow! Just drinking water changes that for us.

A great way to drink more water is by having a designated water jug. For me, I use the one the hospital gave me for having Lydia. You know, the jug that tells everyone I popped out a kid. If you don’t have a go-to jug here are some from Amazon.

Use an ordinary water bottle, one with a seal for no spills, a fruit infused one to spruce up your water, or a time marker one to hold yourself accountable. Whichever one you chose, just make sure you are drinking water!

Plan Your Self Care Time:

Take out your calendar right now. Figure out which day of the week/month you are devoting to just you time! For example, my husband is obsessed with basketball. He lives for it. So, every Sunday, he attends Mens League at his school. Very rarely does he ever miss.

Why?

Because we both know that is his time. His time to get away from the rush of this life and zone out doing something he loves.

What about you? What is something that relaxes you? Do you like to color? Maybe you love getting your nails done or you love to read a good book with some coffee. Find whatever that is something is and put it in your planner. Tell your partner and family that this time is a non-negotiable time. You deserve it and you’ll thank yourself later for making this a priority.

If you need some help finding some things to help you unwind check out some of my favorites below.

Best Way To Keep Your Sanity

Say No:

I’m saving this bad boy for last. This one, I believe, is the most important way to not lose yourself this school year. You need to learn to tell people no. I get it, I’m a teacher, I ask for volunteers all the time. Come read to my class. Come help on field trips. Etc. While lending a helping hand is a great way to show Jesus’s love for each other, you need to make sure you’re not drowning.

Here’s a tip:

When someone asks you if you can volunteer or watch their kids or pick something up, tell them you need to check your schedule. Then go home and do just that! Check it! Do you already have three things going on that day and going to the store for said person is going to make you more rushed? Don’t do it!

IT’S OKAY!

Let me repeat that for you.

IT’S OKAY!

Your friend won’t all of a sudden say you’re a terrible person. They won’t start telling you you are never there for them. They will understand. We all know life is busy and things can become hectic in no time. Although, if they are rude to you, you maybe need to check your friends. Just a little PSA.

I pray that these tips will help you make sure the rest of the year and those to come are more grounding and bring about joy. May you take care of you this year!

Although I’ve lived with mental illness my whole life, I am not a medical professional. You can find a therapist anywhere in the United States here. This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure here.