TeachersFirst Self Care for Educators
View this collection of resources offering nurturing to the nurturers and acknowledging the unique challenges faced by those who dedicate their lives to shaping young minds. In the demanding world of education, where giving is constant and burnout is common, these carefully curated tools and resources are designed to help educators replenish their own wells of resilience and compassion. This collection recognizes that teacher well-being directly impacts student success, from podcasts to meditation to puzzles for brain breaks. Find practical, evidence-based approaches to physical, emotional, and professional self-care that can be seamlessly integrated into even the busiest educator's schedule.
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The A-Z of Self-Care for Teachers: 26 Tips to Use Today - Teacher Zone
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271)
In the Classroom
Integrate short, energizing activities, such as stretching, desk yoga, or quick dance breaks, to keep both students and teachers refreshed and engaged. Create a gratitude wall or have students share something positive each day to foster a culture of appreciation and emotional well-being. Build a supportive classroom environment through team-building activities, peer check-ins, and collaborative learning promoting a sense of belonging and reducing stress. Set healthy boundaries by scheduling time for self-care and sharing the importance of balance with students, such as encouraging them to take breaks and manage their workload effectively.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Developing a Self-Care Plan - ReachOut
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271)
In the Classroom
Foster peer connections through kindness challenges, team-building exercises, or gratitude activities that promote a supportive and caring classroom culture. Have students create their own simple self-care plans, identifying activities that help them manage stress and stay balanced, reinforcing the importance of well-being. Build in structured breaks, such as mindfulness moments, stretching, or quiet time, to help maintain a calm and focused learning environment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Why Self-Care? - Cynthia James
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57)
In the Classroom
Incorporate journaling using ePubEditor, reviewed here or discussion prompts that encourage students to reflect on their emotions, goals, and personal growth, reinforcing the importance of self-awareness. Model healthy work-life balance by setting clear expectations for grading turnaround times, email responses, and student workload to prevent burnout. Foster an environment of encouragement and mutual respect by celebrating small wins, practicing kindness, and incorporating affirmations into daily routines.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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50 Self-Care Ideas for Teachers - Vanessa
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Set up a designated space where students (and you) can take short breaks to reset with stress-relief tools such as fidget items, mindfulness coloring sheets, or breathing exercises. Create a weekly or monthly challenge where you and your students set self-care goals, including drinking enough water, practicing gratitude, or taking mindful movement breaks. Integrate short movement activities, stretching, or guided breathing exercises throughout the day to help reduce stress and improve focus for both you and your students. Dedicate a few minutes each week to self-reflection, where students (and you) write about accomplishments, gratitude, or personal growth, reinforcing the importance of mental well-being. Create a book online using Book Creator, reviewed here or ePubEditor, reviewed here for this activity. Encourage self-care and emotional well-being by displaying uplifting quotes, student-created affirmations, or "kindness shoutouts" to create a supportive classroom environment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Three R's for Teacher Self-Care: Reflect. Release. Recharge - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Incorporate creative outlets such as drawing, writing, or music breaks to help students (and yourself) release tension and refocus. Allow students to choose comfortable seating or movement-friendly options to promote a stress-free and adaptable learning environment. Regularly share positive moments, shoutouts, or gratitude statements as a class to build a supportive and uplifting environment. Set aside a few minutes for quiet reading, mindfulness, or deep breathing exercises to help everyone reset and regain energy.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Complete Guide to Self-Care for Educators - Purdue Global
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Start or end the day with a brief mindfulness exercise, such as deep breathing, guided meditation, or a gratitude reflection, to help both you and your students reset and focus. Incorporate short physical activity breaks, such as stretching, chair yoga, or quick energizers, to boost mood and reduce stress for both you and your students. Create a classroom culture that values self-care by celebrating small wins, using positive affirmations, and fostering an atmosphere of kindness and support.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Burned-In Teacher - Dr. Chris Jones
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): mental health (57), podcasts (137), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Encourage students (and yourself) to keep a journal where they reflect on challenges, successes, and growth opportunities, fostering a mindset of resilience and continuous improvement. Create the journals online with Book Creator, reviewed here or Google Slides, reviewed here. Empower students by giving them leadership roles in the classroom, allowing them to take ownership of projects, problem-solving, and peer mentoring. Work with students to set personal and academic goals, reinforcing the idea that growth stems from intentional reflection and action, rather than success or failure. Integrate conversations about perseverance, leadership, and personal development into classroom discussions, helping students see challenges as opportunities for growth.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Resilient Teacher Podcast - Brittany Blackwell
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), podcasts (137), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Implement strategies from the podcast to create a supportive and inclusive classroom, emphasizing growth mindset, positive affirmations, and student-led discussions on well-being. Set clear expectations for work-life balance by managing grading time, limiting after-hours emails, and modeling self-care practices for students. Create a PLC that listens to the podcast and holds discussions (such as a book club) regularly to support one another. Use podcast insights on managing stress cycles to help students recognize their emotions and develop effective coping strategies, such as journaling or taking movement breaks. Use reflection prompts from the podcast to assess teaching practices, set personal growth goals, and collaborate with colleagues on sustainable strategies to reduce burnout.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is Teacher Self-Care, and How Do You Practice It? - Waterford.org
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Start or end the day with a short mindfulness exercise, such as deep breathing, guided meditation, or a gratitude reflection. This benefits both students and teachers by creating a calm, focused learning environment. Encourage a culture of gratitude by having students contribute to a gratitude wall or keep individual gratitude journals. Participating alongside students can help teachers cultivate positivity in their daily routines. Create the journals digitally by individual Book Creator stories reviewed here or a class journal in Google Slides reviewed here. Incorporate quick check-ins at the start of class where students and teachers can share how they're feeling using a mood scale, emojis, or reflective prompts. This fosters a supportive environment and reminds teachers to be aware of their own well-being. Schedule short movement breaks, stretching, or relaxation activities throughout the day. These moments help reduce stress and keep both students and teachers refreshed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Self-Care Tips For Teachers That You've Never Heard Before - Everything AJA
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): mental health (57), podcasts (137), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Play soft instrumental music during independent work time to create a soothing environment that enhances focus and reduces stress for both students and teachers. Assign students responsibilities like passing out papers, organizing materials, or updating the classroom calendar to reduce your workload and build student ownership. Choose one day per week to stay late for grading, lesson planning, or preparing materials, so the rest of the week remains manageable without constant overtime. Arrive a little earlier to set up the day's materials, adjust the classroom environment, and mentally prepare, helping to reduce the feeling of being rushed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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6 Self-Care and Wellness Resources for Teachers and School Employees - Panorama Education
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271)
In the Classroom
Teachers can implement social-emotional learning in the classroom. Teachers can begin to look deeper into their mental health and well-being. Teachers can discuss ways to focus more on mental health for themselves and their students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teacher Self Care: Free Online Tools for When You Lack the Will to Teach - E2e's Teacher Self Care: Free Online Tools for When You Lack th
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), social and emotional learning (111)
In the Classroom
Try the different activities and web resources suggested on the website.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FREE Self-Care Teacher Toolkit - The Self Care Toolkit
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), social and emotional learning (111)
In the Classroom
Try the different activities in the toolkit and discuss ways to implement self-care within the school itself.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teacher Tips for Practicing Self-Care - Nearpod Blog
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), social and emotional learning (111)
In the Classroom
Teachers can implement social-emotional learning in the classroom. Teachers can begin to look deeper into their mental health and well-being. Discuss ways to focus more on mental health for themselves and their students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Self-Care for Educators - Dr. Tina H. Boogren
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), podcasts (137), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Teachers can listen to an episode during their commute or morning routine to set a positive tone for the day and gain actionable self-care strategies. The podcast offers simple, practical advice (like staying hydrated or setting boundaries) that teachers can immediately apply to their routines to prevent burnout. School leaders or teacher teams can use podcast episodes as discussion starters in staff meetings or professional learning communities (PLCs) to promote a culture of well-being. Educators can use the podcast topics as prompts for self-reflection, journaling, or discussions with colleagues about improving work-life balance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The FuelEd blog - Megan Marcus
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), podcasts (137), professional development (271), Teacher Utilities (198)
In the Classroom
Instead of focusing solely on surface-level self-care (like spa days), teachers can implement self-preservation strategies that address emotional and mental well-being, such as setting boundaries and practicing self-compassion. FuelEd emphasizes the power of connection so teachers can use their training to foster stronger relationships with students, colleagues, and administrators through empathy and active listening. Teachers can engage in self-reflection activities to better understand their triggers, stressors, and emotional responses, helping them navigate challenges with resilience. By advocating for community care, teachers can work with peers to create a culture where educators support one another's growth and well-being, leading to a more positive school environment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Teacher Self-Care Toolkit - Routledge
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271)
In the Classroom
Although this document includes ideas and valuable information for individual learners, it is also a helpful guide for use with a peer learning group. Consider reading a chapter monthly and using it as a discussion topic for your learning group. Use AI tools such as Claude, reviewed here or Perplexity, reviewed here to generate a list of questions to guide your discussions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Module 3: Self-Care Guide for All Staff - National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271)
In the Classroom
Share this module with peers as a guide to learn about the importance and benefits of self-care personally and professionally. Use an AI tool such as ChatGPT, reviewed here to plan a schedule for completing the module. For example, include the link to this document and ask ChatGPT to create a 6-week schedule to complete all activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Module 8: Self-Care for Educators - Distance Learning Consortium
Grades
K to 12tag(s): mental health (57), professional development (271)
In the Classroom
Use this teaching module, either personally or within a group, to understand the importance of self-care and begin implementing strategies that improve teacher well-being. If working with a group, create a Padlet, reviewed here to share wellness resources and document the implementation of wellness strategies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Teacher's Pump-Up Playlist to Get You Through Your Day - Education World
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): classroom management (105), mental health (57), professional development (271), songs (47)
In the Classroom
Save this list or add the playlist to your Spotify account to boost your spirits and increase energy throughout the school year. Share ideas with other teachers and create a school playlist for educators. Include songs from the list as a class anthem; for example, play a motivational song as students enter the classroom to get the day off to a good start or play a favorite tune as students pack up to go home at the end of the day.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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