Introduction

Being a teacher is incredibly challenging these days. It requires immense dedication, resilience and constant adaptation. Don’t get me wrong, it can be rewarding but unfortunately it is often characterised with challenges that in my experience, never used to be there. Ever increasing workloads and having to be a jack of all trades often leads teachers to burnout. Finding effective teacher stress relief strategies is essential for maintaining well-being.

This blog post explores the importance of self-care rituals for teachers, offering practical tips and strategies to help you recharge and rejuvenate at home. 

I also focus on Synthesis Organics which offers a range of natural and high-quality self-care products designed to nourish your body and mind. By incorporating Synthesis Organics products into your daily routine, you can create personalized self-care rituals to combat teacher burnout.

Understanding Teacher Burnout

Teacher burnout is a serious issue in Australia, largely driven by overwhelming workloads, a lack of respect for our profession, and the often-implied incompetence by school leaders. It feels like our skills and expertise are overlooked, amidst the administrative burden and amongst a sea of inexperienced leaders that have spent very little time in the classroom.

Self-care rituals and routines at home may help prevent burnout and keep us going when the demands of teaching feel overwhelming.

Creating a Soothing Evening Routine for Teacher stress relief

After a long day of teaching I’ve discovered the true power of a soothing evening routine.

Here are 3 ways I unwind:

1. As teachers, we often underestimate the importance of quality sleep for our well-being. But I’ve discovered it’s the cornerstone of maintaining my passion and energy each day. Teacher stress relief starts with a good night’s sleep.

And while it might be tempting to unwind with a glass of wine after a challenging day, I believe avoiding alcohol is crucial for ensuring a truly restorative night’s sleep. Alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, but it disrupts your sleep cycles, particularly REM sleep, as you sleep it off and it is eliminated from your body. This can lead to poor sleep quality and leaving you feeling groggy and unfocused the next day because you have not proper sleep.

Aromatherapy for teacher stress relief

2. For a few years now, I’ve been incorporating Synthesis Organics Spectrum Face Mist and Light Haven aura mist into my wind-down ritual for teacher stress relief. It’s been something I look forward to every evening.

As is the norm for teachers these days, we spend way too much time in front of screens, more than we ever used to. This can take its toll on our skin and mental health so I use their Spectrum Face Mist to protect against blue light. There is a bottle next to my computer to spray whenever I need to throughout the day. I also treat myself to misting my face after a shower. 

I use Light Haven mist spray after my shower spraying it all over. This helps quiet my racing thoughts with its calming aroma. I savor these few seconds and breathe deeply. Having the familiarity of these scents helps ground me.

And just before I get into bed and under my doona, I use the Synthesis Organics Breath of Australia roll on massage oil. By rubbing the oil on my temples and wrists, it helps to eliminate any remaining stress.

This slow, intentional approach to my evenings has not only improved my sleep quality but has also rekindled my love for a slower pace of life outside the classroom. Who knew that such a small simple routine could make such a big difference in a teacher’s life?

Meditation for teacher stress relief

3. I’ve discovered that incorporating practices like deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation into my evening routine, has significantly reduced stress and improved my overall well-being. Often we forget to just breathe. Taking deep breaths seems to reset my body and remind it to relax. When it comes to meditation, I never really knew what meditation actually was and how to do it. I thought I did but when I was deep in the middle of teacher burnout I discovered the meditations on the Headspace channel on YouTube. By watching these videos, I learnt how to properly use meditation to calm myself down. Lastly, muscle relaxation is a new one for me. Just simple stretching my body throughout my day, help me relax. It might be stretching my legs before I stand up after sitting for a long period of time at my desk.

Mindfulness and relaxation practices are powerful tools for teachers seeking to cultivate inner peace and resilience. Breathing techniques have offered me a sanctuary amidst my often chaotic day and has allowed me to recharge. Meditation and muscle stretching have taught me valuable insights into slowing down in my busy days.

Energizing Morning Rituals

I’ll be honest, I hate mornings. Especially when I have to get up before the sun rises. Getting up in the dark doesn’t seem right to me anymore. There are few things that work for me in the mornings. So I’m absolutely no use in this space to offer any advice!

However, once I’m up these things help me start my day in a productive way:

1. Wake up 30 minutes before I get my kids up.
2. Gentle stretches
3. Get things ready the night before (uniforms and some snacks)
4. Get my husband to help by making breakfasts
5. Listening to podcasts on my morning commute
6. Review lesson plans to ensure I have everything I need
7. Short walks between classes and duties
8. Connect with colleagues
9. Practice gratitude

Teacher Stress Relief Techniques with Synthesis Organics

Aromatherapy can help reduce stress throughout the teaching day too. When you inhale the aromas of certain essential oils it sends a calming message to your brain like a fragrant hug. Certain smells can help trigger memories and emotions. 

Using Synthesis Organics mists and sprays can help create a calming workspace. They can trigger the release of feel good hormones like serotonin and dopamine. By mixing these aromas with deep breathing exercises, stress hormones like cortisol can be reduced. 

Conclusion

Your mind and body are deeply connected. But we often neglect through no fault of our own, to take care of them. 

When teachers act on the importance of self-care rituals for themselves, they can be better equipped to handle stress.  

Creating a spa-like experience at home or during a busy day, could be the answer and Synthesis Organics can certainly help with that. Whether it’s finding a few seconds or minutes in the day to take a break from screens, indulge in a cup of herbal tea, breathe in some scents of essential oil mists and sprays or meditate with a few deep breaths. 

I encourage you to experiment with different Synthesis Organics products to find your perfect self-care routine.