This is Mr. Funky Teacher with BeAFunkyTeacher.com. I’m coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast. Welcome back, everyone. Today’s podcast is focusing on teacher self care strategies to recharge and avoid burnout. That’s what we’re focusing on. But before we get into it, let’s talk about three things I’m thankful for. First, I’m thankful for when I get a chance to laugh with friends. Laughing with friends—there’s nothing like it. It’s a reset to your spirit, bringing joy and shared laughter together. I just love it. Next, ladybugs. I was out next to a river last night paddling, and I used a porta potty type of bathroom. There was a ladybug in there, and it reminded me how small surprises in nature can bring such delight. I just thought it was great. Third, a good burger. Simple, satisfying, and one of life’s underrated pleasures. We ate burgers after paddling on the river, and it was perfect. All right, y’all, let’s get into it. We’re focusing on teacher self care strategies to recharge and avoid burnout. Self care looks different for every teacher. Some teachers recharge with quiet time, others with adventure. There isn’t one right way. If something recharges you and fills your battery up, then that’s it. For me, recharging yesterday was right after school got out. As soon as my contract time ended, I drove two hours to a place called Split Rock Creek with a paddling club out of Sioux Falls. There were 13 of us out on the river, and that trip was exactly what I needed to reset. Thankfully, my wife was able to handle things at home, and she said, “Yep, go—go paddle, go reset.” I was so thankful for that opportunity. It had been a month or two since I’d been out on the water paddling, and I needed it. And even for me, the type of water matters. Yesterday I wanted calm, beautiful water with stone cliffs around—nothing intense. Sometimes I want white water that gets my heart rate up, or some intensity, or river surfing. But yesterday I needed calm and beauty, and it did my mental health and physical health so much good. It charged my battery. Now, that might not be self care for someone else. Someone else might want to read, get their nails done, or do something totally different. There are a lot of ways to do self care. The next big area is this: small moments matter as much as big ones. Self care doesn’t have to mean a long trip. It doesn’t have to mean a big getaway weekend or a vacation. Self care can look like a five minute hallway walk, or listening to a favorite song after dismissal. I love listening to TobyMac. When I’m jamming out to TobyMac, I can feel my battery filling up. Sometimes it’s one or two songs and I can feel it. Self care can also be saying no to one extra commitment. A lot of small commitments pile up and overwhelm us, and they can burn us out. The little things add up and prevent burnout. We have to prevent burnout before it starts, and paying attention to those little things matters. Next: self care is sustainable, not selfishness. There have been times in my life where I felt almost selfish for taking time for self care. But self care is not selfishness. Self care is sustainability. I’ve found that teachers can feel guilty about prioritizing themselves. Let’s talk truth for a minute: taking care of yourself lets you bring more energy, more patience, and more creativity to students. Period. Case closed. Think of it as fueling up, not checking out. Write that down. It’s going to be in a test: fuel up, not check out. Last night I got home around 11:00pm. I unloaded the car, got cleaned up, showered, and was in bed around 11:45. That’s fine. Could I have used that time to grade more or do paperwork? Sure. But mentally and physically, that paddling trip helped me more. Leaning into the work more isn’t self care. If I want sustainability, I have to take care of myself—and you do too. It’s not selfishness. Now, there are different kinds of teacher self care. Self care isn’t one size fits all. Here are some categories and examples. Physical self care can be as simple as going for a walk, a run, a bike ride, or a hike. Maybe stretching between classes. Getting enough sleep. Getting enough sleep can be a game changer for energy. Emotional self care can be journaling. That can sound cliche, but it matters. One of the ways I journal is through this podcast. It’s like an audio journal. One aspect I really like is the three things I’m thankful for. That gratitude piece is part of my emotional self care. My mom, when she was alive, stressed how important gratitude was. If I was complaining or upset, she’d stop and say, “All right, what are three things you’re thankful for in your life, Nicholas?” She was adamant about it, and she was right. Laughing with friends is emotional self care too. And talking with a trusted colleague or a counselor matters. I have a grief therapist I still see after my mom’s passing. I see her about once a month, sometimes twice a month. With the transition into a new school district, it’s been about two times a month, but it’ll probably go back to once a month. That matters for my emotional self care, my mental health, and taking care of myself. Mental self care can be reading a book for fun, listening to a podcast that inspires you, listening to an audiobook, or learning something new outside of teaching. I had Donna Nguyen—my supervising teacher, the late, great Donna Nguyen. She was an amazing human being who passed away tragically in a car accident. One thing she promoted to me was this: “Nicholas, learn something new that’s hard for you.” When you learn something hard, you don’t forget what it’s like to be a student. You stay connected to student struggles. That helps us have empathy and compassion for the kids we’re entrusted to teach. That was great advice. Another area is spiritual self care. Praying, meditating, reflecting—my Christian faith is very important to me, and I say that proudly. I respect whatever your faith is or your beliefs are. There might be times I talk about my Christian faith because it’s important to me. I’ll never judge someone for their faith. There are all kinds of differences that make this world go around. My faith is part of my self care—praying, meditating, leaning into God and Jesus. It’s important to me. Spiritual self care can also be getting outside in nature. Being out in nature does a body good. Last night paddling on Split Rock Creek was a spiritual connection for me. I could feel my battery filling up. And pause to notice small joys—like a ladybug. Don’t miss those. And y’all, practice practical self care too. Organizing your desk, planning your week ahead, meal prep, packing snacks—planning for healthy choices matters. The other day I didn’t plan well, and I picked up fast food while working at my dad’s. I got these really greasy tacos I hadn’t eaten in months, and afterwards I wished I hadn’t. They were a gut bomb. At one time I thought they were great, but since I’ve prioritized physical health, I don’t eat like I used to. I’ve lost 80 pounds by cutting out a lot of junk food and trying to eat cleaner. Am I perfect? No. Have I cut out all junk food? No. But cutting out a lot of it made a huge difference in my life. So I try to be purposeful about what I take to school. Where I’m at, there aren’t many food options to run out and get, which is good—but I get hungry if I don’t have stuff. So I need to plan. I need healthy snacks that fuel me and give me protein and sustain me through the day. That’s practical, logistical self care. And sometimes practical self care is saying no when your plate is full. We can be our own worst enemy. People ask us to do stuff and we keep adding and adding and adding, and then we hit overwhelm and we break. Sometimes we have to say no. Self care is any practice that helps you feel rested, grounded, and ready to show up with heart. As we reflect, here are the takeaways. Self care matters because teachers matter. Find your version of rest—whether it’s adventure, quiet, or tiny daily resets. Explore physical, emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and practical self care to see what works for you. Or even better, a combination of them. Students don’t just need a teacher who works hard. They need a teacher who’s well enough to bring joy and presence into the classroom. The way we do that is through self care. Now that brings our episode to a close. Remember to inspire greatness in young people. And don’t forget to be a funky teacher. Bye now.