So Martyn Reah began the #teacher5aday hashtag on Twitter in order to tackle the urgent need for staff working within education to focus more on their wellbeing. This week, I tried to hit one thing for each of the 5 during the week:
#notice
is the one I like the most and was certainly the easiest to do. On Monday evening, I arrived home before the park had closed and the sun was shining. The new sensory garden was open and there was a great deal to #notice:
#give
is the most difficult for me to get my head around in a world where it can feel as though we’re giving ALL of the time. I hope this counts but I gave particular thanks to a colleague via our Pass It On Friday wall: a space to share and celebrate the successes of the week. In a particularly difficult week for us all, this celebration was even more vital. You can view the wall here. I also gave thanks via my #TwitteratiChallenge post here.
#learn
seems as though it’s the easiest as we’re always learning but I’m finding it the most difficult to add to this week. I did finish a book I’d been reading though- How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran. During term time, that is no mean feat for me and I’m really proud of myself. I’ve learnt that it’s possible. I’ve learnt that using a Kindle isn’t that bad and I’ve also learnt that I want to read more Caitlin Moran (even though the ending was abrupt and slightly disappointing).
#exercise
would have usually been easy to achieve, with my new swimming hobby but this week was a bad week for doing that. I’ve really got out of the routine again at this busy time of year. Instead, Wednesday provided a lot of sun so we had a walking meeting in the afternoon. It was beautiful,productive, more creative and was the breath of fresh air and relaxation needed before going back into work for a long and difficult meeting that followed.
#connect
was achieved by going to the cinema with friends on Friday evening. It was spoilt slightly by the screaming and shouting of some young teenage girls behind us- for the WHOLE movie- but we had a fun evening anyway.
I’m really pleased that I’ve managed one thing for each of these hashtags this week (Mon-Fri only, because it’s easy to do at the weekend). I’m thinking that I might reflect on this more regularly- even if it’s just to make sure my week isn’t all just about the work.
I don’t know where great food goes because there’s also been a lot of that this week- perhaps we need a #treat hashtag too?!
At work, Stephanie Moakes has developed a Take 5 site to encourage staff to engage more with their wellbeing and you’ll be able to access an external version of the site very soon!
