Personal Self Care Plan


While teaching, many educators get burnt out. With a full time job, commitments to extracurriculars, marking assignments and exams, and having families to take care of, things can get very busy very fast. It is essential for teachers to take time for themselves to try and prevent burning out. Being an over-stressed teacher may affect their work especially in terms of dealing with students and classroom management. Taking the time out of your day to create a personal self care plan utilizing a template similar to the one below may help prevent this! Below is my self-care plan that I will fill out every morning to structure my day.

What does Self-Care Mean to Me?


To me, self-care means to find a balance between all of the chaos in life and what genuinely makes you happy. It means to work hard when I have things I need to get done, but to also take some time for myself and the people I love.

Strategies to Maintain my Physical and Mental Health


I plan on continuing to go to the gym every morning during the work week at 5:30am. Because I'll be up early in the morning, I also think it's important for me to go to bed at a decent time (9:00pm). I will also back healthy lunches and snacks while teaching at the school. As for my mental health, I will ensure to keep my work and home separate, doing anything related to school and my practicum solely in my office. This will help me balance things and avoid having the feeling that I need to work all of the time. Luckily I also have a great family and group of friends who are always just one call away that I can rely on as a support system in difficult times.

How Will I Maintain My Self-Care Plan


I will fill out the document above every morning to keep myself on track throughout this field experience.

Things I Can Do to Manage Stress


  • Listen to music
  • Have friends and family over for a visit
  • Planning my weeks ahead of time
  • Watch a T.V. show that I like
  • Be consistent at the gym

Self Care Plan Update


Below is a second page that I have included in my self-care plan to help myself so that I stay on track with my goals ans can reflect on what I have accomplished. This helps my mental health by document my growth, reminding me what I am working towards.

How am I practicing self-care in Field Experience IV?


I am a creature of habit and enjoy a routine when it comes to work as it’s the only way for me to maintain a work-life balance. I own my own business and work part time in addition to being a full-time student, so time for myself is very limitted during my field experiences. With that being said, I try to make the most out of my time by doing activities that give me peace of mind. These include…

  • Going to the gym: I have made it a goal of mine to go to the gym 3-5 per week after school at 4:30pm-5:30pm. When being physically active and moving my body, I tend to be in a better mood throughout the week!
  • Spending time with my partner, friends, and family: My partner and I both work multiple jobs at once, and although we live together, quality time spent together may be sparse sometimes. We’ve decided to prioritize spnding at least an hour of quality time togther every day. We’ve also been holding each other accountable for spending time with our friends and families at least twice a week to maintain our social lives during this busy time.

In addition to working towards achieving a state of social, emotional, and mental well-being during this field experience I have also been making steps to ensure my physical well-being as well! These include…

  • Meal prepping on Sundays to guarantee that I am eating proper meals throughout the week at the school (no one is fun when they’re hangry! Haha)
  • Going to bed no later than 10:00pm, getting minimum 8.5 hours of sleep every night

As far as my well-being during my time in the classroom. I…

  • Set classroom expectations and boundaries with my students
  • Ask my partner teacher or other staff in the school for guidance and help when I need it. I don’t expect myself to know everything and do everything alone! I’m just learning!