As the new academic year kicks off at various times for each of us, with Further Education having hit the start button in August, rolling up their sleeves ready for enrolment. Higher Education will have been supporting students through clearing and Secondary, Primary and Early Years will all be preparing to greet a new intake. However, whatever age group you teach, very soon all of us across the sector will be preparing our environments and getting ready to welcome new faces into our settings. Nonetheless, it is also important not to forget your own health and well-being as a new academic year begins, so here are a few tips and my thoughts on beginning a new academic year.
Imagine yourself as a sunflower, starting the year off standing tall and powerful having rested and maybe having turned your face to the sun for a while (safely of course and with SPF). So, here you are, you have returned to work with a renewed energy, bags of positivity and an entanglement of resilience amongst your roots. However, how do you sustain this all year, not only when the mornings become darker but when your workload begins to increase with teaching, planning and assessing and you begin to lose your glow?
Much like any plant, you need certain conditions to thrive and survive such as water, soil, temperature, fertilisation and light and all in equal measures.
Water
We all know we must drink plenty of water to keep hydrated but I also think it is worth reminding you that no plant survives when it is over watered or bogged down. It is important to recognise this in ourselves and by taking time to pause, contemplate and reflect upon our day and week, it gives us the opportunity to consider what we might need to change in our working practice, what it is that may be causing us stress and to be over watered. Consider keeping a reflective journal and use this space to reflect upon your working week, celebrate your successes and identify the challenges. Take time to journal any obstacles or barriers that may be hindering you and causing you to be dehydrated.
Soil
Soil is vital for plants, it provides the plant with an anchor in which to root and stabilise itself. Like plants, we all need stability and a secure base which offers us the support we need to thrive. Take time to consider your soil and the PH levels. Reflect upon if your soil is conducive to your health and well-being. If not, aim to fix the balance. This may be by speaking to your peers, your support network and sharing the challenges you might be facing. Sharing with others can help us have a clearer perspective, offer us support mechanisms and help us re-stabilise in our pot!
Temperature
Temperature is important to plants as it has an impact on many processes including photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, germination, and flowering. No matter what type of work we do, we all need to flourish in our professional lives. So, how can you try not to overheat and burn out? You may have heard all too often of finding a work/life balance and this is something which is all too often easier said than done. It is also not always easy to say no to others, especially if it is not in your nature, but it is important that you find ways to not burn out. Look at some of my suggestions below and access my website for more strategies.
Fertilise
All plants need fertilisation. When sprinkled and worked into the soil, plants will grow and flourish. Plants that are not fertilised will decline over time. Much like plants, we too need fertilisation. We all need extra support to grow and flourish. For you, your fertilisation might be time allocated to you, for you to develop your skills and knowledge, to research or to connect with others. You may wish to spend time considering what your specific professional needs are and sharing these with your colleagues and line manager. Like all plants when your needs are met and when you are replenished, you will thrive.
Light
Light is essential for plants as its used in photosynthesis, a process that allows plants to create their own food and grow. Plants use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates or energy through photosynthesis and in doing so release oxygen. Plants need this energy to grow, flourish, flower, and produce seeds. Much like plants we too need light energy. We need energy to work effectively and to thrive.
As you may know sunflowers are also particularly clever as they turn their face to the sun to capture light energy. This is something as individuals we must also try to do each day to support our health and well-being. So, try to plan some time in your day to escape your workload, take a short thinking walk, stand up from your laptop, move, and if you can go outside and breathe in the power of green.
So, how can we ensure we take in enough water, that we are anchored securely in our soil, and that we have the right temperature conditions, nutrients and light to flourish? We are all unique and we will all have our own way of finding our work/life balance but here are a few suggestions that you might wish to adopt or try as we enter the new academic year.
Complete a SWOT analysis
Take time to reflect upon each area, your strengths, your weaknesses, your opportunities, and any potential threats that may hinder your success. This will give you a starting point to talk through any potential threats to your flourishing, health and well-being. A SWOT template and further details are in My Little Book of Reflective Practice.
Eisenhower
Use Eisenhower’s matrix to help you decide what is and is not urgent, important and not important helping you to prioritise your work and life using the do, decide, delegate and delete. You will find a template in My Little Book of Reflective Practice.
Keep a Journal
Capture your thoughts, feelings and actions. This is a personal space and one I cover in detail in all my books. Look at my website for more ideas on keeping a reflective journal.
So, as you begin a new academic year, I wish you all a productive year but one where you take care of yourself and so a final reminder to press pause, reflect and turn your face to the sun. Your health and well-being are important.
For more information or well-being and reflection training sessions, please contact me via my website
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