A Self-Care Portfolio for Adults
This website is devoted to helping you help your students identify and cope with mental health stressors, but a key to making progress with your students is honestly addressing your own wellness. Consider this your self-care portfolio. Within each of its components we’ve provided proven tools and resources from the experts at the University of Michigan Depression Center. But you don’t need to have a clinical diagnosis to benefit from these resources. Everyone can incorporate some of these ideas to relax, renew and refocus:
- Sleep – are you getting enough? Too much? Take steps to develop healthier sleep habits.
- Exercise - physical activity is a critical component to emotional wellness. Learn how to develop an exercise program that’s right for you.
- Nutrition – learn more about good nutrition, and develop your own healthy eating plan.
- Managing stress –although some stress can fuel motivation and drive, too much leads to physical and emotional exhaustion. Learn to identify the signs of stress, and find out about the many different techniques you can try to manage it.
- Positive self-talk – learn how to recognize negative or unproductive thought patterns and turn them around.
- Journaling – learn the benefits of writing down your thoughts and feelings, and how to get started keeping a journal.
- Spirituality – find out what’s involved in developing your own spiritual practice, and why many people find it helpful.
- Support systems – think about the role other people play in your recovery, and what you can do to build a strong support system.
- Setting Goals – understand the importance of setting goals, and learn how to make goal-setting work for you.
- Healthy Boundaries – it can be especially challenging for teachers to set – and keep – healthy boundaries at work. Find tips here.