Maslow: Not Just for Our Students by Jacqueline Ahlborn

 Maslow: Not Just for Our Students

Whether you are teaching in a physical classroom, virtually, or in a hybrid mix, it’s safe to say, if you are like me, you are in the thick of it by now.  Educators carry a heavy load, and it is critical that we maintain a healthy balance between work and home, especially if we are teaching from home.  Now more than ever the lines are blurred.  Educators are always encouraged to take time out for self-care, and now more than ever this is vital.  Self-care can help to provide harmony in our lives and reduce tension.  Here are a few strategies in order to help us become more attuned to our needs as teachers in both a remote learning environment and a physical classroom so that we may be mentally and physically prepared every day to meet our students’ needs.  

Teaching from Home:  A Starting Point

Hopefully everyone by now has designated a dedicated work space within their homes.  This is an important step in teaching remotely that may not be viewed as an essential aspect when discussing self-care.  Not only can a designated work area help to support functionality and productivity, but it can assist in clearing that blurred line between work and home.  A clearly defined work area allows you to leave your work whether it is for the day or for a few moments to stretch and take a breather from teaching.  Your home still needs to remain your sanctuary, so defining an area for work can help you separate your work demands from the place where you relax and unwind.

Work Zone:  Do Not Disturb

When working remotely, it is essential that you set guidelines with your family.  There are crucial times that you cannot be available, and there is a need to communicate this in order to prevent interruptions.  You can plan a set of scheduled breaks or create subtle cues as to when you are available within your work day.  If you cannot be interrupted, you can express this by posting a sign that indicates you are busy, closing your door, asking the person to text you their needs, or connecting during one of your planned breaks.  If there would be an urgent or specific need, define what that would be and the protocol for addressing it.

Are Your Needs Being Met?

I tuned into a podcast recently which had me thinking about self-care during this rare moment in our history.  Tina H. Boogren, Ph.D, addresses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in her webinar “Self-Care for Educators in the Time of COVID-19 and Beyond”.  She referenced a survey from Yale/CASEL that indicated 5,000+ teachers listed anxiousness as one of the top feelings they are experiencing right now.  

The strategies she suggests align with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and begins with Level 1(Physiological): Getting back to the basics in reference to diet, sleep, and exercise.  She reminded us of how very important it is to drink lots of water.  Level 2 (Safety): Order, predictability, and fairness.  When there is not a sense of safety, it can bring a feeling of anxiety.  We need to remember to engage in breathing exercises during these times.  Level 3 (Belonging and Love): If level 1 and 2 are not met, we will have a difficult time obtaining Level 3.  We need to remember to engage in social connections with others.  Level 4 (Self-Esteem):  We may feel like first time teachers during this unique time of teaching.  Try not to compare yourself with others and utilize positive self-talk.  Level 5 (Self-Actualization):  Find your best self and reconnect with yourself!  Focus on gratitude and altruism.  When we ask ourselves if these needs are being met on a daily basis and we are finding that the answer is an astounding “no”, we need to employ strategies to make it a “yes”.  If not, we can experience negative emotional and physical consequences and will have an adverse impact on our motivation and creative thinking.  These needs allow us to feel fulfilled, so it is important to determine what our needs are and how we can proceed in having them met. 

It is critical that educators maintain a healthy balance between work and home, especially if teaching from home.  Taking time out for self-care is more vital than ever and can help to provide harmony in our lives and reduce tension.  We are in a unique teaching situation, and we need to remember to care for ourselves so that we may be mentally and physically prepared to rise up to meet our own students’ needs every day.  To listen to the podcast in full, the following link is attached: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/pd20200522/.

Author’s Bio: Jacqueline Ahlborn’s teaching experience spans over private and public schools where she has been a teacher for a total of nineteen years.  Currently, she is in her sixteenth year teaching special education in Pittsburgh Public Schools.  She has earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Duquesne University.  Jacqueline enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family, especially with her five-year-old grandson.