5 Back to School Self-Care Tips for Teachers

A teacher's first day back to school is similar in a lot of ways to that of a wedding day...it's guaranteed to go by in a blur, there will be tears, laughter, unexpected events, old friends and new faces, possibly gifts and, if you are lucky, a brief moment in your day to sit down and soak it all in.  Or at least go to the bathroom.  #teachertruth

We all know how crazy that first day back is which is why teachers need tips on how to take care of themselves, too.  Here are 5 back to school self-care tips every teacher needs to know.

Keep Your Commute Stress-Free 

You want your drive into work on your first day to be as straightforward as possible.  Leave extra early and fill up your gas tank the day before.  If you live far away from your school, this might be your first time driving there in a few days or weeks.  Be sure to check that there aren't any road closures or construction on your route that could delay you.

Stay Hydrated 

You'll need lots of fluids today so fill up that bubba with your favorite hot beverage before leaving home and carry a water bottle with you to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Download the Calm App  

There's a reason why Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation...it's amazing.  But did you know it's FREE for teachers? Yep, that's right!  Under "The Calm Schools Initiative" the app is giving away FREE Mindfulness training tools to every teacher in the world!  That includes YOU!  Use it for yourself at home and for your students at school.  Mindfulness made easier!

Stock up on Throat Lozenges and Pain Relief

It's been a long time since you've had to get the attention of so many people and believe me, your throat is going to thank you for having some throat lozenges on hand for that first day back.  Pack up your go-to headache medicine too, just in case!

Pack a Fuss-Free Lunch

Time is going to be tight and you probably won't have the luxury of heating up last night's leftovers, let alone pop out for drive-thru.  Pack yourself easy to eat food and healthy snacks in a cooler bag that you can keep in your classroom to grab when you have a moment.

BONUS TIP: Bucket Filling

Doing a random act of kindness fills your bucket, so why not treat your teaching friends to a fun surprise?  A little thought goes a long way and I've yet to meet a teacher that doesn't love a new pen.  Buy a jumbo pack of Flair Pens the next time you see them on sale and give your staff a small token of appreciation.  You can grab this FREEBIE here.

What is your favorite self-care tip?  I'd love to know!  Please share it in the comment sections.

All the best on your first day back to school!

Top 5 Dollarama Finds Teacher Finds + Flair Pen FREEBIE

Dollarama is my go-to place for inexpensive cards, decorations and glitter.  It is the last place I would think of to purchase quality school supplies for my classroom...until now.  Check out the loot I found at my local store this August.  If you are lucky, yours might stock the same goodies!

  Here are my Top 5 Finds for Teachers that you can snag for $4 each or less, and a quick and easy back-to-school gift for your staff/teacher besties because #flairpensbringjoy ;-)

NUMBER 5: Ten Special Edition Sharpie Markers (bonus: 2 metallic ones)
COST: $4.00
I use these guys on planners, name tags, book bags, posters, folders, etc. Like the slogan says above the box, "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH SHARPIE."  Teacher tip: if you want to remove Sharpie from a hard surface, use nail polish remover.

NUMBER 4: Chalkboard/Farmhouse Theme Magnetic Pencil Holder
COST: $2.50
I instantly fell in love with these and think they would be perfect to add to a chalk and/or white board.  Use them to store pencils, crayons, name tags, or white board markers where your students can (or can't!) reach them.

NUMBER 3: Googly Eyed Garbage Can Pencil Holders (with lids)
COST: $1.50
Are these the cutest things or what?  I love how they have attached lids as well.  I'm going to bring these out at the Guided Reading table and have one on hand stocked with supplies for any students that are going to work in the resource room or with a volunteer.

NUMBER 2: Emoji Erasers
COST: $1.25
Although you can't see them, there are poop erasers in this package, too. With a class full of boys this upcoming year, I'm guaranteed a few laughs as well as engagement when I pull these out.

NUMBER 1: Twelve Paper Mate Flair Pens
COST: $4.00
I spend an insane amount on Flair Pens each year at Target when I cross-border shop but now all I have to do is hop on over to Dollarama for these beauties.  They are the BEST pens EVER!  I grew up watching my Geography teaching Dad use them to mark and would often swipe them from his desk to use for myself.

Which got me thinking...if I love them so much then I bet my friends at school will as well.  And for less than $15, I can treat my entire staff to a Flair Pen as a back-to-school gift.  Every one loves finding a gift in their staff mailbox, right?

If you'd like to spread some joy and surprise your teacher BFFs, EAs, Admin or Support Staff at your school this September, grab this FREEBIE from my TPT store and get the special coloured paper out you've been saving for a special occassion.  Yep, we all do it ;-)

What's YOUR favourite Dollarama find?  I'd love to know.

Happy back-to-school time!