ABSTRACT
As a teacher we are always juggling many things. We have expectations set by ourselves and others as a part of the job, and we are always responding to the complex dynamic and agile sector we work in. To-do lists pile up. We have demands that make us feel overwhelmed or exhausted. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been pushed in ways we never expected. ‘Pani-gogy’ became a new term as we navigated remote learning to negotiate teaching with masks, regular rapid antigen testing and staff shortages due to illness and isolation requirements. What gift do we give ourselves amongst so much political, economic, societal, health and educational conflict and turmoil?
This final chapter explores ways staying empowered is possible. And as we explore how we maintain, protect and sustain our self-care, I’ll also guide you on check-ins, and what happens when you backslide or stop progressing forward. I position self-care as worthy of our attention even when the term or semester becomes busy (or we are finding ways to work with a pandemic or other significant changes or surprises) and we want to skip self-care. The importance of keeping self-care habits going at this time is critical, for you and also for those you work with. We need to maintain the intention to be gentle on ourselves as we navigate our working and professional lives where self-care is present.
