Within the education system, the focus is on the child and the family. As educators and especially administrators, it is not a 9-to-5 job, and our dedication to the work sometimes does not receive the recognition a Professional Athlete may receive from fans. This “True Calling” can take its toll on both the mind and body, leading to burnout and high turnover rates.
Now, I will be the first to admit that there was a time I didn’t always practice what I preached. I did not set boundaries, and I didn't always turn off my electronics at the dinner table. My eating habits were abysmal. Exercise was infrequent. And I had been known to sneak a peek at emails while vacationing with family.
Still, I continued as an administrator. Like many, I succumbed to the stress and many a night woke up with a weight on my chest, a rock in my stomach, and a full-on anxiety attack as my 2 a.m. companion. My son once mentioned I was a workaholic. I said it wasn’t by choice. Only then did I stop to think, set boundaries, and add self-care into my routine.
JOYCE GRONEWOLD
I should have known better. Self-care and mindfulness were for our students, for our staff. Administrators do not admit weakness, nor do we seek help. Emotional and physical fatigue win.
To combat such emotional and physical fatigue, self-care practices are necessary, especially long-term self-care.
Long-term self-care is the personal investment we cultivate for ourselves in order to maintain and sustain a healthy and productive lifestyle. It supports and builds the capacity to balance the workload as well as many other life challenges faced daily.
It is also the framework in which we access short-term self-care activities that provide immediate feedback and respite from daily stressors. I will not opine on which diet or exercise regimen to follow. Some people run, some paint, some find that yoga and meditation work for them. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always a nutritious choice. What I will share is that long-term self-care practices are necessary.
JOYCE GRONEWOLD
Reflect
The first step for me was to reflect on my daily activities, habits, and actions- lists became my best friends. I then prioritized and separated the work I do from the person I was and strived to be. That was daunting. Identification (including acknowledging my faults) left me feeling exposed, but it was also necessary to drive me to the next step.
Acceptance, Forgiveness, and Kindness
I finally embraced my worth. This acceptance changed the temperature and atmosphere at home and work. As I accepted my value, positive practices and routines were initiated. And to be honest, my blood pressure dropped.
Know Thyself
Know your limits, strengths, and areas for growth, and focus on those areas as needed. If necessary, create goals to achieve them. You can then develop a systematic plan that focuses on healthy and positive habits. Through it all, breathe—big, deep cleansing breaths.
L.R. Knost is quoted as stating, “Taking care of myself doesn't mean 'me first', it means 'me, too' .” Practice what we preach. Embrace mindfulness for ourselves. “Take care”. We all say it. We must mean it.
JOYCE GRONEWOLD
written by
Joyce Gronewold, MEd
Joyce Gronewold is a coach for special education administrators specializing in comprehensive systems, a wide range of divergent student needs, building local capacity through training and support, and equipping special education administrators. She has been a summer camp counselor and supervisor, special education one-on-one aide, school psychologist, special education supervisor, and assistant director and director of special education. Joyce is the Executive Director of Specialized Instruction at the Illinois State Board of Education supporting Special Education, Early Childhood, and Multilingual Language Programs since June 2024. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling with her family, antique shopping with her youngest, attending car shows of all kinds, watching home improvement shows, and is an avid Star Wars fan. Joyce is a Founding Director for TLC Nonprofit with her Bachelors in Psychology, Master of Education in School Psychology, and Educational Leadership Endorsement in Director of Special Education.
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