Self-Care

He said to them, 'Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

Mark 6:31

I just wrapped up Elena Aguilar's Onward (and the Workbook) too. I whole-heartedly recommend it. Although Aguilar lacks a true sense of the spiritual aspect of the vocation of teaching; her advice is strong, relevant, and necessary.

The issue of self-care is, I believe, even more relevant in our inner-city Catholic schools. We are paid at least 25% less than our charter and public school counterparts, while facing similar socio-economic situations. Our enrollment and infrastructure may be crumbling, while not having the promise of school bonds or scholarships to look forward to. An inner-city Catholic school is almost always under-staffed, with an aide being a luxury (much less a nurse, etc).

Into that situation, comes a principal, a secretary, and maybe 9 or so teachers. To the leader of that school, it is imperative that we ensure that burnout is addressed. Just as it is key that we provide accountability, it is essential that we ensure that our dedicated staff has a chance to reflect, relax, and, yes, eat.

Aguilar's book may veer into the new-age "spiritual but not religious" vibe or be a little too art-focused for my preference; but at its core, the idea of focusing on skills and activities for yourself over the course of the school year is one that should be adopted by all teachers and principals.

After the kids are in bed, my own break tends to center on reading, exercising, and time with my wife. During the day, I try and take time for prayer or even just a couple of minutes of music/reading (while teaching, this was always at lunch).

If our Lord and his 12 apostles needed a break from the demands of their public ministry, how dare we say we don't?