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Teaching is a sedentary job. So many responsibilities of teachers – correcting papers, communicating through emails, creating Google Slides, and preparing lessons. The most dedicated teachers are often the most sedentary. Be aware of this reality and…
Get up and move! Make exercise a priority.
Find ways during the school day to incorporate a few extra steps.
Easy
- Measure your steps: Use an Apple Watch, Fitbit, or other smart watch to track your steps. Be conscious of moving around. Many of these devices will notify you if you are not reaching your goals. These tools often create a graph that shows daily progress.
- Parked far away: This is a simple technique that will add more steps to the day. Education is a profession that understands the importance of slow, steady improvement. Over the course of a 183-school-year, another 200 steps a day will add up over time.
- Take the stairs / no elevators: This is a very simple way of adding steps. Walking up stairs is an activity that is strongly encouraged by many programs.
A Little Challenging
- Teach MORE actively: When presenting information to students, walk around the room. Be animated. Have each class stand up and jump ten times or hop on one foot.
- “Mask Breaks”: Covid was such a challenging time for everyone, especially teachers and students. Many schools add “mask breaks” to the school day to allow for fresh air and the chance for teachers and students to take the masks off. Even though masks are no longer a part of school, why not add a little activity? The teacher could determine how frequently, but even once a week would be more steps. If a teacher has 5 classes, take each class for a walk once a week.
- Prep periods: High school teachers often have prep periods. Take part of this time to exercise. During the nicer weather, walk outside. Other times, simply walk the halls. Prep periods are valuable to teachers, so it may be challenging to take any time from this, but remember, health is important, so give this a shot.
- Use the passing time: Middle schools and high schools incorporate passing time into the school schedule. Passing periods will vary, but if you have a 5-minute block… MOVE. Have different passing routes. Go to the other side of the hall and say hi to a colleague. Go up and down stairs. Go for a loop. If you can make this a habit, there will be progress over the year.
Most Challenging
- Create a walking group or running group: Reach out to others to see if they might be interested in exercising together once a week. Exercising with others has so many benefits, especially for mental health. If Friday is the meeting day, the group could also include a social gathering at a local restaurant. The group can exercise, then get a few drinks and perhaps appetizers. Now, this may result in adding extra calories, but exercise is also being completed. commiserating with other educators.
- Workout immediately before or after school. Establishing a consistent routine is very important for any successful plan, especially an exercise plan. If a teacher can get up a little bit early to go to the gym or go for a walk or a run in the morning and this becomes part of their work routine, an educator can make great strides with weight and health. The same is true for a consistent after-school exercise routine.
- Weekend workouts: Some teachers may have more time during the weekends, but this may not be the case for everyone. Weekend workouts are a great way to get away from the grind of teaching. Working out both days might just help recharge your energy for another school week that will be here before you know it.
Teaching is HARD! Commitments to the job and personal lives can make it difficult to exercise, but if you can incorporate exercise into your life, you will be glad you made the time.