It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.
~Mahatma Gandhi

Suggestions for staying healthy in a demanding job:

1. Solitude

• Have a 15–50 minute mandatory period of peace in your day.
• Retreat to a special place of silence, in the same place and at the same time, each day.

2. Get Physical!

• Use effective breathing and work up to 5 hours per week of physical activity.
• An invigorating walk out of doors or another type of exercise such as yoga is stress relieving.

3. Nourishment

• Eat an abundance of fruits, vegetables and grains.
• Avoid processed foods.
• Have a salad with your meal and a fruit for dessert.
• Snack on unprocessed foods like fruits and vegetables.

4. Knowledge

• Engage in lifelong learning and strive to read a book at least 30 minutes each day.
• Read good books that will result in growth and learning about life.
• Good books help you to see what is already within yourself.

5. Personal Reflection

• Engage in the habit of thinking.
• Reflect on your actions at the end of the day.
• Were they positive; or negative and in need of repair? By looking at this you can take immediate steps to improve and advance self mastery.
• Personal introspection allows you to figure out what is right and wrong about your day and then allows you to make immediate improvements.

6. Early Awakening

• The quality of your sleep is most important.
• Think peaceful thoughts and listen to restful music before you are ready to drift off to sleep. This will provide you with a better quality sleep and allow you to get up earlier.
• The quiet hours of morning are excellent times to enjoy personal reflection.

7. Music

• Take time in your day to listen to motivating, relaxing music.

8. Spoken Word

• The spoken word is a powerful way to affirm all that is good in your life.
• Words affect the mind in a powerful way and our self-talk forms our self-image.
• A mantra is a string of words put together to create a powerful effect such as “I am inspired, disciplined and energized.” Repeat self affirming mantras to yourself over and over and out loud if possible.

9. Congruent Character

• When you align your thoughts and actions with the virtues of industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and courage, you will feel a sense of inner harmony and peace.

10. Simplicity

• Live a simple life.
• Focus on your priorities and things that are meaningful.
• Practice the above strategies for a month and you will have more energy, less worries, more creativity and less stress in every aspect of your life.
• The less decisions to make in a day, the better!
• Yearly "unplugs" from society

11. Get Social or Take up a Hobby

• Schedule activities such as going to the movies or playing sports.
• Take time to focus your energy on something productive other than work.

12. Volunteer

• Give for no other reason than to give.
• Seek out someone who is less fortunate and help them.
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(*list adopted from the OPC Handbook for School Leaders, Chapter 33)

Self -Assessment: Template

Stress Index

The Canadian Mental Health Association provides a tool to identify the amount of stress in one's life:
Stress Index Link

Suggested Social/Medical/Physical supports that should/could be part of a Comprehensive School Health Program:

(*adopted from the OPC Handbook for School Leaders, Chapter 32)

• Counselling, psychological and social services provided by the board and others
• Health programs and school initiatives to promote healthy active living
• Healthy role models
• Health screening and fitness testing and promotion
• Mentoring
• Modifications to the school building and classrooms for wheel chairs, etc.
• Peer counsellors, peer helpers and peer support groups
• Referrals to, and partnerships with, community agencies
• Staff wellness programs
• Stress management programs for staff and students
• Teacher advisor/mentoring program
• Trauma and grief counseling