Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1360078
Boundaries and emotions García López, a member of Alameda Education Association, is trying to reg- ulate her emotions by thinking things through before taking action. "In the beginning of the pandemic, things were happening so fast I felt I was jumping around like Whac-A-Mole and putting out fires," she says. "Now, I am trying to take a more pragmatic approach. I think about how I want to respond to a stressful situation, rather than just impulsively react to it." She's also reaching out to groups of like-minded educators for support and setting boundaries, such as having a separate workspace at home and walking away from it at the end the workday. "Sometimes we feel we can't say no. Or we feel that we should work nonstop and be martyrs and think something is wrong with us if we don't work 12- or 14-hour days. If there's one thing I've learned in the pandemic, it's that if you don't take time to replenish yourself, you can't take care of your mental health. And if you can't take care of your mental health, you can't take care of your students." Juggling takes a toll For CTA leaders in a pandemic, it's very stressful. ey are not only teaching in new ways, but also making decisions that won't please everybody. Wiegmann, presi- dent of the Romoland Teachers Association, is stretched thin. Numerous meetings were held to negotiate the return to school in March for hybrid instruction — how to implement safety measures, such as dividing stu- dents into cohorts, arranging classrooms to provide for social distancing, and putting plastic partitions between students. "I have just one day a week release time to han- dle RTA business, but during the pandemic it has re q u i re d m u c h m o re t h a n t h a t . I m a ke t i m e t o li st en and c onn e ct w ith my m emb ers. E ach on e i s uni qu e, and no tw o t each ers are dealing with the exact same things in a pandemic. It's a lot of responsibility. I want our association to make the right decisions for our entire membership, not only for this year but for years to come." Wiegmann relieves stress by talking with family and friends and riding her horses. She also tries to focus on the positive rather than the negative when she is feeling overwhelmed. "In times of stress, I list all the things that went wrong. Next, I list all the things I'm thankful for. I usually remember far more wonderful things that have happened than negative." Stay Sane and Positive P H Y L L I S H A L L , a psychologist and counselor at Long Beach City College, encourages educators to remind themselves of some important facts if they are feeling blue. The Long Beach City College Faculty Association member sug- gests the following: • Remember we do amazing work. We transform lives. We educate people from all walks of life and help them find success. That is a talent not everyone has. • Keep in mind that this, too, shall pass. While the pandemic has lingered, it won't last forever. • Set reasonable expectations for yourself and others. Remind yourself that there are things outside of your control and that you are doing your best in diffi- cult times. • Set aside a cheerful, dedicated workspace if you are working from home. • Seek support from your peers. Reach out with calls, emails or Zoom — even though we're all Zoomed out! Don't isolate yourself. • Do things that make you happy. Exercise. Enjoy the sunshine and get some vitamin D. Stretch. Go for walks. Meditate. Do yoga. And don't forget to breathe. "I've learned I don't always have to offer a solution. Sometimes you have to just be a really good listener." —Laura García López, Alameda Education Association Perry Shields cut out junk food and eats healthy to help stay positive. 30 cta.org Feature