Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1505501
" Teaching is really a lonely job so make a couple of close teacher pals. If they're on your grade level, even better, because you can have lunch together and vent or just enjoy adult conversation. Touch base in the morning, support each other. It's too easy to just come in right before school starts and leave right after it ends so you can go home to your families, but these colleagues will be your family as well. Develop and nurture those relationships." — STACY FEARY, elementary school teacher, Compton Education Association " The best self-care tip is to not take on too many tasks, learn to say no and find a type of exercise that you love. Mine is yoga." — JENNIFER KURFESS, high school teacher, Rosamond Teachers Association " After 38 years in education, 35 in Pomona Unified, use your days, meet with CalSTRS to plan, and love what you do. If you don't have anything to give and your heart isn't in it, the students know." — VIVIAN MEASTAS, elementary school teacher, Associated Pomona Teachers " I am a K-12 French and Spanish teacher. My favorite grade span is middle school. I taught for three years in elementary and hated every minute of it! At lunch, I would watch funny videos on YouTube to try to keep myself in a good mood: laughing babies, pet videos, America's Funniest Videos, etc. Laughing releases serotonin in the brain." — TRINA GONZALES- ALESI, K–12 French and Spanish teacher, Desert Sands Teachers Association " Any time I write an email out of contracted hours, I always schedule it to send at 8 a.m. the next day. This allows me to compose emails when I can, but families don't need to know I'm available all hours of the day. It's made a big difference!" — MARIAH MONROE, elementary school teacher, Harmony Unified Teachers Association 18 cta.org Feature