Winter is…here, which means cold weather, shorter days, and the looooong stretch of time without many days off in January, February, and March. Surviving and thriving during these winter days calls for you to take care of you. Teacher self care in winter doesn’t need to be complicated.

Here are a few tips on taking care of you during these winter months.

1. Care for Your Voice

2. Take Your Sick Days

If you’re sick, take a sick day(you don’t need to be deathly ill to take one). Your body needs rest in order to recover. If you work and push through being sick, it will likely take you even longer to recover. Not to mention, you may risk getting your students and fellow teachers sick with whatever you have.

Give yourself permission to take a mental health day during the winter. You don’t have to be physically sick to take a day off. Your mental health is just as important to take care of as your physical health.

3. Get Some Sunshine

Since the days are so short this time of year, it can be easy to come to school in the dark and leave as the sun is setting. Sunshine and Vitamin D can help you combat the winter blues.

4. Move Your Body


How do you practice teacher self care in the winter? Share in the comments below!

Michelle from The Musical Rose(formerly Music with Miss W)

Michelle Rose teaches middle and high school general music at a virtual school and virtual band/choir. She creates resources for K-12 general music teachers and high school band directors that require minimal preparation for the teacher. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog Tovy (short for Beethoven), baking, and yoga.