WELLBEING

Empowering early years educators

Alliance early years development manager Tracey discusses the importance of wellbeing, discovering the power of yoga and mindfulness, and how the digital world can help

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Tracey Hobbs is responsible for writing and delivering CPD resources that supports best practice for early years providers.

As an early years educator, it’s crucial to prioritise and look after your own wellbeing. Taking care of yourself is not only beneficial for your physical and mental health, but it also directly impacts the quality of care you provide to the children you look after.

By nurturing your own wellbeing, you are better equipped to handle the demands and challenges of your role, ensuring you can offer a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for the children. It also allows you to maintain a positive mindset as well as your energy levels, both of which are essential for engaging with children effectively.

The benefits

Taking care of your own wellbeing sets an important example for the children. They learn from observing their caregivers, and when they see you prioritising self-care, they understand the importance of care for themselves. By modelling healthy habits and self-care practices, you’re instilling valuable life skills in the children – teaching them the importance of self-love, self-respect, and self-awareness from an early age.

Additionally, looking after your own wellbeing helps prevent burnout and stress. Early years educators often face emotionally demanding situations, and without proper self-care, it is easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted. By taking time to rest, recharge, and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, you are better equipped to sustain your energy and passion for your role, ensuring continued dedication to the children and their families.

When you prioritise self-care, you’re better able to manage stress, handle conflicts, and maintain a calm and patient demeanour. This, in turn, promotes a positive and nurturing atmosphere that fosters the emotional wellbeing and development of the children.

In today’s fast-paced world, achieving wellbeing and finding peace of mind can be a challenge. However, with the help of electronic devices and earphones, we have powerful tools at our fingertips that can support our wellbeing journey.

Guided meditation and mindfulness apps

Mobile devices offer a wide range of guided meditation and mindfulness apps that can help us relax, reduce stress, and improve our overall wellbeing. These apps provide a variety of meditation techniques, breathing exercises, and soothing sounds that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

By using earphones, we can immerse ourselves in the experience and create a peaceful environment, even in busy surroundings.

If you have had a busy morning in the setting, set aside 5-10 minutes of your lunch break to look after yourself and reset for the afternoon.

Yoga and fitness apps

Practising yoga has numerous physical and mental health benefits. Mobile apps dedicated to yoga and fitness provide a wealth of resources, including yoga pose tutorials, workout plans, and personalised routines. By following these apps, we can easily incorporate yoga into our daily lives, regardless of our experience level. With earphones, we can focus on the instructor’s guidance and deepen our connection with our practice.

Personalised wellbeing tracking

Mobile devices offer various wellness tracking apps that help us monitor our physical activity, sleep patterns, and overall wellbeing. These apps allow us to set goals, track progress, and receive personalised insights to improve our lifestyle choices. With the integration of earphones, we can listen to audio cues and receive motivational messages that help us stay on track and maintain a positive mindset.

Virtual yoga classes and communities:

In today’s digital age, virtual yoga classes and online communities have become increasingly popular. Mobile devices enable us to join live or pre-recorded yoga classes, connect with like-minded individuals, and receive guidance from experienced instructors. With earphones, we can fully immerse ourselves in the virtual yoga experience, creating a sense of presence and connection, even from the comfort of our own homes.

As an early years educator, looking after your own wellbeing is not only important for your personal health and happiness, but is essential to the quality of care you provide to the children. By investing in your own wellbeing, you’re investing in the wellbeing and development of all the children.

Incorporating mobile devices and earphones into our wellbeing and yoga journey can significantly enhance our overall experience. Whether it’s through guided meditation apps, yoga and fitness resources, wellbeing tracking, or virtual yoga classes, we can tap into the power of technology to support our wellbeing goals. So, let’s embrace the potential that lies within our fingertips and use mobile devices and earphones to cultivate balance, peace, and a deeper connection with ourselves.

Remember, you’re the best resource a child can have, contributing to their overall growth and wellbeing. Take time to care for yourself; you’re worth it.