Teacher Tip Tuesday: Treat-Yo-Self!

Have you watched the show, “Parks and Recreation,” that aired on NBC from 2009-2015? If you have, our title for Teacher Tip Tuesday may sound familiar! In the show, two characters, Tom and Donna, enjoy Treat-Yo-Self Day every year. This is the day they get to prioritize themselves, make extravagant purchases, and get the best spa treatments. (These episodes are by far some of my favorites in the entire series!)

No, my teacher tip for you is not to empty your bank accounts on unnecessary purchases or abandon all responsibilities. However, I think we could learn something valuable from Tom and Donna. Everyone should have permission to intentionally create time for themself. This may look unique to everyone’s situation, and that’s okay.

During my first year of teaching, I found myself working all the time. I knew I needed to create some sort of boundary to protect my time at home. So I started a practice I named: Treat-Yo-Self Tuesday! This meant on Tuesdays after school, I wasn’t allowed to bring any work home. No exceptions. Yes, sometimes this meant I was working later on Mondays to prepare for my week, but it was so worth it! On Tuesday afternoons and evenings, I could choose activities that I needed for my emotional and physical health. Sometimes this looked like a hot bath and a cup of tea. On other days, this meant I prioritized budgeting or managing personal parts of my life that often got pushed to the back burner. Some days, I crawled into bed at 7:00 pm and enjoyed the extra rest my body and soul needed so desperately.

Today, I invite you to explore how you might “Treat Yo Self” as we enter the second half of the school year. What might you need to shift around or say no to in order to create space for yourself?