Transcript

Hey, teacher friend. Welcome back to the Teacher Support Network podcast. I'm Antoine McCoy, and today we're continuing our Whole Life Teacher series where we've been discussing the seven Fs. So far we've discussed the whole teacher and their faith, the whole teacher and their family, and the whole teacher, and their fun.

This week we're going to delve deeper into the whole teacher and their fitness. And just like with fun, our fitness and health often gets pushed to the bottom of the list. And when we talk about this fitness, it's not just the gym life. I'm talking about movement, nutrition, rest, and caring for this, caring for this body that carries you through your daily responsibilities and all that teacher madness that sometimes creeps up during the school year.

So first let's talk about moving our body. Fitness doesn't just doesn't have to mean a marathon or bootcamps. It could be a simple 20 to 30 minute walk , like I try to do sometimes three to five times a week. Just moving helps reset your mind and spirit. So whether it's stretching between classes, dancing in your living room, or hiking with a friend or a family member, it all counts.

And on those rainy days when I don't have much time, I like to do the seven minute workout routine, and you can find different versions of it on YouTube or on apps.  I'll link the one that I usually do in the show notes. And the best part is you can do it at home, on vacation, or even in your classroom during a break or prep period. It's quick, it's effective, and it helps get your body moving even when your life gets busy. 

So now let's move on to how do you fuel yourself during the day? So let's talk about what you put inside of our body. Hydration and nutrition matter more than we think. I try to drink plenty of water, which often I don't get a chance to do during the day, so I'm trying to get better at it. I also try to take some supplements, like vitamin C, elderberry, a multivitamin, even athletic greens.

But full honesty…I got a real big sweet tooth.Chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, and milkshakes are my weakness. So it's all about balance and small steps trying to just really fuel our body with the things that's really gonna help give it what it needs to make it through the day and all the responsibilities that you have.

Now, let's talk about rest and recovery. Teachers run on empty way too often, so prioritizing your sleep and rest isn't being lazy. It's actually being really smart and thoughtful. Our bodies heal and our minds reset when we actually get rest.

I'm not talking about a few hours, I'm talking about good, wholesome rest. And I know we can't always do that, but how can we be intentional about doing that and getting the rest we need so we can really be our best throughout the day? Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup, fam, so we really gotta get our rest so we can pour some good stuff into us. 

So here's the thing, we never are going to get it a hundred percent perfect.

And that's okay. It's not about perfection, it's about identifying those areas that need our attention, so we can prioritize our health. So when we do that, we give ourselves more energy and the ability to show up fully for our students and for our loved ones. 

Fitness isn't about perfection or comparison.  It's about being able to show up with energy and joy. So start small.  One walk, one healthy meal, one earlier bedtime. You don't have to overhaul everything at once. Just start and choose one thing and start from there. 

So here's some reflection questions to really think about as we close this episode. 

So, how do you want to honor your body in this season?

And what's one small step you can take this week to move, fuel, or rest better? 

That's it for now. I want you to be encouraged. Your health matters because you matter. So in closing, please check out the show notes for the full transcript, the seven minute workout routine link that I use, and other resources to support your health journey as a teacher.

I hope you have a great week, teacher fam. Until next time, God bless.

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