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In this episode, Christina Gawedzinski,  a therapist with a history of working with teachers and students, shares with us her personal journey out of burnout and offers important steps we can take to begin to address our feelings and thoughts about our careers and our future as we Begin Where We Are.

Christina Gawedzinski is a certified school counselor and licensed professional counselor who has spent years working with those affected by trauma from victims and caregivers to the helpers. She has learned the importance of daily self-care in order to be able to properly care for others.

TIPS FROM CHRISTINA 

After beginning her  battle with breast cancer, she knew something needed to change, so she sat down with her family and they asked the question, ‘What if…”

 After a move, things really started to take shape for Christina and her family and that’s when she realized the true power of asking, “What if…?” and the need for a new type of self-care.

1. Understand WHY you’re in the position you’re in. You chose to be a teacher for a reason, so dig deep and figure out what it is you want to be, what you want to be remembered for. You are the champion for the kids and their cheerleaders, so building relationships with students and parents. The more you build relationships that 
2. Self-care isn’t selfish. If you want to be the best version of yourself you have to take care of yourself, so you can take care of others.
3. Ask yourself, “How are you currently?” What are you doing to make sure that you’re keeping up with your world and your environment? Right now it means understanding trauma. Every kid has witnessed some sort of traumatic event and we need to know how to deal with trauma.
4. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and grace when you do make mistakes. If you believe you have to be perfect, that doesn’t do anything but add more pressure.
5. If kids aren’t getting the sleep they need or eating well, they won’t be good students for you. The same holds true for you. If you don’t take care of your basic needs, you won’t be good for them.
6. ASK. FOR. HELP. If your class is out of control if your procedures aren’t working well, and if you’re working too much, ask for help. There is someone out there who can help you, but you HAVE to ask.
7. Be reflective of your own self-care practices. Be honest with yourself. Take time to be reflective, we open ourselves up to more possibilities. KNOW BETTER TO DO BETTER. It’s okay to not know everything. It’s okay to open yourself up to learning a new and different way. 

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