Put on your own oxygen mask first (For my teachers)

I've had many lives, and one of them was lived as a flight attendant for US Airways. I'd welcome passengers onboard and before take-off, I'd present flight instructions. One important safety element was to inform passengers, in case of a loss in air pressure to "put on your oxygen mask first before helping others."

Flight Attendant Graduation (pictured: Alicia D. Williams and brother)

If an emergency were to happen, I wondered, Would people remember the location of the emergency exits was floatation devices? Would the exit row volunteers recall how to open the door? Would their rescue instincts kick in? Would mine?

As educators, we've experienced turbulence in our classrooms. We've practiced drills for fires, tornados, and even active gun shooters. Some of you, sadly, have had put your own rescue instincts to test. We've had demanding parents, absent parents, and wonderful ones too. We've endured behavioral issues, lack of administrator support, low budgets, low pay, weekend grading and lesson planning and--ahhhhh--everything.

As we work through the second half of the school year, I want to remind you to put on your oxygen mask first. You can't help your students, team, or families if you're wheezing and about to pass out. And there's nothing selfish in this act. It's a lifesaving rule; that's why air travelers are reminded to do so on every single flight.

How can you put on your oxygen mask?

1. Take guilt-free sick days. If I was strong enough to stand, then I was strong enough to work. That's how I lived.

   You don't have to have a hundred- and ten-degree temperature or be bent over in excruciating pain in order to be sick. Sick days are also mental health days. Give yourself permission to recharge, rebalance, and breathe. You work hard. You work overtime too. And you deserve a mental health day.

2. Reject toxic positivity. After returning back during the pandemic (I was at a private school), our administrators would say, "You're a rockstar! You're doing great! You got this!" They did this without taking an assessment of the faculty. In all honesty, we were hurting from lost loved ones. We were scared. We were falling ill too. All we wanted was for them to see us. To recognize our feelings. Doing so might've increased morale. Of course, we persevered. That's a teacher superpower.

   So, let go of toxic positivity. It does us no justice to grin and lie.

3. Establish boundaries. It is okay to create them. For your colleagues. For your family. For your parents and students too. I recommend reading Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab to strengthen your voice. She also offers ready phrases to assist.

4. Take a moment and be present. Whether at your favorite coffee shop or the park. Unplug from social media. Resist checking your phone and email. Take a moment to be. Let your mind zone out. Let it daydream. Let it find peace.

5. Discover joy. This will be your bravest, most radical and rebellious act.

6. Speak to a professional. We get tune ups for our cars and maintenance on air and heating units for our homes, are your possessions more worthy attention than your health? Know that you don't need to wait until you're at a breaking point to seek therapy.