Description: This week, Dr. Boogren inspires the Self-Care Squad with some personal stories that have significantly helped her accomplish big goals.
Resources
1. Explore the Kids In Need Foundation's work now at EveryTeacherEveryDay.org/SelfCareForEducators
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Transcription: Hi, and welcome to episode 18 of our second season of Self-Care for Educators. I'm your host, Tina Boogren. This week's invitation is to find your squad. I mean, this in direct relation to what we've talked about the last two weeks as we've gotten 2022 underway. The first episode of this new year was all about finding your guiding word or phrase or quote or song. And then, last week we talked about engaging in a challenge that's kind of full of whimsy if you will, of dedicating 22 minutes to something in 2022, a good habit we suggested based on Gretchen Rubin's work, 22 minutes of rest each day, but we also explored the idea of 22 minutes of movement or 22 minutes of reading or whatever.
So, this week to kind of build upon those first two weeks, I want us to think about how much easier and how much better it feels when we are not pursuing our goals on our own. This is exactly why I want you to think about finding your squad. What I've learned for myself over and over again is that when I have people who are committed to similar goals that I have, and we cheer each other on and support each other, it just makes a world of difference. The last two years, I've had a fitness group that we've connected on Facebook, and we just share every single day what we're doing to move our bodies. And, this has been such an unbelievable happiness boost and gosh, just support system for myself and my own goals.
Last year, as I've mentioned before, my guiding word was wellness or wellbeing, and I really set out to make some changes, particularly around how I think about exercise and how I move my body. I spent a lot of time making that shift between exercise as punishment and exercise to exercise mental health. And, after a year, a full year of basically moving my body in some way, almost every single day, I have a new habit. And, I made a distinct connection between how, when I take care of my body, I actually am taking care of my mind. So, I wanted to continue that this year in the form of vitality and keep those goals going and actually up my game. And so, I reached out to my own squad, and I asked if anyone else was interested in doing this, too. And, lo and behold so many people were. And so again, I formed another little group with friends and colleagues and my people over on Facebook and every single day, I just prompt us to share how are you moving your body today?
And, the beauty of that, it's two-fold, right? So, number one, there's a little bit of loving accountability built into that for me. Personally, I know that if I'm asking others how they're moving their body today, I need to move my body, as well. But, the piece of that, that really, I think makes the most difference is the support cheering each other on my favorite thing about this squad that I have over there is how group members cheer for each other. There's no competition. It's not a feeling of so-and-so is better than me. It's not to comparison. I mean, human ... Our human brains probably are doing that to somewhat, but we can easily sidestep that when we continue to think about no one is posting anything. Oh, I did ... I did that same run and I did it faster than you.
Oh goodness. No. Right? Instead we're saying, Feel my hand on your back supporting you. And, I didn't feel like moving my body today, but I saw all of you were able to get out into the snow and cold. So why can't I? And, it has been this just magical thing in my life I love so stinking much. It's like, gosh, that sense of community and connection just cannot be overstated. When we think about Maslow's hierarchy, you know, level one, our physiological needs, that's a really ... And, focusing on when I think about vitality and moving my body, but what has come out of this support group is really thinking about levels three and four, which is belonging and esteem. I really feel that sense of strong belonging and community, and it makes me feel better about myself. And, quite honestly, we haven't skipped over level two safety. It feels like a safe place to share.
So, what I want you to think about is, where can you find your own squad? Maybe you are going to become the leader. You are going to reach out to some colleagues, some friends, some family members and say, Okay, I've spent the last few weeks really getting solid on how I want to feel in 2022, and I wonder if you're having kind of the same goals? And, maybe we could do this together? You could form a Facebook group, just like I have. That's easy for me. Facebook is something that ... I am on Facebook every day with our Self-Care Squad. Again, think of the community that's built over there. It's the same idea. And so, that's an easy platform for me to use, but it doesn't have to be that. It could be an actual face-to-face check in and especially with colleagues, right? Checking in, in the morning or stopping by in the afternoon and just asking each other questions based around what your goals are. Maybe it's a text message kind of just group that you have that you check in with each other. Maybe it's over email. Maybe it's a Google Doc where you're all submitting kind of what it is you're doing, and it's all open-ended.
This does not have to be ... I'm not saying this has to be around movement. That's just the example I'm sharing, because that's something that I'm working on that I've built community around and just try it out. See if it helps. Be the leader. This is a great way to build that sense of community and culture in your building. You just might be surprised at who might be interested if you really start asking. So, find your squad. Find your squad. And, if you can't find your squad with the people around you find it online, that's one of the benefits of having social media. It's one of the good ... Seek out groups. There's different Facebook groups, different handles that you can follow on Twitter, just all sorts of different ways. Meet Up groups that you can find. Like-minded people that are really going to help you support these incredible goals that you have for yourself in 2022. Let's make it happen.
As always, a huge thank you to Brooke for making this happen. Thank you to Solution Tree and Marzano Resources for this job I get to do. And, for you, my bad-ass Self-Care Squad. Thank you for providing such a safe place for us to connect and support one another and create that sense of belonging. I am so grateful for you. Have an amazing week.
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