The Teacher's Health Journey: Episode 1

Quick Health Tips for Teachers

Fitness and nutrition are on everybody’s mind nowadays, and teacher health is something we care a lot about. Here at SimpleK12, we recently started an optional walking group that meets for 15 minutes every morning to follow along with a walking video. We have found, and studies suggest, that taking even a short break to move helps clear the mind, and even small changes can have an impact on your life. We know that teachers are busy and don’t always have time to worry about making a healthy meal and going to the gym, so we’re compiling a list of tips that will help us incorporate small changes into our daily lives that you can make to improve your health.  And, we'll focus on things that won’t take up too much of your time.

Nutrition Tip:
Pack a healthy snack. Often times, we get busy and wait too long to eat. By the time we get to eat we are desperate for food and this can lead to overeating. Healthy snacks such as fruits, veggies, or unsalted nuts (make sure it’s something you like!) can help stave off hunger until you can get to your meal. Snacks are quick and easy to put together, especially if you take a few extra minutes upfront to portion them out so you can just grab and go.  (I like to prepare a week's worth of snacks every Sunday evening and then grab a “snack pack” every morning to take with me to school.)

Fitness Tip:
Do a short workout video! There are tons of apps and YouTube videos that are short and sweet, but which will still give you a good workout. This video from FitnessBlender offers low impact aerobics, doesn’t require equipment, and is only 8 minutes long. But, because there are so many videos to choose from, you can find a video that works for you. Here at SimpleK12, we’ve been doing the Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos which can vary between shorter workouts and longer, but they’re all low-impact and fun.

Be sure to check back regularly for another installment of the Teacher Health Journey!

Do you have any nutrition or fitness tips to share? Or maybe a great, healthy recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

Carolina Fransen is the EdTech Apps and Tools Editor at SimpleK12.com. She writes regularly about the use of educational technology in K-12 classrooms. If you have an app, tool, website, or service that you think we should know about, please send your information or tip to editor@simplek12.com.