As another year kicks off, some teachers may feel burned out or overwhelmed from the past eighteen months of teaching during a global pandemic. And here we go again! No matter how big or small the milestone, CELEBRATE!
The Teaching Channel site provided a free download to the eBook: Self Care for Educators and a self-care plan template to remind teachers of goals, resources, support systems/people, and how to celebrate when reaching a goal.
One of my favorite suggestions is mindfulness. According to MindfulSchools.org, mindfulness is “maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment with openness and curiosity.” The following are a few free meditation apps:

SMILING MIND
- Available for iOS, Android, and the Web
- Entry Price: ALL content is **free**
- Most meditations are in the 5 – 15 minutes range
- Organized into structured programs, for example Digital Detox, Stress Management, and Sleep

UCLA MINDFUL
- Available for iOS and Android
- Entry Price: ALL content is **free**
- Most meditations are in the 3 – 19 minutes range | Half-hour podcasts meditations are also offered
- The app has a timer to practice meditating on your own

GO NOODLE
- For kids
- Get moving and practicing mindfulness
- Access to the primary library of videos is free
We hope you have a wonderful school year! Please make sure you take some time for self-care.

Google Certified Trainer