'I am grateful for… my family for keeping me grounded and colleagues for being supportive and making my daily work life enjoyable. Also my dog for being so loving and always putting a smile on my face.' Teacher Sandro Biscaro shares in this Q&A.
Wellbeing by Teacher is dedicated to improving the lives of teachers and school leaders by providing them with informative, evidence-based strategies and stories on how to care for their body, mind and overall sense of wellbeing. We also share recipe ideas, fitness tips, book reviews (and more!) from teachers, school leaders and others working in the sector.
In today’s piece, Sandro Biscaro, a Daily Organiser and PE teacher at Epping Secondary College in Victoria, shares insights into how he cares for his own mental health and wellbeing.
I am grateful for… my family for keeping me grounded and colleagues for being supportive and making my daily work life enjoyable. Also my dog for being so loving and always putting a smile on my face.
To calm myself, I… step back, take a few deep breaths and reassess. I ask myself questions like: what needs to happen? What can I do, who can I ask for assistance?
I am proud of my body for… still being able to do most of the practical things that I was able to do when I first started teaching PE in the '80s.
My workout playlist always includes… news. I don’t really use a playlist, I listen to radio, radio news ABC, etcetera… I’m a news junkie!
To switch off from work, I… ride my bike to and from home to work, which always seems to provide me with time to clear my head, or think through problems, issues, and come up with solutions. A cold beer at night also helps!
On the weekend I like to… walk my dog early Saturday and Sunday morning, grab a coffee, go bike riding with friends, not think about work until Sunday afternoon, chill out with family and friends, and grab a meal with family at a local restaurant.
To care for my overall wellbeing, I… try and exercise daily to clear my mind and improve my sense of achievement, get sufficient sleep, and eat well.
How do you care for your own health and wellbeing? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share with your colleagues in education? We’d love to hear about them. Here’s a handy guide on how to get started.
