Written by Aidan Tyler-Scott
As the year comes to an end, it’s important to remember that rest is a vital priority for online TEFL teachers. As most people in South Africa are already putting in their leave or enjoying their festive vacation already, many TEFL teachers are still working day in and day out.
Because many online TEFL teachers have to work for an hourly rate instead of getting a fixed monthly salary, we put pressure on ourselves to continue lessons throughout December while everyone relaxes before the new year. To encourage you to take a bit of a break this December, we remind you of the importance of rest for your body, mind, and productivity.
Resting is Important for Good Health
Rest looks different for everyone, but it does involve slowing your days down, doing the things that help you relax, and meeting up with friends and family. Taking the time to switch off from work, get out into nature, and relax with a good book or movie will improve your health.
Resting, good sleep and relaxing activities are associated with lowering your cortisol levels, the stress hormone in your body. When your cortisol levels are high, they can weaken your immune system, cause fatigue, mood swings, and other symptoms. When we take the time to rest our minds and bodies and relax, we allow our bodies to reset and heal. Resting can boost your immune system, decrease blood pressure, reduce mood swings, anxiety and depression, and improve overall mood.
Relaxation Increases Creativity
Our creativity is activated when we rest and feel relaxed. According to experts, a big portion of our best creative ideas arrives when we enjoy some downtime or take a break. During relaxation, we allow our minds to wander without judgment or tell our brains what they should focus on.
As we allow our minds to wander, we activate our imagination and come up with good ideas that offer solutions to any problems. Relaxing could be the perfect time to develop ideas that could benefit your teaching and online classroom.
Rest Improves Productivity
When we take the time to rest, we allow our minds and bodies time and space to destress, reset, and heal. When we rest, our mind can clear out all unnecessary information, and our bodies can unwind from all the tension built up over the last year. When we have a clear mind and a rested body, we are able to perform at our best which boosts our overall daily productivity.
Take Some Time Out to Chill
Rest will allow you to reflect on your past year and focus on goals for the new year so that you can come back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated! Setting aside time to relax and rest this December will give you the break you need to start the new year feeling like a brand new you.
