Self-care is an overused phrase that doesn’t get to the heart of what educators are facing each day. They are told to practice “self-care” when they are already drowning in a sea of mental and physical fatigue and exhaustion. It’s time to replace the phrase “self-care” with Radical Wellness.

It’s radical because it’s uncomfortable and messy, and it requires us to examine our lives from the inside out, including taking a step back and making some much-needed moves in our lives. It is not a random, long-overdue pampering with a facial or a walk in the park.

It is restructuring our lives with the understanding that not only do we deserve to feel good physically and emotionally, but also that those around us – our co-workers, our families, our colleagues – need us to be the best versions of ourselves.

When I talk about radical wellness, I’m talking about the thoughts and beliefs we act on daily – sometimes without even knowing they are operating in the background of our minds.