There’s nothing I hate more than themed months with alliterative titles. “No-shave November” comes to mind. There’s nothing like seeing grown men will themselves to produce patches of wispy facial hair for a good cause. And, even if they can’t grow a full beard, they somehow manage an ironic mustache, which is obviously hilarious whether it’s meant to be or not. Clearly, I’m not a fan.
I also felt the same way about “Dry January” the first time I heard it, but that was before I actually tried it. For those unfamiliar with this catchy little title, Dry January is a month when people who regularly consume alcohol take a 30-day break from it.
During that month of sobriety, I felt more alert and more awake; my mind wasn’t foggy. I started to feel lighter – physically and emotionally. I lost nearly 10 pounds. It was the first time I started thinking about how my mindset impacted my consumption of alcohol. Why was I drinking so much? Why did I look forward to it? Were there underlying factors to my drinking?
In February, I fell back into my regular routine – bourbon every night and even more on the weekends. It wasn’t long before I was in a perpetual fog and waking up with dull headaches every morning.
Fast forward seven months. I found myself in a boxing ring training for a fight. I weighed close to 230 lbs; I had no stamina. I had always lifted weights but stayed away from much cardio and never watched what I ate or drank. After my first sparring session, I decided to give up alcohol until the fight—three months without drinking. I actually looked forward to it. What I didn’t expect, however, is that avoiding alcohol would also open the door to evaluating why I consumed anything I consumed – sugar, junk food, fried food, etc.
By the time the fight rolled around, I was down 15 lbs to 215. My opponent outweighed me by nearly 20 lbs, and I felt it every time he connected with a punch. I left the ring not wanting to box again, but I knew I appreciated what the training had done for me, specifically how it made me aware of the connection between my mental and physical health.
For the next several months – in and out of Covid – I realized how much my mental health contributed to what I put into my body consistently. When I wanted to drink, I stopped and thought about why I wanted to drink. Then, I applied that same mindset to food – why was I craving a slice of Pilot pizza and hot wings right after I taught my third middle school class of the day? It didn’t take me long to realize that I had been using certain types of food as a medicine for stress. Meanwhile, that same food was wreaking havoc on my body.
Every time I craved something unhealthy, I evaluated the situation – what was I feeling, what time of day is this occurring, are there extenuating circumstances at play? Most often, I craved the worst kinds of food while I was teaching or right after I had finished teaching.
Teaching isn’t an easy job. While the career itself is intrinsically rewarding, it’s also highly stressful. If the teaching profession was only about what happens in the classroom on a given day, the stress of the job wouldn’t be nearly what it is. The students don’t make the job stressful; the bureaucracy from the state level on down is what creates the pressure that teachers feel on a daily basis. Standardized test scores, lesson plans, grading, data charts, department meetings, and curriculum planning all contribute to that stress. The job of being an educator is both an administrative desk job as well as an active teaching job.
Dr. Marlon King has been Superintendent of the Jackson-Madison County School System since 2020. During those three years, he has unequivocally and unapologetically invested in JMCSS employees. From absorbing rising insurance costs to instituting longevity bonuses to giving substantial pay raises to every teacher, Dr. King has proven how much he values his employees. His latest announcement, though, might be his most important.
On Thursday, August 31, JMCSS will kick off the weCARE initiative across the district. WeCARE is an initiative by the school system that supports and invests in teachers’ mental and physical health – two things that are vital to a balanced work-life and high-quality personal health. The program itself is built on four pillars:
C – Connect with others and build meaningful relationships
A – Actively participate in social activities and events
R – Regularly exercise and prioritize physical fitness.
E – Engage in self-care practices to support overall well-being.
Throughout the year, the district will offer multiple opportunities for staff to engage in social events and activities, the first of these being the WeCARE kick-off event at Oman Arena. This event will have different physical options for staff, such as Salsa Dancing and Yoga.
During the district-wide in-service earlier this month, Dr. King announced a reimbursement plan for gym memberships and other self-care practices that can enhance the overall health of JMCSS employees. He has also intentionally scheduled mental health days for staff at various intervals throughout the school year.
In a press release by JMCSS, Dr. King stated: “Because we want our employees to provide the best care and support for our students, we have to encourage self-care and incentivize employees to take proper care and support of themselves. This initiative will improve the quality of services our teachers and support staff provide for families.”
As an employee of JMCSS and someone who has recently begun to evaluate my own physical and mental health, this initiative is something that genuinely invests in people. And people are what can make any school district or organization successful.
I rarely drink anymore; my diet has shifted drastically, too. I’m the healthiest I’ve been in a long time. I learned that paying attention to my mental health was the key to taking care of my physical health. The fact that my employer recognizes that importance is just as valuable as any monetary raise that has been given over the last few years. In fact, it might even be more valuable.
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