1. The learner will explore the effects of stress and burnout.
2. The learner will be able to identify a variety of healthy coping mechanisms.
3. The learner will understand what self-care is and why it is important.
4. The learner will be able to identify mental health resources.
5. The learner will be able to develop a workable self-care plan.

I'm a masters-level counselor, and I've worked as a licensed school counselor with students across all grade levels from kindergarten through grade 12. I also have prior teaching experience through a variety of positions I've held, including working as an extended school program coordinator, one-on-one and small group classroom aide, and graduate assistant. As a school counselor, I have frequently provided classroom lessons on socioemotional learning, academic interests, and career-related topics. Within the field of mental health, my passions include promoting a healthy work-life (or school-life) balance, reducing stress and burnout, and living an authentic life.

The following sources will be utilized, but students will not need access to any of them before or during the class: 

Badre, D. (2021). How we can deal with ‘pandemic fatigue’. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-we-can-deal-with-pandemic-fatigue/ 

Brown, B. (2017). Rising strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Random House.
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Stress. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress 

Davis, T. (2018). Self-care: 12 ways to take better care of yourself. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/201812/self-care-12-ways-take-better-care-yourself / 

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Job burnout: How to spot it and take action. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642 

Nagoski, E. & Nagoski, A. (2019). Burnout: The secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Ballantine Books. 

Rodquist-Kodet, A. (2020). Completing our body’s stress response cycle. University of Kentucky Human Resources. https://www.uky.edu/hr/thrive/11-17-2020/completing-our-bodys-stress-response-cycle 

ReachOut Schools. (n.d.). Developing a self-care plan. https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/developing-a-self-care-plan 
Stewart-Weeks, L. (2016). 1-minute mindfulness exercises. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/blog/1-minute-mindfulness-exercises#1 

Tawwab Glover, N. (2021). Set boundaries, find peace: A guide to reclaiming yourself. TarcherPerigee.

Valcour, M. (2016). Beating burnout. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/11/beating-burnout