Daily well-being during a strike

Strikes hold both promise and peril

Strikes are unsettling because they are uncertain; teachers do not know when a strike will end or how much pay they will lose. 

On the other hand, teachers come together during a strike to exercise their collective voice and stand up for the vision of a better future for their profession and for public education. 

During this time, the Association recognizes that teachers’ wellness must be at the forefront. While individuals can engage in personal wellness activities, we can also support each other during this stressful time.

Helping You Navigate Workplace Disruptions

Throughout the strike, the Association will be posting regular messages of support focused on teacher well-being.

Friday, October 10—Choosing Balance with Social Media

• Strikes bring uncertainty, and it's natural to want to stay informed. Phones make that easy—but they can also draw us into dreaded "doomscroll," where we keep refreshing feeds for updates.
• Instead of getting stuck in the scroll, try these small shifts:
  • Choose limits: Notice how much time you're spending online and set gentle boundaries for yourself.
  • Choose useful information: Ask, Is this new? Is it helpful? Do I need it right now?
  • Choose real connection: Swap some screen time for time with colleagues, friends or family.
  • Choose rest: Put your phone down before bed to give your mind and body space to recharge.
• This weekend, give yourself permission to step away—get outside, breathe deeply and remind yourself that you're not alone in this.
• For more insight, see this Mayo Clinic article: Doomscrolling: Stop the scroll, protect your mental health - Mayo Clinic Press

"Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom."

- Bhante Henepola Gunaratana

Thursday, October 9—Fueling Your Body

• Are you taking care of your basic nutritional needs during the strike? As teachers, we often put our own needs last—even something as simple as remembering to eat or drink water. For example, in June 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alberta Teachers’ Association asked teachers if they ate regularly and stayed hydrated while working from home. Over 2,500 teachers responded, and only 20 per cent said they always met those needs.
• Strike action can be draining, so it’s important to fuel both your soul and your body. Today’s focus is on giving your body the nutrition it needs to stay strong.
• If meal prep feels overwhelming, you’re not alone—support is out there. A helpful place to start is this ASEBP resource: Nutrition | Self-Care

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

—English proverb

Wednesday, October 8—Staying Connected

• We’re social creatures, wired to connect and to belong. The Othering and Belonging Institute reminds us that belonging means creating a world where everyone is seen, valued and supported—a world where each person’s humanity is recognized, and even our planet is included in our circle of care. If there was ever a time to lean into building such a world, it’s now.
• Being on strike can sometimes feel lonely, which is why staying connected really matters. Reaching out to colleagues helps keep our sense of community strong, and leaning on friends and family outside of school makes a big difference too.
• Think about simple ways to connect: stop by your local strike office, go for a walk with a colleague in the park, grab coffee together or share a meal. These moments remind us that we’re not alone—and they bring us back to why we’re here: standing up for public education and fair working conditions.
• If you’d like to learn more about how social support boosts well-being, check out this great article on the HEARTcare Educators site by registered psychologist Chantel Fillion.

“True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world.” 

— Brené Brown

Tuesday, October 7—Building Hope

• Hope is a gritty concept, it is not just about wishing for something to get better—it’s far more than that. Having hope means that you have the agency to make change and that you have considered different pathways for change.
• This strike action, taken together with your 51,000 colleagues, represents hope for a better future for public education and for you as teaching professionals. However, strikes are also very challenging for everyone involved.
• If you are having trouble feeling hopeful, here’s a quick video by Dr Denise Larson at the University of Alberta that shows three ways to build hope.

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

— Nelson Mandela

Monday, October 6, 2025—Creating a Routine

• Strikes change your normal work routines, creating stress and uncertainty. To take charge of the day, it may be helpful to craft your own routine during the strike. Consider creating a routine for yourself and your family with the help of the prompts below:
  • What are your priorities today?
  • What goals do you wish to accomplish? (taking a walk, cooking a nice meal, reading a book, finding your strike office, connecting with a friend)
  • Allocate time blocks.
  • Be sure to build in wellness breaks and activities.
  • Be flexible with your ambitions and be kind to yourself.
  • Write down your routine or use apps to outline your plan for the day.
  • Reflect and plan for tomorrow.
• Here is a set of resources from ASEBP that focus on stress, burnout and fatigue:
  Managing Stress, Fatigue, and Burnout | ASEBP Wellness

 “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” 

— Helen Keller