Caring for Yourself and Keeping Connected During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this chapter, the author shares her journey. The challenges and struggles that emerged while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategies, decisions, solutions, and successes that keep her afloat as she attempts to maintain a healthy work-life balance, self-care, and wellness are explored. With her background in education, administration, and psychology, she thought these were the perfect protective factors to help her lead and maintain a sense of well-being, but even with her extensive training, she stumbled several times. In this chapter, she pulls from theory and practice in education, leadership, and psychology to assist the reader in understanding their journey and making sense of the new normal. She shares best practices and research in all three fields to assist the reader in moving forward better equipped to handle the pandemic. In sharing her experience, she hopes to help the reader feel more normal knowing that they are not alone, even in isolation and social distancing.