How to Be Your Own Best Advocate: A Parent-Teacher Conference for Your Wellness

Checking-in On Your Wellness Journey with the  Kindness of a Parent and the Clarity of a Teacher

All September I’ve been throwing it back to my days in the classroom, both as student and teacher, to find inspiration for my own health and wellness. And if I were still in the school setting, this week would have likely been a really important one – the parent-teacher conference!

Over the many years I taught, I truly loved these meetings. It was a chance to merge the student’s day-to-day data and development with a bigger picture of a whole, little, unique human. Together, we could look for opportunities and create a collaborative plan to support the child.

What if you were to sit down and imagine a conference with yourself, through the lens of both teacher and parent? What would that inner dialogue sound like as a gentle evaluator and a loving advocate for yourself?

Be the Teacher: Review the Data

The "teacher" part of you looks at the facts. They know the daily patterns and are here to get curious, not to judge.

• Gather the evidence: Look at your calendar, photo albums, or a habit tracker to recall your actions from the past month.

• Find the patterns: What gave you energy? What seemed to drain it?

• Discover the lessons: What did you learn about what truly works for you?

Be the Parent: Support with Compassion

The "parent" part of you holds the long-term vision. They want to know how you feel and why things happened, with your best interests at heart.

• Check in on your feelings: How did you feel overall this month? What felt heavy or light?

• Celebrate yourself: What are you proud of? How did you support yourself?

• Look at the big picture: Are you keeping your ultimate vision for health and happiness in mind?

The idea of having a conference doesn’t necessarily scream “fun!” but these meetings are critical for success in schools, businesses, and more. Why shouldn’t something as precious and valuable as your wellness be worthy of such dedicated time?

If, like me, dancing together brings you feelings of energy, support, and thriving wellness, I’ll see you on the dance floor this week! Join us in-class in Taipei or online to dance with me at home!

Keep moving!

xx,

Katie