Page 65 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 65
rcising helps me relax and teach more easily ohranjanje in krepitev zdravja | maintaining and promoting health
Vesna Boštjančič
Elementary school Dragotina Ketteja Ilirska Bistrica, Župančičeva ulica 7,
6250 Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia
Background and purpose: Today, practically everybody knows that physical ex-
ercise means health. Despite a high awareness of the importance of physical
exercise, in practice the actual share of Slovenians who regularly exercise is sig-
nificantly lower. Engaging in sufficient physical exercise is a health protecting
factor, as it benefits both physical and mental health. Physical inactivity reduces
general resistance, impacts the occurrence of health risk factors and contrib-
utes to the development of numerous non-communicable chronic diseases,
thus lowering the quality of life of individuals. In addition to physical inactivity,
stress in the work environment is becoming the second most important con-
cern in the area of health.
Presentation of the content: Many studies have shown that performing the teach-
ing profession is a stressful activity and that burnout among teachers is becom-
ing an increasing problem. It is very important to learn how to manage stress,
and those teachers who maintain a healthy lifestyle, i.e. who have healthy dietary
habits, engage in regular physical activity, and have as few healthy vices (smoking,
too little sleep, heavy coffee drinking) as possible, are more successful in achiev-
ing this. We are aware that regular physical exercise taken in proper measures
has a significant impact on the health and well-being of an individual, which con-
sequently contributes to his/her work performance. At the Dragotin Kette Pri-
mary School in Ilirska Bistrica, targeted activities have been systematically intro-
duced in recent years, aimed at maintaining and strengthening the physical and
mental health of teachers. In order to motivate and empower the school staff
for a healthy and active lifestyle, we have introduced active breaks with pupils,
breaks with exercises during meetings of the teachers’ assembly, educational
sessions on the positive effects of strength and flexibility exercises on the body,
and a wide range of afternoon physical exercising activities. In cooperation with
the Ilirska Bistrica Community Health Centre, we also regularly perform meas-
urements of physical fitness of the staff, body composition analysis, and blood
pressure and sugar measurements. We started with small steps, gradually add-
ing more activities, and responses from the staff have been diverse. Regarding
awareness-raising about health through measurements, responsiveness and sat-
isfaction are high, while regarding the physical exercising activities of the staff in
the school and during free time, the level of interest is lower.
Conclusions: Maintaining health is a challenging task for everybody. Health can-
not be seen as a taken-for-granted state of body and mind. It is important to be
aware that physical exercise improves our mental and physical capacity, which
also leads to higher work performance. Motivation for a healthy lifestyle ben-
efits both the working-age population and their employers, as easier coping
with burdens and better on-the-job efficiency are reflected in both private and
working life.
Key words: teachers, health, stress, physical exercise
63
Vesna Boštjančič
Elementary school Dragotina Ketteja Ilirska Bistrica, Župančičeva ulica 7,
6250 Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia
Background and purpose: Today, practically everybody knows that physical ex-
ercise means health. Despite a high awareness of the importance of physical
exercise, in practice the actual share of Slovenians who regularly exercise is sig-
nificantly lower. Engaging in sufficient physical exercise is a health protecting
factor, as it benefits both physical and mental health. Physical inactivity reduces
general resistance, impacts the occurrence of health risk factors and contrib-
utes to the development of numerous non-communicable chronic diseases,
thus lowering the quality of life of individuals. In addition to physical inactivity,
stress in the work environment is becoming the second most important con-
cern in the area of health.
Presentation of the content: Many studies have shown that performing the teach-
ing profession is a stressful activity and that burnout among teachers is becom-
ing an increasing problem. It is very important to learn how to manage stress,
and those teachers who maintain a healthy lifestyle, i.e. who have healthy dietary
habits, engage in regular physical activity, and have as few healthy vices (smoking,
too little sleep, heavy coffee drinking) as possible, are more successful in achiev-
ing this. We are aware that regular physical exercise taken in proper measures
has a significant impact on the health and well-being of an individual, which con-
sequently contributes to his/her work performance. At the Dragotin Kette Pri-
mary School in Ilirska Bistrica, targeted activities have been systematically intro-
duced in recent years, aimed at maintaining and strengthening the physical and
mental health of teachers. In order to motivate and empower the school staff
for a healthy and active lifestyle, we have introduced active breaks with pupils,
breaks with exercises during meetings of the teachers’ assembly, educational
sessions on the positive effects of strength and flexibility exercises on the body,
and a wide range of afternoon physical exercising activities. In cooperation with
the Ilirska Bistrica Community Health Centre, we also regularly perform meas-
urements of physical fitness of the staff, body composition analysis, and blood
pressure and sugar measurements. We started with small steps, gradually add-
ing more activities, and responses from the staff have been diverse. Regarding
awareness-raising about health through measurements, responsiveness and sat-
isfaction are high, while regarding the physical exercising activities of the staff in
the school and during free time, the level of interest is lower.
Conclusions: Maintaining health is a challenging task for everybody. Health can-
not be seen as a taken-for-granted state of body and mind. It is important to be
aware that physical exercise improves our mental and physical capacity, which
also leads to higher work performance. Motivation for a healthy lifestyle ben-
efits both the working-age population and their employers, as easier coping
with burdens and better on-the-job efficiency are reflected in both private and
working life.
Key words: teachers, health, stress, physical exercise
63
