Teacher Appreciation Wellness Bar Ideas & Free Printable Bundle

One of the most popular teacher appreciation ideas that trends with PTOs every winter is a teacher wellness bar, and for good reason! Between the flu, winter doldrums, and midyear burnout, teachers need all the help they can get to stay healthy, fight germs, and keep their spirits up. Setting up a wellness bar in the teachers' lounge is an easy way for your PTO to support teacher wellbeing with healthy snacks and sips, health and wellness products, self-care items, and stress-relief activities. Alternatively, your PTO can stock a wellness wagon (aka a treat trolley or a woot woot wagon) and surprise teachers at their door. Below, we’ll walk you through everything you need to set up a teacher appreciation wellness bar. 

@the.turquoise.teacher #teachertiktok #teachersontiktok #teachertok #teachersoftiktok #pto ♬ Everybody Wants To Rule The World X Electric Love - darcy stokes

Free Teacher Wellness Bar Printables

Get our FREE set of editable "Bee Happy, Bee Healthy" wellness bar printables, part of our school appreciation mega bundle.

You can also add a flavored water station to your teacher wellness bar. Get a teacher appreciation hydration station shopping list, plus FREE teacher hydration station printables (including teacher-themed recipes and signage).

Teacher Wellness Bar Ideas & Shopping List:

Below, we round up a handy shopping list of self-care items, healthy snacks, drinks, and supplies for a teacher wellness bar.

Self-care items for a teacher wellness bar:

• Hand lotion
• Chapstick 
• Tissues 
• Advil, Aleve and/or Tylenol (travel size packs) 
• Throat lozenges
• Cough drops
• Homeopathic medicine (like Boiron Oscillococcinum for relief from Flu-like symptoms)
• Liquid IV electrolyte powder drink (can also be used as part of hydration station!)
• Melatonin sample packs to help with a good night's sleep 
• Multivitamins 
• Emergen-C immune support
• Elderberry Zinc support 
• Bars of soap (check with your local dermatology office for samples) 
• Body wash (travel size) 
• Face wash (travel size) 
• Dental care items, like flossers and toothpaste (travel size) 
• "Glow up" samples, like nail polish and makeup
• Back scratchers 
• Head massagers
• Stress balls or fidgets
• Calm strips 

Drinks for a teacher wellness bar:

• Set up a tea bar. Display a variety bags: Yogi and Zen brands have fun wellness names that are perfect for a teacher wellness bar, like Yogi "Stress Relief", Yogi "Positive Energy", and Tazo "Zen" tea (Fun teacher tea puns for teacher appreciation: "You can't spell teacher without TEA" and "Enjoy some "immuni-TEA")   
• Honey sticks for tea
• Water bottles
• Cans of flavored sparkling water 
• Prebiotic sodas, like Poppi or OLIPOP
• Vitamin Water 
• Propel 
• Water with fresh fruit slices 
• Flavored water hydration station 

Healthy snacks for a teacher wellness bar:

• Clementines ("Orange you glad winter's almost over?") 
• Bananas ("Thanks a bunch for all you do")
• Trail Mix snack packs
• Organic dried fruit 
• Granola and yogurt cups to make yogurt parfaits 
• Granola bars
• Oatmeal 
• Mints 
• Energy or protein bars 
• Chocolate ("Because chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a plant...therefore, chocolate is salad!") 

Classroom supplies for a teacher wellness bar include:

• Disinfecting wipes (to-go packs)
• Sanitizing hand wipes (to-go packs)
• Hand sanitizer 
• Tissues

Ideas & Activities to Help Relieve Teacher Stress in the Teachers' Lounge

• Play a sound bath playlist
• Set up scented diffusers or essential oil diffusers with calming scents like lavender and chamomile
• Have relaxing activities available for staff, like adult coloring books with gel pens and puzzles
• Massage chair
• Make a "Kudos" board with teacher and staff shoutouts and thank you notes from colleagues, students, and families
• Staff Book Swap book shelf
• Set up a Peace Corner, featuring a comfy rug, sound machine, scented diffuser, relaxing music, motivational posters, and a massage chair
• A fun and inexpensive way to relief stress and give teachers a laugh? Strips of bubble wrap on National Bubble Wrap Day, which is celebrated on January 27!

@ptotoday A great mid January boost for teachers…a stay healthy bar! 📸 Coastal Elementary PTO #ptopresident #ptapresident #teacherappreciation #selfcare #schoolvolunteerlife #januaryblues ♬ I Think I Like When It Rains - WILLIS

Share your teacher wellness bar on social and tag @ptotoday - we'd love to see yours! 

Get even more awesome teacher appreciation ideas 👉