Resilience

Emotional tension and conflicts can be a big distraction to your focus and engagement at school – especially at high work flow times such as assessing and reporting, when you simply cannot afford to spare a moment. So, how do you stay resilient and productive during the emotionally tense high work flow periods? The key lies in staying centred. Centredness is having a clear mind and calm body that is free of distraction or tension, regardless of what is happening around you. Centredness gives you the mental clarity and emotional control to get the job done without engaging in an emotional battle. As a child I remember sneaking out of my bed at night to watch the lightning in the…

The single most important factor in our stress level is OUR attitude. The attitude we bring to a situation has a huge impact on how we see and react to each of the situations we face. This has a direct impact on our stress level. The attitude that we bring is evident in our self-talk, that little voice inside our head! Our attitude acts like a lens through which we ‘see’ situations. I am sure that you will have heard the classic story where two people witnessing the same car accident, report seeing different things. Your attitude acts as a filter and therefore has a huge impact on how we ‘see’ events. Many people believe our attitude is caused directly…

In part one I paraphrased a quote from Virginia Satir “Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. It’s what we chose to do with it , that makes the difference.“ So, how serene are you? Do you ever have a feeling of equilibrium or a deep sense of contentment? (mind you I have not in the past few months!!) What events – and more importantly thoughts – disturb your equilibrium? Are you able to find peace in the chaos? Have you had a situation in the past where you have just accepted things as they are and worked with that situation as it evolved? Do you listen to intuition or hunches…

I found this fantastic quote and thought ‘wow’! “Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.“       Virginia Satir Of course! But often it’s the most obvious things that we lose sight of in this age of super uncertainty, fear and stress. These last two years has been one of tumultuous personal change and fear for most people. I think that’s why this quote had such an impact on me. There is an element of acceptance or surrender that is necessary for us to flow with the tidal waves of life as opposed to the struggle involved in battling the…

This is the second part of Gabbie Stroud’s summary of a recent webinar she delivered titled “How Am I Going to Last the Year? Survival Hacks for Teachers”. Hack seven: Get professional help If you’ve found yourself wishing for ‘a touch of Covid’ so you could have a week off work, your head’s not in a great place (even though it’s an understandable thought).  See a psychologist to talk through your feelings.  A psychologist is better than a friend because they can offer objective opinions, possible solutions and you don’t have to listen to their problems! It can be hard to get in to see a professional but it’s worth the effort.  Start by seeing your doctor and requesting a…

If you’re already feeling burnt out, demoralised and exhausted (and it’s not even Term 2), you must remember that ‘it’s not you’ or something you did or didn’t do.  The education system is currently overloaded and expecting more from teachers that can ever be delivered. It’s not you – it’s the system! This is a two part summary of Gabbie’s recent webinar titled “How Am I Going to Last the Year? Survival Hacks for Teachers”. Remember also that this advice is ‘teacher to teacher’ and is not based on research but on Gabbie’s lived experience of trying to survive the last two years of her teaching career. Hack One: Have a “work binge” Pick a night or a couple of…