Working in schools can feel like riding a rollercoaster—rewarding one minute and overwhelming the next. With so many demands, personalities and unpredictable moments, strong emotional self-regulation isn’t just helpful…it’s essential. The ability to stay calm, respond thoughtfully and manage our internal state, directly affects our relationships, decision-making and our well-being.
Teaching has always been a rewarding profession but it has also become increasingly demanding. While every school is different, the biggest sources of teacher stress are remarkably consistent. The good news? Small changes in how we work and think can make a big difference. Here are five common stressors and some practical tips to help manage them
Staff in schools feel like they are constantly juggling competing priorities—planning, marking, meetings, managing behaviour, dealing with parents and the never-ending to-do list. It can feel overwhelming at times. In her bestselling book, Get Your Sh*t Together, Sarah Knight offers a refreshingly straightforward
Every staff member in a school has unique strengths. Yet many of us spend far more time worrying about what we can’t do than recognising what we do well. Our brains have a natural negativity bias. We notice mistakes, weaknesses and
Psychologist Shawn Achor highlights seven key principles of positive psychology that help people thrive. In schools, these aren’t “nice to have” ideas — they are practical strategies that improve performance, relationships and wellbeing.
Often the effects of stress are compounded by problems of not getting the sleep we require. Our active minds and negative self-talk can keep us awake or wake us during the night. Dr David Morawetz’s self-help program “Sleep Better…Without Drugs” provides a great 4 to 6 week program for overcoming bad sleep habits.
We all lead busy lives and we ALL suffer stress in some form or other at different times. If you feel as though you are becoming overwhelmed, STOP and take some time to prioritise your workload. What is really important?
Working in schools can be tough and seems to be getting even more challenging. Each year things seem to get tougher! Changes in the curriculum, increased accountability, demanding or absent parents, poor student behaviour, changes in society, tightening budgets and a push to do more with less, all contribute to increased pressure in schools. We work with people every day and people are unpredictable
Working in schools can feel overwhelming. There’s always more to do, more to think about and more to worry over. When things feel hectic, one of the most helpful strategies is to bring your attention back to what you can control. The 3 Circles Framework (popularised by Stephen Covey) is a simple but powerful way to do that. The three circles are:
As we get to the end of the term and the holidays approach, it’s imperative that you make the most of the opportunity to recharge your batteries. It’s important to feel like you have actually had a holiday and are ready to take on the challenges of a new term.