Teacher Wellbeing

Vote for me in the Spark Women in Business Grant here https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/spark Links mentioned:  - Grab an intro coaching call with me: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/coaching - Get the free 30 Day Self-Care calendar: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/calendar - Upgrade to the 30 Day Self-Care challenge: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/challenge - Grab the Resilient Teacher Roadmap course: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/roadmap

Happy 6th Birthday to the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast! It sure has been an amazing ride since I began the podcast in 2017. I could not have predicted where things would end up but I’m so proud of the 9 seasons that have been produced so far. In the time since I began the show, the teacher wellbeing industry has matured so much and is now mainstream in schools across Australia. And of course 6 years in and my personal and professional life look extremely different than when I started the show. In this episode I share a litte update! Links: Email me about being a guest on Season 10 or about Asynchronous Wellbeing & Career Coaching hello@selfcareforteachers.com.au How to Work in Wellbeing Training https://selfcareforteachers.thinkific.com/courses/how-to-work-in-wellbeing Before You Leave Teaching Course https://selfcareforteachers.thinkific.com/courses/before-you-leave-teaching

In this episode I share a personal update and some resources and links that are coming up for me in the next few weeks. Freebies Library http://selfcareforteachers.com.au/library 30 Days of Self-Care Audio Course http://selfcareforteachers.com.au/challenge Seasons of Wellbeing Webinar www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/seasons Sell Your Skills Online Webinar www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/sell-your-skills My other business perkdigital.com.au Strategic Self-Care Club instagram.com/strategicselfcareclub Gabbie Stroud Episode Katrina Bourke www.katrinabourkecoaching.com.au Daniela Falecki from Teacher Wellbeing www.teacher-wellbeing.com.au Meg Durham from Open Mind Education https://openmindeducation.com Adrienne Hornby https://adriennehornby.com.au

This is the last episode in Season 9 but we will be back for Season 10 sometime later in the year. In the meantime make sure you’re following me on Instagram @selfcareforteachers and get on the newsletter list so you stay up to date. And if you really resonated with this conversation about school wellbeing that Lisa and I had at the end, and if you’re the wellbeing person in your school, or you want to be, come and join me and other wellbeing champions at a virtual networking event on the 22nd March. Check out selfcareforteachers.com.au/wellbeingchampion for more resources in this area including a new freebie about common mistakes to avoid.As always remember that you are a person first and a teacher second and you are so worthy of your own care!

The Teacher Wellbeing Podcast is 5 years old today! If you have enjoyed the show, please leave us a rating and review in your podcast app as a little birthday present!

This is a brilliant conversation with Katrina Bourke, a good friend to the podcast who has been on the show several times before. We discuss leadership sacred ground, what it is, why you need it and how we find it. Katrina also shares the power of deep self-awareness and why it’s also important that we understand and accept our shadow sides. Plus, we talk about what gets in the way of showing up as the best leaders we can be and advice for new and emerging leaders too.The Authentic LeaderDeputy Principals, this one’s for you! Have you heard of The Authentic Leader?It's an online community of learning and connection exclusively for female deputy principals who want to lead well and live well. The Authentic Leader is a safe space to connect with other women who really understand what you do. It's a network full of wisdom and warmth where you can get help with managing workload, feeling confident, and the day-to-day highs and lows of school leadership.https://www.katrinabourkecoaching.com.au/workwithkatrina/

In this episode we hear from a guest host, Ellie Huth, whose story you heard back in episode 2 of this season. If you haven’t yet listened to that I recommend you do so. Ellie shares with us how teacher wellbeing can be improved through high functioning professional learning communities.Check out the School Wellbeing Champions meetup and workshop here: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/wellbeingchampion/

In this episode I am sharing with you a clip from the Resilient Teacher Roadmap online course, and it’s really the metaphor that underpins the roadmap, about approaching our resilience and wellbeing the way an engineer builds a bridge: knowing and planning for it to flood and designing the bridge accordingly, not building a flimsy bridge and praying it doesn’t rain.You can find the Resilient Teacher Roadmap course in my online shop at anytime https://selfcareforteachers.thinkific.com/courses/roadmapBut I also want to invite you to join the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program, which starts on 29th January or 1st February, depending which cohort you join. It’s a 6 month group coaching program for teachers wanting support, encouragement and community in building their resilience and wellbeing in 2022.Enrolment is open now, head to selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteacherYou heard Emma share in the previous episode how being a part of the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program helped her make some changes in her life and improve her wellbeing as a person and as a teacher. And I’d love to support you this year to do the same.So here’s a little snippet of my approach and my clients have found it a really valuable metaphor to help them reflect on their resilience and wellbeing, set goals and seek support when needed.

Happy New Year teachers! In this episode of the Teacher Wellbeing podcast I have a fantastic chat with one of my past teacher clients, Emma. Emma shares so generously about the challenges she’s experienced with perfectionism, people pleasing and the martyr culture getting in the way of wellbeing. She’s spent a lot of time reflecting on this and unlearning these tendencies and shares some beautiful insights in this episode, including letting go of the need to be ‘super teacher’, recognising the difference between school-imposed deadlines and self-imposed deadlines, and the power of having trusted people to hold you accountable. Emma also tells us how a supportive principal and 2 supportive colleagues saved her teaching career, so I think it’s an incredible lesson that no matter your position in a school you can and do make a difference to the people you work with. The question is will it be a positive difference or not? There’s so much good stuff in this episode, including setting boundaries, the ancient Jewish practice of Sabbath, and giving yourself permission to do more things just for fun. Emma also shares a bit about her experience in the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching program, which is open for enrolment again right now.The Resilient Teacher is a 6 month group coaching program for teachers building their resilience and wellbeing in 2022. It’s 1 individual coaching session with me, and 12 fortnightly group coaching calls to support you throughout Semester 1 this year, beginning with a welcome call on Saturday 29th January 2022. Calls are held on Zoom so you can join from anywhere in Australia, on Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings.You can go to www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteacher to find out more

In this episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast I have a really interesting conversation with Gail Swift from Plans to Prosper Coaching. Gail is an educational guide and Kolbe Index Consultant who works with schools and teachers in the United States on bringing out their best when everybody is free to be themselves.Gail shares with us about something called conation, which the dictionary says is ‘the mental faculty of purpose, desire, or will to perform an action’. Gail explains how conation is different to cognition and also personality, but how all three are needed for success. We talk about how this plays out in classrooms and staffroom, and how understanding our ways of working can help us get along better. Gail shares some advice for school leaders trying to motivated disengaged staff, and we have a great chat about rethinking the way we approach staff meetings to make them more effective, efficient and engaging, which I’m sure is something we all want. Ultimately this episode is about closing the distances between us and building understanding, and learning to get along better in our families, teams and communities and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Gail!Reminder: now is a great time to put your name down on the waiting list to work with me when I come back from Maternity Leave in 2022. I’ll only be back part time so it will definitely be a case of first in best dressed and the waiting list for my 1:1 coaching or for the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program will be notified first when spots open up in my calendar: https://mailchi.mp/33f69a083043/work-with-ellen-waiting-listThere is also a waiting list for School Wellbeing Champions too. In 2020 and 2021 I’ve run a number of meetups and workshops for School Wellbeing Champions, who are the amazing educators and staff members who are driving wellbeing initiatives from the ground up in schools. And in 2022 I plan to run some more of these, with options for both PD relating to wellbeing initiatives you can run in your school, and opportunities for networking, connecting and learning from Wellbeing Champions around Australia. So if that sounds like you, pop your name on the interest list at selfcareforteachers.com.au/wellbeingchampions and of course the link will be in the show notes and the description of your podcast app!

In this episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast I have a really valuable and vulnerable conversation with Laura, who you may know from Instagram as @educatinglaura or from her podcast, After the Bell. Laura is a high school teacher from Victoria and we recorded this while in lockdown so there is a little bit of background noise from her kids but we all know the realities of lockdowns these days, don’t we?Laura tells us about her journey overcoming the martyr syndrome that exists in our education culture, and how that really played out for her in her first several years of teaching. For example she tells us about the problematic beliefs she had that made it such a struggle to make a change like taking work emails off her phone and feeling the pressure to be available 24/7, as well as the huge difference it makes to have a Principal who understands and actively supports teachers wellbeing as people first and teachers second. Laura also tells us about a couple of big personal wake up calls that started to really shift her focus on herself and what really matters in her life, and I do want to just share a content warning that we touch on pregnancy loss in this episode so just be aware of that as you listen. Laura also tells us about what wellbeing looks like for her these days and her top tips for early career teachers, and she has some really great tips to share.Just before I get to the interview, I want to let you know that now is a great time to put your name down on the waiting list to work with me when I come back from Maternity Leave in 2022. I’ll only be back part time so it will definitely be a case of first in best dressed and the waiting list for my 1:1 coaching or for the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program will be notified first when spots open up in my calendar: https://mailchi.mp/33f69a083043/work-with-ellen-waiting-listThere is also a waiting list for School Wellbeing Champions too. In 2020 and 2021 I’ve run a number of meetups and workshops for School Wellbeing Champions, who are the amazing educators and staff members who are driving wellbeing initiatives from the ground up in schools. And in 2022 I plan to run some more of these, with options for both PD relating to wellbeing initiatives you can run in your school, and opportunities for networking, connecting and learning from Wellbeing Champions around Australia. So if that sounds like you, pop your name on the interest list at selfcareforteachers.com.au/wellbeingchampions

In this episode we hear from a guest host, Ellie Huth, whose story you heard back in episode 2 of this season. If you haven’t yet listened to that I recommend you do so but Ellie does give a brief overview of her background here too. This episode is all about the power of knowing and using our character strengths for wellbeing. Ellie first tells us about her experience with her Employee Advisory Program, or EAP, which is where she was first introduced to the concept of Character Strengths, and then she went on to study them further as part of her Masters in Wellbeing. Ellie tells us what the character strengths are, the science behind using them for wellbeing and how we can find out about our strengths.This episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast is brought to you by the30 Days of Self-Care Challenge private podcast audio course: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/challenge

In this episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast I speak with Lill from The Teacher Collection. Lill is a primary school teacher in Victoria and she founded the Teacher Collection about 2.5 years ago, which now has a series of wellbeing products for teachers. Lill tells us about her struggles in her early years of teaching that led her to creating the first set of wellbeing cards, and how they helped her just take small steps regularly to make some changes in her life. We talk about the importance of recognising and labelling our thoughts and feelings, being vulnerable and asking for help, and how wellbeing is different for everybody. Lill tells us what Wellbeing means to her and the power of focusing on the things we can control.Connect with Lill on Instagram @the.teacher.collection or on the website https://theteachercollection.comThis episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast is brought to you by the Resilient Teacher Roadmap self-paced ecourse: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/roadmap

This episode of the Teacher Wellbeing podcast is a fantastic interview with Meg Durham from Open Mind Education. Depending how long you’ve been listening, you may remember Meg from way back in Season 3, Episode 7 and I’m so thrilled to have her back on the podcast. Meg also has just launched a podcast of her own called School of Wellbeing, so do a search for that in your favourite podcast app and get listening to it too.In this episode Meg tells us about her journey over the last few years integrating wellbeing into her life, coming from a place of knowing a lot but having to learn to apply it in new and very challenging circumstances. We talk about the reality of the process of change being messy, how wellbeing plays out with teachers and schools, the importance of buy in from staff when you’re implementing school wellbeing programs and how long they really take to embed, plus the two approaches of proactiveness and learned helplessness that Meg and I have both observed. Meg then shares a framework that I’ve found so helpful and I hope you will too: she tells us about the 5 Ps that hold us back and the 5 Cs that help us change. It’s a brilliant conversation and I’m so excited to bring it to you.Connect with Meg on Instagram @megdurham__ or on her website https://openmindeducation.com or find her new podcast ‘School of Wellbeing’ in your podcast app now!This episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast is brought to you by the30 Days of Self-Care Challenge private podcast audio course: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/challenge

In this episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast I interview Ellie, a high school teacher who decided to take a break from teaching in 2021 after a particularly challenging year health wise in 2020. Ellie is a parent, a teacher and is also studying a Masters in Educational Leadership specialising in Wellbeing. We talk about her journey balancing teaching, parenting and studying, and the decision point that led her to taking a break from teaching after experiencing panic attacks and reaching the point of dreading going to work. Ellie tells us what she did to get support and support herself, as well as what she’s been learning about teacher wellbeing in her Masters. Ellie has also kindly agreed to do some specific episodes on some of those learnings later in the season as guest host while I’m off on Maternity leave, so stay tuned for those upcoming episodes.This episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast is brought to you by the Resilient Teacher Roadmap self-paced ecourse: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/roadmap

Welcome to Season 9 of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast! Self-care is so often sold to us by Instagram influencers and companies that want to sell us goop to put on our faces as some lovely indulgence. But that's rarely been my experience. It's also not the kind of self-care that I advocate for, or that underpins my work here at Self-Care for Teachers. My experience of self-care, the kind that I've found most revolutionary in my life, that I teach my clients and that I see making a difference for them is the kind of self-care that is a bit of a chore.By the time you hear this, I will be on maternity leave, but this season of the Teacher Wellbeing podcast will be going out fortnightly while I’m in my baby bubble. I’ve recorded some great interviews for this season so I hope you enjoy them.Resilient Teacher Roadmap self-paced eourse: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/roadmapMy online shop: https://selfcareforteachers.thinkific.com/collectionsWaiting list for working with me in 2022: https://mailchi.mp/33f69a083043/work-with-ellen-waiting-list

Gentle reminder, dear teacher: You are NOT lazy, you are tired. There is a very real difference! In challenging times, it's normal to have less energy than usual. Our capitalist culture has conditioned us to connect our worth to our productivity, but your worth is NOT determined by how much you can get done. It's ok if you feel that you have less capacity right now, that's to be expected.You are NOT lazy, you are tired, and there is a very real difference. You are doing a good job in really tough circumstances AND it's ok if you're not as productive as usual. Coming up in September: 30 Days of Self-Care Challenge (Workbook and Private Podcast Audio Course) Sign up at www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/challenge

7 strategies for looking after your wellbeing in lockdownThe challenges of lockdown and remote learning have been a common topic of discussion in my coaching sessions with teachers in recent weeks.Here are some of the things they've shared that have been helpful for them:1. Keep to a routine2. Plan something to look forward to daily3. Take a break from social media4. Get outside/get fresh air5. Express the mix of feelings that come up6. Help others7. Give yourself self-compassionHave you tried any of these?What have you found helpful to support your wellbeing in lockdown and during remote learning?Find the show notes at www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/podcast

Today I'm talking about what to do when the term gets busy and you are tempted to skip the self-care and wellbeing practices in favour of powering through that never-ending to-do list. It's so tempting to let the habits fall by the wayside completely and then the next thing you know it's holidays and it's been 6 or 8 weeks since you payed any attention to your own needs. But there IS a better way!Sign up for the Resilient Teacher Roadmap course waitlist: www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/roadmap

Announcement: I’m pregnant and taking some maternity leave from mid September 2021!Therefore, not sure if I’m doing another regular season of the podcast this year. For now I’m going to do an occasional bonus livestream series and rebroadcast it on the pod. It’s not ideal but it’s all I’ve got in me atm. So every few weeks expect a bonus pod ep with the audio of FB or IG live session. Follow the podcast in your favourite pod app: https://pod.link/teacherwellbeingIt also means there are only 3 months left to sign up to coaching with me as I will be closing my books a couple months before I take maternity leave. Since my coaching is always in a series and you can’t do one off session sunless you’re a previous client, I’ll need to start the last coaching series group in term 3 so make sure if you have been thinking about signing up for coaching do so or wait until this time next year! Also I’m changing things up with the discovery calls due to an unfortunate run of no shows and so it’s one free appointment only, if you miss it without communicating then it will be a fee before you can rebook. Webinars are free and there is a recording so you don’t have to be there live but discovery call not so much. Read more about my coaching and sign up for a free Discovery call at https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/coachingAlso, the resilient teacher coaching program will not be running again this year because I’ll be on maternity leave in term 4 but I am going to do something special in term 3 on the topic of resilient teachers so stay tuned and make sure you’re on the waiting list to hear about that! Sign up for the waiting list at https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteaacherThe plan is to run the full program again in Term 1 2022 with it being the only way to work with me in person in first part of next year but no promises, I will see how things go with Bub! Get on the waiting list anyway and you’ll get updates about it.School Wellbeing Champions: I haven’t been able to progress that as much as I’d hoped because I’ve been so unwell but I haven’t forgotten and I am definitely planning on doing something with that later this term or in term 3 so make sure you’re on the regular newsletter list for that too if you’re interested in being a school wellbeing champions.Also, I’m keen to make my School Wellbeing Sessions PD options as accessible as possible to Rural, Regional and Remote schools because I know there are extra challenges there with accessing PD compared with those of you in metro schools. So I’d love to hear about your challenges with accessing PD in RRR areas, keen to help address some of those in my trainings, so let me know at hello@selfcareforteachers.com.au if that’s you!Also you can always sign up for the Freebies Library and take the Teacher Wellbeing Personal Quiz, both are free.Freebies Library: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/libraryQuiz: https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/quiz