Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide.

If you’re still on your Easter holidays, sit back, grab some chocolate, and soak up some life-changing content!

This week, we’re focusing on the power of reflection and sharing five quick strategies that have the power to transform your personal and professional mindset!

Let’s jump in…

Flourishing Teachers Put Themselves First

Life in the classroom goes by at high speed, and if you’re anything like me, then the idea of being able to reflect on your practice as part of a bigger reflective strategy sounds almost unmanageable.

By the end of a busy teaching day, I’m usually hard-pressed to remember all the thousands of micro-decisions and interactions I’ve experienced.

More than that, so much of our energy goes into empathetic listening, supporting and meeting the needs of students, parents and colleagues that taking time to think about our own work can often be a long way down the to-do list.

But…

It’s vital to make time to reflect on the amazing work you do.

On the lives you change and the epic skillset you employ.

Why?

Because when you take time to reflect, you’re making time for yourself. You’re literally creating a situation where, for once, your energy, skill and positivity is directed entirely in your own direction.

And that makes it a great step on the path to sustainable teacher wellbeing.

Not only does reflection (and the application of the lessons learned) make you a better teacher, but it also helps ground you and gives you the keys to becoming a more authentic and successful human being.

And that sounds pretty awesome to me.

So, here are our five quick reflective strategies for teachers to help you boost your wellbeing and safeguard your emotional health.

Five Quick Reflective Strategies For Boosting Your Wellbeing And Emotional Health

Our lives as teachers are brimming with rewards, but we also encounter our fair share of challenges that can leave us overwhelmed, exhausted and unsure if we’re on the right path.

However, by cultivating a reflective practice, you can harness your experiences to build resilience and, ultimately, a fulfilling career. Here are the five key reflective strategies we use with our clients. We know they work, and we know they’ll make a difference if you give them a shot…

1. Journaling for Clarity and Growth

• Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes daily or weekly to jot down thoughts and feelings about your day. Capture successes, frustrations, student interactions, and anything else that stands out. Regular journaling allows you to identify patterns in your experiences and emotions, helping you learn from both positive and negative situations.

• Example: "Today, I felt frustrated managing the noise levels in class. Maybe splitting the activity into smaller groups would work better next time."

• Resource: Action for Happiness: https://actionforhappiness.org/ offers free resources and tools, including journaling prompts, to help you cultivate a positive outlook and reflect on your teaching.

2. The Power of Pause and Reflect

• Practice: Following a difficult interaction or stressful situation, take a moment to breathe deeply, gather yourself, and ask critical questions. This brief pause allows you to process your emotions and gain perspective before reacting impulsively. Reflecting on the situation helps you identify areas for improvement and develop coping mechanisms.

• Example: "That parent meeting didn't go well. What could I have done differently? Could I have communicated the student's needs more effectively?"

• Resource: The National Education Union: https://www.neu.org.uk/ (NEU) offers guidance and support for teachers' wellbeing, including resources on managing stress.

3. Seeking Wisdom in Feedback

• Practice: Schedule regular check-ins with a trusted colleague or mentor. Actively solicit their honest feedback on your teaching practice and overall well-being, especially regarding the successful strategies you both use to balance life and work. Feedback from a trusted source can provide valuable insights you might miss on your own. It can also help you identify areas for development and confirm your strengths.

• Example: "I'd appreciate your thoughts on how I can improve classroom discussions. Does my current format allow enough student participation?"

• Resource: The Chartered College of Teaching: https://chartered.college/ promotes professional development for teachers. Their website is a great place to find a mentor or to read the latest research in teacher wellbeing.

4. Appreciating the Wins (Big and Small)

• Practice: Cultivate a gratitude mindset by reflecting on the positive aspects of your day. Acknowledge even small victories for both you and your students. Focusing on the positive aspects of your experiences can boost your mood and motivation. Recognizing your students' achievements reinforces positive behaviour and strengthens your relationships with them.

• Example: "I'm proud of Sarah for overcoming her shyness and presenting her project to the class today. It's these moments that make teaching so rewarding."

• Resource: Action for Happiness: https://actionforhappiness.org/ offers free resources for teachers at all stages of their careers, including some excellent examples of gratitude exercises.

5. Reflecting on Your Needs and Boundaries

• Practice: Make time to regularly and formally assess your workload, sleep patterns, and overall wellbeing. By doing so, you can identify areas for improvement and establish healthy boundaries to prevent burnout. By understanding your needs and limitations, you can make adjustments to create a sustainable life/work balance. Setting boundaries also helps you prioritise your well-being and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Example: "I've been marking books late into the night all week. Maybe setting a specific time limit for work each evening would create a better work-life balance."

• Resource: The National Education Union: https://www.neu.org.uk/ (NEU) offers a range of great teacher wellbeing resources, including some bespoke approaches to managing workload.

The idea with these suggestions is that by consistently engaging in reflective practices, you'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself as an educator and the impact you have.

Remember, flourishing teachers aren't just awesome educators; they’re also masters of self-reflection, which is the key to a sustainable career rich with meaning and purpose.

What Are You Waiting For?

We believe that teachers achieve extraordinary things under challenging circumstances and that we all deserve to be valued, supported and celebrated.

That’s what this newsletter is all about.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, why not join the Marigold community? You’ll get weekly strategies for sustaining your wellbeing, avoiding burnout and flourishing as a person, not just a teacher.

And best of all..?

It’s free and always will be.

You can find out more about what to expect in this weekly newsletter here, or just go straight to our sign-up form.

Reflecting On The Sunday Scaries

Almost every teacher I know gets the Sunday Scaries at some stage in their career. That creeping sense of fear or anxiety about what Monday morning in the classroom will look like.

I totally get it, and I’ve certainly felt that way before.

It started happening to me again recently, and so, given the reflective theme of this week’s newsletter, I spent some time thinking about why I was feeling that way and what I could do to reduce those feelings of concern.

It really helped me to get my thoughts down, and it was especially useful to come up with my three reasons why there was no need to be scared!

I wrote a short article on LinkedIn outlining those three ways of thinking, and I know they’ll resonate with you all, so here’s the link. Give it a look, get inspired and tell me what your strategies would be…

You’re Worth It…

Before we go, we wanted to remind you of something so critical that we all tend to overlook it.

But it’s something we both believe from the very bottom of our hearts.

Each and every teacher around the world has a right to be recognised and celebrated for the extraordinary work they do.

And that includes you.

So, if you don’t hear it from anywhere else, thank you for doing such a vital and challenging job. Thank you for the positivity and care you bring into the lives of your learners, and thank you for every scrap of support you give to your colleagues.

We know it makes a world of difference, even if some days, you can’t see it.

Here’s a quick reminder of this issue’s five reflective strategies…

In next week’s issue, we’ll share our top strategies for staying emotionally resilient in the classroom and beyond!

Until then, remember, you’re more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

You’re you. And that’s all you need to be.