Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher’s Field Guide.

This issue’s for you if you feel like you’re giving your health, wellbeing and energy away in the classroom. We’re sharing the latest evidence-based research for getting your wellbeing back on track this summer!

Let’s jump in…

Stop Giving Your Wellbeing Away

Hello, lovely teachers! Nearly time for some lie-ins!

The summer holidays beckon, and hopefully, you’re in a place where you’ve built up some resilience, are working in an increasingly sustainable way and are ready for a well-deserved break without being at the falling-over stage.

It’s about time you were super proud of yourself and everything you’ve achieved this year!

But whether you're running on fumes (hope that's none of you!) or you're absolutely smashing these last few weeks (fingers crossed that's all of you!), this one's for you.

Why, you ask?

Well, I used to hit this point in the summer term and just... shut down.

I'd do the bare minimum to get through, but I was so exhausted, so utterly drained, that just showing up and functioning was a Herculean task.

The thought of prioritising my wellbeing or actually taking care of myself around this time of year? Forget it. That was asking way too much.

And if that rings a bell, I'm not one bit surprised.

Ultimately, it’s critical that you carve out time to maintain and develop your wellbeing as a human being, not just as a teacher. Because when you do, you open yourself up to some seriously transformative practices.

So, in advance of the holidays, let's chat about the five ways to wellbeing that have the potential to transform the way you live and teach…

5 Ways Teachers Can Banish Emotional Exhaustion

5 Ways To Wellbeing

The New Economics Foundation recently published a powerful study aiming to pin down the core elements of personal and professional wellbeing, regardless of sector or situation. You can download the full report here:

It’s an important document in its own right, but especially for us teachers, as it gives us an outline for optimising our health and happiness and reminds us that we’re not alone in needing support.

I’ve summarised it in this newsletter and given you some relevant, actionable examples of how you can implement its recommendations this summer and be in a happier place next academic year.

The good news is that simple, actionable steps can significantly boost your overall wellbeing. By incorporating evidence-based practices into your daily routine, you can cultivate a real sense of fulfilment, resilience, and joy that will positively impact every aspect of your life.

It just needs some time, some motivation and some consistency…

The report presents five key evidence-based actions that can enhance your personal wellbeing. These are:

1. Connect with others. Building strong social relationships and a sense of belonging is fundamental for wellbeing. This can be achieved by investing time in developing positive relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and community members.

2. Be active. Regular physical activity, even in moderate amounts, is associated with greater wellbeing and lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups. Finding enjoyable ways to incorporate physical activity into your routine is the secret to success here.

3. Take notice. Cultivating awareness and being present in the moment can enhance wellbeing. Practices like mindfulness, savouring experiences, and reflecting on one's thoughts and feelings can help you appreciate what matters most to you.

4. Keep learning. Continued learning and the pursuit of new skills and knowledge can promote feelings of self-esteem, social interaction, and a sense of purpose. What’s more, setting achievable goals aligned with personal values can enhance the value and longevity of your own wellbeing.

5. Give. Acts of kindness, volunteering, and contributing to the wider community are associated with increased life satisfaction and meaning. Seeing your happiness linked to the wellbeing of others can be rewarding, but a note of caution - as teachers, we spend a lot of our time and energy giving to others. I would suggest prioritising yourself in your personal life, before giving more of yourself away.

To help you bring this research to life, I’ve put together a checklist of 15 quick wellbeing wins. Print it out, stick it on the fridge, and tick ‘em off this summer…

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.

Thank You For All You Do

Always remember that without your wisdom, courage, skill and energy, your learners, your colleagues and your whole school community would be so much poorer.

You’re an absolute star, we see you, and we're cheering you on!

But being a phenomenal teacher counts for nothing if you don’t yourself the care you need to flourish and thrive.

So remember, it’s not just acceptable to put yourself first, it’s absolutely essential.

Here’s a quick recap on how to do that…

Next week’s issue focuses on how to overcome self-doubt and turn those negative impulses into something far more positive.

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.