Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher's Field Guide.

This week, as it’s (very) nearly Christmas, I thought it would be a good time to think about joy - not the superficial "just be positive" kind, but the deep, sustainable happiness that makes our challenging profession worthwhile.

So, if you've lost your spark or forgotten what brings you real satisfaction in teaching, think of what follows as an early Christmas present!

Let's jump in...

When Did Teaching Stop Being Joyful?

I remember the exact moment I realised I'd lost my joy in teaching.

I was sitting in my classroom at the end of a long day, staring at a pile of marking, when it hit me - I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt truly happy at work.

Not just managing, not just coping, but genuinely joyful.

The problem wasn't that teaching itself had changed. The issue was that I'd stopped noticing and nurturing the moments that brought me real satisfaction.

As we explored in "From Crisis to Confidence", rebuilding your professional joy starts with reconnecting to what genuinely matters to you.

Here's what helped me rediscover my teaching joy...

3 Science-Based Strategies For Finding Joy Again

1. Joy Tracking: Map Your Happiness Patterns

Research in positive psychology shows that we often misremember what truly brings us satisfaction. We think it's the big wins - excellent observations, outstanding exam results - when actually, it's often the small daily moments that build sustainable happiness.

Try this:

• Keep a "joy journal" for one week

• Note moments that spark genuine pleasure (however small)

• Look for patterns in what consistently brings satisfaction

• Focus on the process, not just outcomes

You might discover that your happiest moments come from quiet one-to-one chats with students, or those lightbulb moments when concepts click, rather than the "big wins" we're trained to chase.

2. Pleasure Scheduling: Plan For Joy

This might sound counterintuitive, but behavioural activation therapy shows that waiting to feel happy before doing enjoyable things actually reduces our joy. Instead, we need to deliberately schedule pleasant experiences.

Start small:

• Build in one 5-minute joy break each day

• Choose activities that align with your values

• Make them as non-negotiable as marking

• Track how they affect your overall mood

Remember: You're not being selfish by prioritising joy - you're ensuring you have the emotional resources to be there for your students.

3. Happiness Habits: Build Joy Into Your Routine

The key to sustainable happiness isn't grand gestures - it's small, consistent actions that gradually shift your baseline satisfaction level.

Try these micro-habits:

• Start each day by writing down one thing you're looking forward to

• End each lesson by noting one positive moment

• Share one genuine compliment with a colleague daily

• Celebrate tiny wins in your planner

The science shows that these small actions compound over time, gradually rebuilding your capacity for joy.

Common Joy Blockers (And How To Beat Them)

Let's be real - there are plenty of things that can get in the way of finding joy in teaching. Here's how to overcome the most common obstacles:

"I don't have time for joy" Remember - we're not talking about adding more to your schedule. These strategies are about noticing and amplifying the joy that's already there. Start with just 30 seconds of conscious joy-spotting each day.

"Everything is just too overwhelming" When you're drowning in workload, joy can feel impossible. That's exactly when these micro-moments matter most. Focus on one tiny positive interaction or achievement. Build from there.

"I feel guilty prioritising my happiness" Your joy isn't selfish - it's essential. Think of it like charging your phone. You wouldn't expect your phone to run without power, so why expect yourself to teach effectively without emotional fuel?

Remember: We're not aiming for constant happiness - that's neither realistic nor healthy. We're looking for meaningful moments of genuine satisfaction that sustain us through the challenges of teaching.

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.

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Thank You For Everything

Teaching is challenging enough without losing your sense of joy. So remember, prioritising your happiness isn't selfish - it's essential for sustainable teaching.

And if no one else says it today, thank you for bringing your authentic self to your classroom. You make more of a difference than you'll ever know.

Here's a quick reminder of our joy-building strategies:

Remember, you're more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

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