Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher's Field Guide. 

If you've ever felt emotionally exhausted by a challenging lesson, a difficult conversation, or the sheer weight of your teaching responsibilities, this deep dive into resilience is required reading.

Let’s jump in…

The Resilience Dilemma: Why Teachers Struggle With Emotional Exhaustion

We've all experienced those moments when the demands of teaching seem too daunting to cope with.

When we feel like we’ve lost ourselves and can’t find the way back. 

That's when being able to access your resilience toolkit becomes crucial.

As a teacher, I spent years prioritising the needs of others and just accepting that emotional exhaustion came with the job. My mind was always at work, when I should have been looking after myself and connecting with friends and family.

But teaching doesn’t need to feel that way.

Developing resilience is as much about learning how to switch off as it is about learning how to carry on.

It's a skill we can develop to combat teacher burnout and improve our overall wellbeing.

Here are 3 tried and tested ways to do just that…

3 Evidence-Based Strategies to Build Your Teaching Resilience and Improve Work-Life Balance

1. Cultivate Cognitive Flexibility for Teacher Wellbeing

Think of cognitive flexibility as mental yoga. It's the ability to adapt your thinking in response to changing situations - a crucial skill in the ever-changing classroom environment.

Try this: 

Next time a lesson isn't going as planned, pause and ask yourself, "How could I think about this in ways that benefit my wellbeing?" This simple question opens up new possibilities and reduces teacher stress.

The evidence?

Well, research shows that teachers with higher cognitive flexibility experience less burnout and greater job satisfaction, contributing to improved work-life balance (Collie & Martin, 2017).

2. Enhance Problem-Solving Skills to Reduce Teacher Stress

Resilient teachers are expert problem-solvers. They see challenges as puzzles to be solved, not insurmountable obstacles that lead to emotional exhaustion.

You can learn to develop this skill by using the IDEAL method:

• Identify the problem

• Define the context

• Explore possible strategies

• Act on the best solution

• Look back and learn

A study by Richards et al. (2016) found that teachers who regularly practice structured problem-solving report higher levels of resilience and job satisfaction, which are both key factors in preventing teacher burnout.

3. Practice Mindfulness and Reflection to Improve Teacher Wellbeing

Mindfulness helps us stay grounded in the present moment, rather than getting caught up in worries about the past or future. This can be particularly effective in reducing teacher stress and emotional exhaustion.

Try this simple mindfulness exercise: 

Take five deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of the air moving in and out. Do this between classes or whenever you feel overwhelmed by your workload.

Regular reflection is equally important for maintaining work-life balance. So if you can, set aside time each week to consider what went well, what challenges you faced, and how you can grow from these experiences.

By gradually incorporating these strategies into your daily life, you're not just becoming a more resilient teacher. 

You’re cultivating a more fulfilling, balanced life that combats emotional exhaustion and promotes overall wellbeing.

And that’s a win for you as a person first and a teacher second.

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

Remember, your resilience is a testament to your dedication and passion as an educator. Even on the toughest days, you're making a difference in your students' lives.

Here's a quick reminder of our resilience-building strategies for teacher wellbeing:

And remember…

You’re more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

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