How can you improve your well-being as a faculty member?

While it is undeniable that employing the SMART criteria is imperative for effective goal setting, it has been my observation that it is equally crucial to ascertain that the objectives resonate with our emotional and spiritual well-being. It is essential to evaluate whether the goals align with our core emotional needs and uphold our personal ethical and moral boundaries.

How about we set one well-being goal a month together. Maybe in January it is 20 minutes of yoga a day and then in February it is connecting socially with family and friends. These are my plans, yours might be different. Whatever your goals are, by the end of the year, we will have intentionally tried out 12 different ways to be well. We can then evaluate which goals felt the best and were maintained across the months and which didn’t work out for and why.

Vouloir à tout prix couvrir tous les thèmes d'un programme en une année scolaire est complètement irréaliste. En tant qu'enseignant et surtout en début de carrière, penchez-vous sur les sujets qui vous paraissent les plus confortables pour vous si vous en avez la possibilité. Travailler des compétences est souvent adaptable en termes de thématique.

Setting goals, a delicate dance! Forget vague dreams, embrace the SMART tango: Specific steps, Measurable milestones, Attainable ambitions, Relevant to your core, and Time-bound beats to keep you moving. This isn't about crushing mountains; it's a waltz with progress, savoring each climb. No more drowning in overwhelm, just a sprinkle of achievement confetti. Remember, small wins are mighty victories. So, let's ditch the pressure cooker and embrace the SMART recipe for well-being – one attainable goal at a time!

There are several ways that faculty members can improve their well-being. One way is by setting boundaries and creating a healthy work-life balance, which may include setting aside time for self-care activities such as exercise, hobbies, and spending time with family and friends. Additionally, seeking support from colleagues or a therapist can provide a helpful outlet for managing stress and addressing any challenges or concerns. Another key aspect is prioritizing self-reflection and communication, to better understand one's values, needs, and professional goals. Fostering a positive and collaborative work environment can also contribute to a sense of well-being, as well as making time for rest and relaxation.

As a school faculty member, you should always put your well-being first... and yes, I know this may be a controversial statement! Teachers and school faculty perform service-oriented jobs - if you allow yourself to become run down, burned out, and depleted, you cannot possibly serve the students the way you are meant to do. Give yourself permission to draw a clear line between work and home. Communicate your boundaries around communication and work-life balance to your students so that they understand when/ how to contact you. Take sick days and personal days when you need them! Students need adults to model healthy work-life behaviors so that they can learn and have those skills when they get older. You are doing them a favor, too!

Managing time is such an important aspect of well-being and needs intentional focus to do well. I like scheduling personal and professional events on my calendar so I am sure to work toward a balance that I am comfortable with. This also gives me the needed pressure to get things done efficiently during their scheduled times. In other words, it’s a perfectionism blocker because I don’t give myself unlimited time.

This is a simple hack, but mastery of your time-management is the key that unlocks it all. I utilise AI where possible and appropriate to save my time and I haven't looked back. Of course, I check AI produced information for accuracy etc., but overall, if it saving me time so I can focus on the important matters, then why not - that's the goal: prioritising the important stuff. I was always an organised person with a very organised day because I planned efficiently, since the pandemic, my workload increased exponentially, but AI has really helped!

Time management is a double-edged sword! Yes, it tames the chaos, but let's not fetishize efficiency. Taming time can morph into a tyrant's grip, squeezing out spontaneity and leaving us gasping for the very breath we're trying to save. Prioritization? Great, but does it leave room for the unexpected, the seed of inspiration that blooms only in the fertile soil of a free moment? Boundaries are crucial, but are we building walls or bridges? Let's manage time, but not at the expense of living. Remember, the sun sets even on the most optimized schedule. So, let's use these tools, but with a discerning eye, ensuring we're not optimizing ourselves into oblivion.

Gerenciar o tempo é essencial para uma vida equilibrada e produtiva. Priorize tarefas com base na importancia e urgência, evitando a sobrecarga. Estabele?a metas realistas e use técnicas de planejamento, como a técnica Pomodoro, para otimizar a eficiência. Aprenda a dizer n?o a atividades n?o essenciais, focando no que realmente importa. Defina intervalos para descanso e recupera??o, promovendo um equilíbrio saudável. A gest?o do tempo n?o se trata apenas de produtividade, mas também de cuidar do bem-estar. Ao cultivar uma abordagem consciente em rela??o ao tempo, construímos uma base sólida para uma vida realizada.

Many educators are burntout because they don’t prioritize self-care. We feel like we are meant to serve others before ourselves. This is why we give to everyone first. I was there before I wrote Burn Bright, Not Out (available of Amazon). We teach what we need so I am also a wealth and well-being coach for educators now. Service providers also deserve and are worthy of financial well-being too! Once I began to put myself first, I showed up as a better teacher and colleague. My impact as an educator grew exponentially.

Unquestionably, prioritizing self-care is essential. However, a concept that is often overlooked in my experience is the 80:20 principle, which holds relevance in achieving balance and overall well-being, as well as success and manifestation. This principle advocates allocating 80% of one's focus to self-care, encompassing relaxation, personal and family life, with the remaining 20% dedicated to work. Unfortunately, societal norms often perpetuate a belief system that encourages an inverse allocation of 80% to work and only 20% to personal time. This skewed perspective, referred to within the spiritual community as reversal codes, hinders the attainment of natural levels of good health, well-being, abundance, and manifestation.

For me, prioritizing self-care is crucial for overall well-being. Making time for activities that bring joy, like walking on the beach, window shopping, or having coffee with friends, is essential. It allows me to address my physical, mental, and emotional needs, fostering personal and professional growth. Taking proactive steps, such as seeking support from peers or mentors and recognizing the significance of balance, becomes an investment in my personal health and development.

The practice of self-care has lost meaning due to overuse. Self-care isn't only a bubble bath and candles (although it can be) but it's truly caring for all pillars of your health and well-being. Defined by WHO, well-being is a positive state experienced by individuals and societies. Early in my career, teaching became my identity. However, as I've gained experience as an educator and tapped into my own personal hobbies (writing, art, yoga, fitness, languages) I have become a better teacher. Why? My well-being has improved, allowing me to be more present, productive, and effective...but I also have new and different perspectives that add to my teaching.

La méditation est devenue une activité indispensable dans le quotidien de bien des corps de métiers ! Prendre soin de son esprit et permettre à ses pensées d'évoluer lors d'une séance de méditation est un excellent moyen d'apaiser ses ruminations.

Gratitude? In my world of missed cues and forgotten lines? But yes, it's like a spotlight on the stage, illuminating the joy in every stumble, the triumph in every roar of applause. A thank-you note to the student who blossomed from wallflower to warrior, a post-performance ritual of sharing what we learned – the backstage whispers remind me why I stand under the lights. Gratitude isn't just a happy ending. It's the curtain call for every act of courage, every moment of shared humanity. So, let's raise a toast to the gratitude that fuels our passion, mends our mistakes, and transforms every drama class into a celebration of the human spirit.

During our daily walk today, a moment of profound gratitude enveloped me and my husband. As we strolled with our dog under the warm sun, we celebrated our daughter's acceptance to CU Boulder, our alma mater. This joyous news led us to reflect on our blessings and dream about our future. Sharing these feelings of gratitude transformed our routine walk into an enriching experience, reminding us of the power of appreciation in both significant milestones and simple daily moments.

It is essential to exercise mindfulness in genuinely experiencing and embracing feelings of gratitude. One recurring observation throughout my extensive coaching experience is the prevalent use of journals as a mere record of daily events. While this practice does contribute to acknowledging the day's blessings, it significantly falls short of enabling individuals to fully embody the potent energy inherent in genuine gratitude with its profound healing potential.

For me, incorporating practices like deep breathing, spending time outdoors, and appreciating the little things has been transformative. I've found that embracing gratitude is a powerful emotion that significantly enhances well-being and happiness. It shifts my perspective to focus on what I have rather than what I lack, allowing me to recognize and cherish the positive aspects of both my work and life. Gratitude becomes a daily practice, influencing my mindset and contributing positively to my overall sense of contentment and fulfillment.

Hoje se nota,que vivemos num mundo que pessoas gratas est?o sumindo,e cada vez mais se vêem pessoas humildes somente, quando est?o na fase de aprendizado s?o dóceis, amigáveis,depois que aprendem,acabou n?o preciso mais de você.

I am not an insecure professional, I know that my teaching and learning strategies are hitting their marks, and I know when it needs tweaking, or even when it has missed the mark, however, it can always be useful to ask colleagues for advice and feedback about my practice. Sometimes, when running a meeting, I will ask a colleague or superior to sit in to give me some feedback on how it went. I used to think it was a weakness to show that you didn't have it all figured out, but I've since come to learn that no one does and its better to be a reflective practitioner and gather ranging viewpoints to better inform my practice.

Too much feedback at one time can be detrimental to one's professional development. As a coach, come up with a list of priorities with your teacher and then create a plan to achieve each of these goals. Just as students need time to internalize new skills, so do teachers! Therefore, it's not a good idea to give your teachers 10 things to work on and then expect them to follow through the next time you observe them. On the other hand, teachers should assume that they can always improve their craft. There is no such thing as a perfect teacher. Even 10 years into this field, I learn amazing things from teachers with less experience than me. Education is a collaborative community; the more diverse in experience, the better it is for all of us.

While feedback's importance is undeniable, it's not a one-size-fits-all cure. Poorly delivered or biased feedback can demoralize and stifle growth. We need a nuanced approach: specific, timely, and constructive criticism coupled with a genuine appreciation for strengths. A culture of mutual learning thrives on trust and open communication, not just seeking feedback but actively listening and incorporating it with self-reflection. So, let's elevate feedback from a mere tool to a collaborative learning process that fosters individual and collective well-being.

A great way to end a coaching interaction is to ask: "What are you taking away from this conversation?" The coachee's response is often enlightening about how well (or not) you used emotional intelligence, listened, paraphrased, and questioned. A follow-up question could be, "How has this conversation supported your thinking." Reflecting on their responses if great feedback for you. Also, if they ask for another session, you know that the work and time were helpful.

Buscar feedback é uma jornada de crescimento. Ao solicitar opini?es, demonstramos humildade e desejo de melhorar. Esteja aberto a críticas construtivas, pois s?o pontes para o aprimoramento pessoal e profissional. Agrade?a a quem compartilha insights, pois cada feedback é uma oportunidade de evoluir. A gratid?o nesse processo n?o apenas fortalece relacionamentos, mas também cria um ambiente de colabora??o e aprendizado mútuo. Encare o feedback como um presente valioso, uma bússola para aprimorar habilidades e alcan?ar o sucesso. Ao expressar gratid?o pela orienta??o recebida, construímos pontes sólidas para um desenvolvimento contínuo e rela??es enriquecedoras.

As a faculty member, I've learned that it's not necessary to be serious and dull all the time. Injecting humor, creativity, and joy into my work and life has proven to be refreshing. I find joy in experimenting with new ideas, methods, or technologies, collaborating with colleagues, and engaging in events or activities that interest me. Incorporating fun into my routine helps alleviate stress, boosts motivation, and contributes to overall well-being. It's incredible how adding an element of enjoyment can turn mundane gatherings into interesting and engaging get-togethers.

Nada nesse mundo pode ser t?o ignorado por nós como algumas coisas,como por exemplo Deus,família e você, você entre outras coisas precisa se divertir pra viver melhor,ser feliz,para ter uma ótima saúde,para exalar felicidade,pra contagiar outras pessoas e pra poder viver de forma que quando vá dormir se si tá realizado.

I guess I am way off with my answer to this question. Well-being, how I feel about myself as it relates to teaching, is 100% about purpose. I work at a school with a very specific mission. Succeeding in that mission is my purpose. If I don't have that in the place I work, I need to go elsewhere. No amount of yoga, alcohol, socialization, organization, or self-reflection will replace purpose. Without it, I am counting the minutes in my life. With it, I push everything aside and focus. I know my answer does not quite square up with this prompt, but this is my reality for well-being.

Prioritize learning some serious classroom management skills ?? My fourth year teaching I encountered THE most challenging group of students I ever had. I found myself dreading to go to work most mornings, a feeling I had never experienced before as an educator. Realizing that I couldn’t allow the challenging behavior in my class to dictate my mental health, I decided to take my management skills to a new level. A teacher had informed me about a method called “Whole Brain Teaching” and I took the pieces that I felt would work for me and my classroom, and ran with it. My classroom management and culture improved SIGNIFICANTLY, and with it, my mental health.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Often times we try to handle too much on our own and end up stressing. I learned that when I delegate part of projects I’m able to be my best as my stresses are minimized.

It's important to protect your people. Teachers are often left in the cold when it comes to accountability of student performance and parent satisfaction. Teachers need to know that they are valued by the people who employ them, and that if something goes wrong, they will be shielded from unreasonable requests. Moreover, setting expectations for all parties involved--teacher, parent, and student--can help stakeholders be clear on each of their roles and responsibilities. Hold your teachers accountable, but also protect them when they do what they're supposed to do. Let your teachers know you have their backs and you'd be surprised by the dedication and commitment your teachers will demonstrate.

Sometimes teachers are targeted for administrator mistreatment abuse. This form of workplace bullying often goes unreported for fear of principals' reprisals or lack of knowing whom to report it to. It does severe, long-term damage to a target's self-confidence and well-being. Reading Joseph Blase's book "Breaking the Silence" will help to see the scope of the problem, but knowing where to get help to stop the abuse is critical. If you can't leave the school and get a fresh start, talk to your union rep about what is happening. Also, make a bullying report to the school district. See a psychologist and get copies made of their report on how the abuse has affected your mental health. Seek therapy. Don't wait! Save yourself.