We certainly live in ‘interesting’ times! The importance of the work done by staff in schools has been highlighted in recent weeks as we deal with the Corona Virus. Whilst it can be unsettling and challenging to face unchartered conditions, it is important that staff in schools remain calm, optimistic and mentally strong. Based on…
One Hundred Years From Now…
One hundred years from now It won’t matter What kind of car you drove What kind of house you lived in How much money you had in the bank Nor what clothes you wore But the world may be a little better Because you were important in the life of a child Each and every…
Is Your TO DO List Making You Sick?
Exercise more, eat better, spend more time with the family, connect more with friends, how much more can we do? I know I’m not alone by sharing that once or twice (okay way more times) in my life I have felt stressed. I’m hiding so no one would find me, yelling at my phone to…
Letting Go of Betrayals of Trust
What are you like at forgiving others and getting over hurts? Some of us find this extremely hard to do. However, over time unresolved, painful emotions can come at a major cost. Most of the hurts that we have are misunderstandings where we have jumped to the wrong conclusion. Many of these upsets are…
Three Gifts to Give Yourself this Christmas
Gift Number One – Presence You are about to take some well-earned time off to spend with loved ones, recharge your batteries and reconnect. This is often easier said than done as we struggle to wind down, to switch off and be fully present. Presence requires us to dig deep and fully savour those precious…
Using Golden Rules to Protect Well-being
Working in schools can be overwhelming and all encompassing. It feels like there is always more that we could do and our work can feel never ending. It can also be difficult to disconnect and switch off. Thinking about work and the challenges we face at school can be all consuming. It is important to…
Change the Way You Look At Things
One of the key characteristics of highly resilient people is their ‘natural’ ability to reframe challenges as opportunities, to make lemonade out of lemons. I have used inverted commas for ‘natural’ because, whilst for many this is an intrinsic characteristic of optimism, for others it can be learned. Step 1 – Understand that Events can…
Finish Strong
The final term of the school year is a crazy time in schools. End of year reporting, class allocations, timetabling, budgets and planning for next year swamp us at a time when our energies are low and many of us feel we are running on empty. By the end of the year we are more…
Resilience Research
Why do many people turn out as well as they do despite adverse life circumstances? Instead of being crushed by adversity in their personal life, somehow use it as motivation to grow. Why do people at work, instead of becoming negative and resistant to change, simply accept what is out of their control and make…
Meditation to Calm the Mind
Many societies use meditation as a means of calming the mind from the busyness of everyday life. You don’t have to go to a rainforest, a health retreat or a temple to gain the benefits. Taking just 5 minutes from your busy day to focus on your breathing and calm your mind can have great…