Cultivating Resilience in Ourselves

Hey Reader!

Last week, we sent you some tips on prioritizing your physical health? How is it going? I hope you’ve noticed a difference by doing a couple of really small things consistently. Are you tracking any new healthy habits yet? This week, we’re going to focus on our emotional health.

Teaching is emotionally rewarding but can also be draining, right? By nurturing your emotional health, you stay resilient and maintain meaningful relationships with children and colleagues. So many of you are feeling a lot of stress and you carry worry and burdens with you to work every day. I just want to start by reminding you that Jesus says we can come to Him with all of our heavy stuff and He will help us find rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:28-30). Start there. And then keep reading for some other practical tips to help.

Why It Matters

• Better Stress Management: Emotional well-being allows you to remain calm and composed during challenging moments.
• Stronger Relationships: A balanced emotional state helps you connect more deeply with children, families, and coworkers. It’s a cycle…stronger relationships help decrease stress and increase joy!

Strategies for Success

1. Build Work Friendships: Share a laugh or engage with coworkers who understand your daily experiences to help problem-solve a classroom challenge. Meaningful friendships boost morale and reduce stress. Put in the effort to get to know your coworkers and then create moments of fun and laughter as well as sharing difficulties with each other.
2. Practice Gratitude: Reflect on the rewarding aspects of your role to maintain a positive perspective. Write down one or two things on a post-it note that made you smile at the end of each school day. Leave that note where you’ll see if first thing in the morning when you walk into your classroom.
3. Decompress Daily: Take 10 minutes at the end of the day to reflect on the day, do something you enjoy, or sit quietly and watch the sunset or the stars later in the evening.

CHALLENGE: This week, we’re challenging you to share one joke with a coworker that will make them laugh! Everyday, take an extra moment to write down at least one thing that you’re grateful for and leave it for yourself for the next day! Are you still keeping up with your extra movement and sleep from last week? Let us know how it’s going! What are you going to do this week to reduce stress and increase joy?

Cheering you on this week!

-Your ECCN team

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Colossians 3:16

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”