Powerful Daily Affirmations to Boost Educator Well-Being

From Uncertain to Confident: Legit Tips to Help You and Your Learners

Building Trust Is Where It Starts: Non-Negotiable

Hey there, amazing educators and humans! Trust is the magic ingredient that makes it possible for us to explore our inner selves and even share our thoughts and feelings. Think Maslow's hierarchy of needs and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) – without trust, we can't truly thrive. Today, we're diving into five mindful SEL practices that can help you build that trust and boost your well-being and confidence along with your learners. Ready? Let's go!

For most of my tenure career, I worked in middle schools and with teens. If you are also one of these people, you know they require a different skill set and it helps to know how to promote healthy brain development. I also spent most of my career sick and tired of the crap they threw at us that never worked, they never stuck with, or that was not implemented with fidelity. So...these are my tried and trues that I've found to be the easiest kickstarters to a well-being routine that can improve connections with your learners.

Don't forget to always provide the "why" behind these practices. For you and them. Emphasizing the brain science behind them can help explain their importance and effectiveness. I always stress that It takes practice and intention, but these techniques are optional and meant to improve our lives if practiced regularly. Respecting the space and practice of others is essential, and offering alternative mindfulness options can help with consistent engagement or initial refusals.

Start Here!

1. Mindful Eating and Listening

Food is the way to most of our hearts, right? Mindful eating isn't just about savoring your food – it's about engaging in the process. When you practice mindful eating, you are observing and reflecting on habits. This isn't just good for health; it also promotes delayed gratification, self-management, and social awareness. It also works as a great engagement tool.

Brain Science: Mindful eating and listening activate your brain's sensory processing and attention networks, keeping you in the moment and reducing stress.

Quick Tip: Start a "Mindful Snack Time" where everyone focuses on their snack for a few minutes, noticing the taste, texture, and smell. It's a fun way to introduce mindfulness and there's not much more to it than that! Or, something that can become a popular item is the use of a chime, bell, or bowl to practice listening. Who can notice the sound the longest? So basic but usually always works.

Real-Life Visualization

Using real-life examples is a game-changer. Whether it's visualizing a successful class or navigating a tricky situation, this technique makes mindfulness relatable. I've got loads of stories and tools from my years of teaching that help make these concepts stick. I included some of them below.

Brain Science: Visualization fires up your brain’s mirror neurons and visual cortex, boosting empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Quick Tip: Start or end the day or class with brief visualization exercises. They can relate to SEL or can be related to what you are currently reading or learning about.

Freebie !!

Scenario Examples

Anchoring Mindfulness Tools

Anchoring tools are your secret weapon. Deep breathing, a coping skills list, or even a small object to focus on can help ground you and your students during stressful times.

Brain Science: These tools activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm.

Quick Tip: Start your day with "anchor time". Take a few deep breaths together before diving into the lesson or dedicate time for everyone to engage from their coping skills menu. It’s a simple practice that sets a calm tone. (yes, you must spend time exploring and learning about coping skills. That can be another blog post)

Variety of Daily Breathing Tools

Reflection Practice

Journaling is powerful but needs to be flexible. Personalized options that fit individual needs can make a big difference. Keep it simple and quick, and leverage technology if it helps.

Brain Science: Reflection activates the default mode network (DMN) in your brain, helping you process experiences and regulate emotions.

Quick Tip: To kickstart the reflection process, use prompts like Today's Highlights/Challenges, Emotional Awareness Ratings, Gratitude List, and Affirmations. Short, sweet, and to the point! Spinner Wheels are great for this!! Or try out a guided journal which makes it easy to infuse each day.

Guided Journals Are My Jam!!

Dialogue and Word Choice

Opening up dialogue is key. I love using "low-stakes" communication methods like hand signals or simple movements. Words matter too – I often use "let’s…" when I give a directive to make it clear that we’re in this together. I also enjoy using games like "Would You Rather" or "Never Have I Ever" to open up dialogue around uncomfortable topics. I start with these questions. We all have answers to these:

•said something you wish you could take back?

•done something that you later regretted?

•felt angry and out of control?

•felt nervous or anxious about an exam or performance?

•been in a bad mood but not sure why?

•been in a bad mood but not even sure what emotion it is?

•felt like you need a break and want everyone to just leave you alone?

•had trouble falling asleep because your mind won’t be quiet or your body feels restless?

•been accidentally spacing out in class when the teacher calls on you?

•noticed that you do much better at sports or music when you are really focused.

Brain Science: Mindful dialogue and word choice stimulate the prefrontal cortex, helping regulate emotions and enhance thoughtful responses.

Quick Tip: Create a class signal for when someone wants to share but isn't ready to speak up. It can be as simple as a thumbs-up. Or use the words amygdala, hippocampus, and pre-frontal cortex like ALL THE TIME or thinking brain or instinct brain like ALL THE TIME.

There you have it—five simple mindful SEL practices that can transform your teaching experience and enhance the well-being and confidence of both you and your students. Remember, it's all about small, consistent steps. Building trust, using relatable examples, and incorporating mindfulness can make a world of difference in creating a supportive and thriving learning environment.

Ready to bring these practices into your learning environment? Start with just one and see the positive impact it can have. Share your experiences, subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on social media. Let’s inspire and support each other on this journey to well-being and confidence.

Together, we can create a more mindful and supportive educational environment. Keep shining, educators! 🌟

The Little Things Do Matter

Crystal

@Ms. T Talks

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