I know this may be an unpopular opinion.... but there are so many great things about term breaks (school holidays) that we need to recognise, so let's talk about them.

1. Autonomy to work on what we choose.

2. We can work from anywhere.

3. We can not work at all.

Now, because this is a controversial conversation, I would love to hear your opinion on this too!

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If we are going to truly address staff, teacher, and educator wellbeing, then it's time to look at what needs to change. This conversation, in all honesty, revolves around three key areas: workload, productivity, and time. Yet, we seem to be having conversations about these things separately from wellbeing or perhaps not having them at all.

What we know about wellbeing in the workplace is that it is reflected through our level of engagement, purpose, meaning, and growth. However, at the core of it is how someone feels. Ultimately, wellbeing is subjective; it depends on how the person being asked to complete the wellbeing survey or give their opinion is feeling at any given moment. Wellbeing is a reflection of who we are and how we're feeling as we navigate different moments in life and work, as well as day-to-day functioning.

While there is no endpoint we're trying to achieve, our goal is to create productive workplaces where time is valued, and workloads or stress-contributing factors are addressed. The three key areas here around workload, productivity, and time are significant when looking at the tasks our educators complete that detract from wellbeing. There's also an underlying theme of safe workplaces, positive relationships, meaningful connections, and building optimism to drive change which needs to be addressed.

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Every month Amy Green and Emma Gentle are going to drop a BONUS episode on their podcasts.

They will be talking about all things education, teaching and leadership. They are particularly excited about touching on taboo topics as they believe it's time to have real discussions about education without the sugar coating!

Today's episode is an introduction to Amy and Em, where they started in education and where they are now. They also dive into some of those taboo topics in this episode and would love for you to get in touch with them and let them know what topics you'd like them to speak about.

Em apologises for the poor quality on her end. She forgot her podcasting microphone. Oops!

Enjoy!

Teacher life can indeed be incredibly demanding, often characterized by long hours of lesson planning, grading, managing classrooms, and nurturing the growth of students.

While the rewards of teaching are profound, the demands can sometimes take a toll on one's physical, emotional and mental health. Recognising when these demands are affecting your wellbeing is a crucial first step towards maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling career in education.

Embracing proactive wellbeing strategies is essential for educators to thrive both personally and professionally.

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In this episode, Amy and Sue sit down to chat about all of the amazing things that positive psychology can teach us about flourishing.

Whilst this conversation only skims the surface of what Sue can tach each us, we do look at emotions, gut health, the microbiome, and how working on flourishing and wellbeing includes doing things you may not want to do.

More About Sue

 Sue Langley turns science into simple and practical tools anyone can use, inspiring individuals, organisations and teams to be the best they can be.

A dynamic and engaging speaker, Sue has taught thousands of business leaders, HR professionals and consultants around the globe how to harness the brain’s potential, create positive workplaces and be more intelligent about emotions.

Sue’s keynotes and executive masterclasses synthesise neuroscience, emotional intelligence and positive psychology into critical insights to get the best from people. She tailors each presentation to her audience and brings learning to life with fun, experiential activities and tangible techniques people can apply every day in work and life.

Whether speaking to ten people or 10,000, each keynote engages people and challenges them to think differently and start taking positive steps to transform the way they work and live.

⁠Visit Sue's Website

Visit The Langley Group Website

Visit The Langley Group Institute Website

Find Sue on LinkedIn

More About Amy 

Amy is founder of The Wellness Strategy, a published author, speaker, facilitator, and coach, and a leader in improving workplace culture and wellbeing in schools and organisations. As a past teacher and school leader, Amy is determined to change the way we view wellbeing to support our everyday and workplace needs. With a background in teaching and leadership and having studied human behaviour and positive psychology, Amy brings to the wellbeing space a fresh approach to what can be a sensitive topic. Amy guides workplaces to understand the difference between individual and collective wellbeing to ensure all employees feel safe, valued, and fulfilled, and to bring about a workplace culture in which all staff thrive and flourish. 

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Email: [email protected]

In the whirlwind of being a teacher, taking a breather seemed like an impossible feat. My days were jam-packed with endless tasks, responsibilities, and commitments, leaving zero space for a moment of calm. Books to mark, emails to reply to, lessons to plan, resources to make.

But then came a turning point – a period of dealing with chronic stress that completely shifted my perspective.

Feel free to use these questions to facilitate meaningful discussions or personal reflections on the importance of embracing stillness and finding balance in life.

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In the world of education, change can often feel like managing a complex machine. Just like cogs in a gear system, various pieces need attention and shifting. But in the midst of this, it's easy to get overwhelmed and lose sight of where to direct our efforts. This is a common challenge in schools, where there are numerous tasks and activities happening simultaneously. So, how can educators ensure that their energy is going where it matters most?

Think of a school like a puzzle. Each part has its role to play, but it's important to recognize when a certain piece doesn't fit or when too many pieces are crowding the picture. To figure this out, we need to distinguish between efficiency and effectiveness. Are we using our energy well? Are we taking the time to step back and assess not just what we're doing, but how we're doing it and how it impacts our overall functioning?

Currently, I'm contemplating these questions in the context of my own work. I'm considering my goals, aspirations, and the impact I want to make. With this clarity, it becomes easier to identify which pieces of the puzzle should stay, which ones need to go, and whether a completely new puzzle needs to be crafted.

In our pursuit of progress, we often fall into the trap of adding more and more to our plate, believing that busyness equals productivity. But here's the revelation: focusing on one thing at a time is the key.

Daniela and Amy have many similarities in their beliefs and approach to how we can improve educator wellbeing, which is no wonder why this episode focuses on exactly that.

In the fast-paced world of trying to achieve work-life balance, prioritising wellbeing and setting boundaries, all while maintaining consistent ways of working, email is a common topic of discussion. One approach that often emerges is the idea of schedule send, where emails are sent during specific hours, typically between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

On the surface, this might seem like a useful and considerate move, supporting the wellbeing of staff. However, with this approach, are we supporting staff to work with autonomy and flexibility? Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that schedule send may not fully endorse the freedom to work flexibly, sending and responding to emails when it suits individuals best – be it early in the morning or late at night, accommodating their personal lives.

Schedule send might prevent emails from being sent or received at certain times, but this may not align with everyone's natural rhythm and workstyle. The underlying issue with schedule send is not the sending of emails, but the receivers' inability to effectively manage their inbox and set the necessary boundaries around email access. Implementing a schedule send policy does not replace the need for each individual to manage their inbox proactively and set their own email response boundaries.

More About Amy

Amy is founder of The Wellness Strategy, a published author, speaker, facilitator, and coach, and a leader in improving workplace culture and wellbeing in schools and organisations. As a past teacher and school leader, Amy is determined to change the way we view wellbeing to support our everyday and workplace needs. With a background in teaching and leadership and having studied human behaviour and positive psychology, Amy brings to the wellbeing space a fresh approach to what can be a sensitive topic. Amy guides workplaces to understand the difference between individual and collective wellbeing to ensure all employees feel safe, valued, and fulfilled, and to bring about a workplace culture in which all staff thrive and flourish. 

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In this episode, Sue takes us on a journey through her experience as a teacher and leader of over 30 years and how this led her to write 'Teacher cry too'.

This episode looks at some of the challenges teachers face daily and how we can turn this profession around. Filled with truth, insights and hope, this a great conversation and one not to be missed.

Meet Sue Webb

Sue is a high school teacher in Queensland. Her memoir, Teachers Cry Too was released in November last year. It’s a story about her 30-year relationship with teaching, her struggle to overcome burnout and the period of mental illness that followed. During this time, she realised that the career she blamed for making her sick, also offered her a pathway to recovery.

The Teachers Cry Too project began as a journal—an attempt to make sense of the events that lead to crisis. As an experienced educator, how did she miss the signs that things were amiss?  After realising that so many other teachers were facing similar challenges, Sue felt compelled to share her story. She now engages more sustainably with the job and talks with other Educators about the importance of leading full lives, rather than busy ones.

Sue is an experienced classroom teacher and has held leadership positions in schools across South Australia and Queensland. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and was a finalist in the Excellence in Teaching Awards for her work in mentoring Early Career Teachers.

More About Amy

Amy is founder of The Wellness Strategy, a published author, speaker, facilitator, and coach, and a leader in improving workplace culture and wellbeing in schools and organisations. As a past teacher and school leader, Amy is determined to change the way we view wellbeing to support our everyday and workplace needs. With a background in teaching and leadership and having studied human behaviour and positive psychology, Amy brings to the wellbeing space a fresh approach to what can be a sensitive topic. Amy guides workplaces to understand the difference between individual and collective wellbeing to ensure all employees feel safe, valued, and fulfilled, and to bring about a workplace culture in which all staff thrive and flourish. 

Follow me on LinkedIn 

⁠Hang out on Instagram⁠

Order my book

Email: [email protected]