In this week’s episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explore how mindfulness inspired us to simplify many areas of our lives—both personally and professionally.

We share how our mindfulness journey began with formal seated meditation and evolved into being more present throughout our day. Through this practice, we learned to observe our thoughts, catch ourselves when we drift into past or future thinking, and become more mindful of the present moment. As we became more present, life seemed to slow down, and we gained a deeper appreciation for the moment.

We also discuss how mindfulness led us to simplify our environment. From decluttering our classrooms to streamlining our wardrobes, simplifying helped us reduce overwhelm and bring more calm into our lives. In the classroom, mindfulness prompted us to simplify the school day, reduce transitions, and seamlessly connect subjects, which helped us create a smoother flow for ourselves and our students.