The Next Level Teacher Podcast

Make More of a Difference, Not More Work

Do you ever find yourself adding more to your workload in an effort to be a better teacher?

More planning, more activities, more tweaks, more time spent making things just a little bit better?

In this episode of the Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna shares a recent experience that reminded her of an important lesson: doing more doesn't always mean making a bigger impact.

We'll talk about how teachers can get sidetracked by the little details, why it's worth questioning whether extra effort will actually move you closer to your goals, and how to recognize when good enough really is good enough.Because your students don't need you to make everything perfect. And you don't need to spend every spare minute working to be a great teacher.
In this episode, you'll learn:
 ➡️ Why doing more doesn't always lead to better results
 ➡️ How to recognize when extra effort is worth it—and when it isn't
 ➡️ A simple question to ask before adding more to your plate

Your challenge this week: Before taking on one more task or tweaking something that's already good, ask yourself, Will this actually make a meaningful difference, or am I just giving myself more to do?

Listen in and find a more sustainable way to make a difference in your classroom.

Ready for teaching to feel a little lighter?Learn more about Calm in the Classroom: Modern-day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety

Follow the Next Level Teacher Podcast for practical ideas to make teaching feel more manageable and enjoyable. 

Teacher Friend, You Don't Have to Be Perfect!
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Strength of Teachers, we discuss the perfectionist mindset many educators struggle with, its impact on teacher self-care, and how to shift toward a healthier outlook of excellence rather than flawlessness. Tune in to learn strategies for managing the stress and anxiety that often accompany an “all-or-nothing” mentality in the teaching profession and for insights on embracing imperfection, finding balance, and sustaining happiness as a teacher.
Key Takeaways:
1. Teacher Perfectionism vs. Striving for Excellence
Understanding the difference between perfectionism and striving for excellence, focusing on setting realistic goals in teaching and personal growth. While perfectionism is driven by a fear of inadequacy, excellence centers on hopeful growth. This shift in mindset is crucial for teacher self-care and a sustainable career.

2. Signs of Perfectionism in Teaching
Perfectionist tendencies often manifest in excessive busyness, procrastination, or self-doubt. We discuss how perfectionism adds to teachers' stress, overwhelm, and anxiety—ultimately impacting classroom environments and mental well-being. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward healthier practices.

3. How to Move Beyond Perfectionism
Learn the actionable steps teachers can take to break free from perfectionist thinking, including self-reflection, generating processing emotions, and adopting a growth mindset. The episode also highlights the beauty of "Wabi-Sabi"—appreciating imperfections—as a reminder that teachers’ value isn’t tied to flawless performance.

4. Introducing "Calm in the Classroom" - A Course for Teacher Wellness
For more help creating an emotionally healthy environment for yourself and your students, check out my upcoming course, Calm in the Classroom, designed to teach essential emotional and mental skills for managing stress, overwhelm, and anxiety. Teachers will learn how to regulate their nervous systems, build resilience, and create a more balanced teaching life. Sign up to be notified when enrollment opens!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Michelangelo's Prisoners: Check out the famous "unfinished" sculptures here!
Calm in the Classroom - Ready to overcome perfectionism and manage stress better? Learn more HERE!

Follow Brenna on Instagram - Connect with Brenna at @brennanelsoncoaching for more teacher self-care inspiration, podcast updates, and to share your teacher self-care journey.

FREE Mini-Sessions for Teachers - Interested in personal support? Book a free mini-coaching call to dive deeper into teacher wellness and self-care. 

If Sunday afternoon or evening brings a familiar feeling of dread about going back to school, you're not alone. The Sunday Scaries are especially common for teachers—and they can quickly turn an entire weekend into a countdown to Monday.

But what if you didn't have to spend your Sunday worrying about the week ahead?
In this episode of the Next Level Teacher Podcast, we're talking about the Sunday Scaries and three practical strategies you can use to break the cycle of anxiety, worry, and dread before the school week begins.
You'll learn how to: ➡️ Allow uncomfortable emotions instead of fighting or resisting them
 ➡️ Stay present and enjoy the weekend you're actually living instead of mentally jumping ahead to Monday
 ➡️ Create a "worry window" so you can intentionally address your concerns without letting them take over your entire day
 ➡️ Plus, I'll share a bonus strategy for preparing for Monday on Thursday so you can head into the weekend with more peace of mind

The goal isn't to convince yourself that Monday is going to be amazing or eliminate every uncomfortable feeling about going back to school.It's learning how to stop letting thoughts about Monday steal the weekend you're living right now.
Because teachers deserve to have a weekend, too.
If you're a teacher struggling with anxiety, overwhelm, stress, or dread about going back to school, this episode will give you a few simple tools you can start using this weekend.

Want some free coaching?I have a few spots available for free mini coaching sessions. If there's a situation, relationship, or challenge at school that you've been struggling with, head to brennanelsoncoaching.com/free to grab your spot.

Teacher overwhelm doesn't mean you're doing something wrong.

In this episode, I’m sharing a little of what my own September looked like—and the reminder I needed when I found myself feeling overwhelmed, out of sorts, and frustrated that I should have been able to handle it better.
Because even when we have the tools, we’re still human. Life changes, teaching changes, and we’re constantly adjusting to new challenges and circumstances.

If you’ve been feeling like you should have it all figured out by now, this episode is for you.

I’ll also share why having the right tools and an outside perspective can make such a difference when you’re in the middle of a difficult season.

Want some outside perspective? I offer complimentary mini-coaching sessions for teachers. Click HERE to book your free call! (Spots are limited--grab yours today!) 

https://www.brennanelsoncoaching.com/free

When Your Students Are Annoying

What do you do when your students annoy you?Let’s be honest: even if you love teaching and care deeply about your students, there are going to be moments when their behavior gets under your skin.

Maybe a student constantly interrupts you. Maybe a teenager puts their head down every day. Maybe a student is always late, never has what they need, or waits until the last possible minute to ask for help.

It’s normal to feel frustrated or annoyed by student behavior.But what if the student’s behavior isn’t actually what’s creating your annoyance?

In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we’re talking about what happens when teachers feel annoyed with their students—and how to respond without reacting in ways you later regret.
In this episode, we’ll talk about:
 🔹 Why there is no such thing as an inherently “annoying” student
 🔹 What’s really happening when you feel annoyed by student behavior
 🔹 Why trying to control students can make classroom frustration even worse
 🔹 What to do when you feel yourself getting irritated in the middle of class
 🔹 Why it’s okay to feel annoyed—and why you don’t have to become a teacher who never experiences negative emotions
 🔹 How to pause before reacting to a difficult student or situation
 🔹 How identifying your thoughts can help you understand your emotional response
 🔹 How to respond to challenging student behavior intentionally instead of reactively
 🔹 Why learning to manage your own emotions can change your experience of teaching

You don’t have to become a perfectly calm teacher who never gets frustrated.

The goal isn’t to eliminate annoyance.

The goal is to learn how to notice what’s happening, take care of yourself in the moment, and choose how you want to respond—even when your students are doing things that really get on your nerves.

Because when you learn how to manage yourself in those difficult moments, you can create a better experience for yourself, your students, and your classroom.
Listen to the episode!Episode 23: When Your Students Are AnnoyingIf you’ve ever thought, “Why are these kids making me so crazy?”, this episode is for you.

And if you know another teacher who is dealing with a particularly annoying student right now…send it their way. 😉
About The Next Level Teacher Podcast

The Next Level Teacher Podcast is for classroom teachers who want to feel better at work without having to leave education.

Hosted by Brenna Nelson, a Certified Life Coach for Teachers and longtime educator, the podcast explores the emotional and mental side of teaching—including teacher stress, overwhelm, frustration, anxiety, boundaries, confidence, and creating a teaching experience that feels lighter and more manageable.

Because when you feel better, you teach better.

Learn More:
Instagram: @Next.Level.Teacher
Email: [email protected]

Get Help!
Free Coaching Session - Click HERE!
Calm in the Classroom 

You Don't Have to Be Calm to Be a Calm Teacher

What if being a calm teacher doesn't actually mean feeling calm all the time?

In this episode, we're challenging the idea that teachers need to have a perfectly regulated nervous system before they can respond well to challenging classroom situations. You are allowed to be frustrated, angry, overwhelmed, and even think, Are you kidding me right now? Being upset doesn't mean you've failed at classroom management—or failed at being a calm teacher.

Instead, we're talking about what emotional regulation for teachers really looks like: being able to notice your reactions, understand what your brain is making a situation mean, and choose what you want to do next—even when you're still upset.
You'll learn how to:➡️ Stop adding shame and self-criticism to your teacher stress
➡️ Separate your emotions from your actions
➡️ Get curious about what's underneath your frustration with students
➡️ Recognize when you're taking student behavior personally
➡️ Understand what is—and isn't—within your control as a teacher
➡️ Practice acceptance without becoming passive or giving up boundaries
➡️ Respond to challenging student behavior without automatically reacting
➡️ Give yourself compassion before you feel calm

We also explore why calm doesn't mean never getting angry or frustrated. A calm teacher isn't someone who never has a strong emotional reaction. A calm teacher is someone who has more choice about what to do with that reaction.

If you're an overwhelmed, stressed, or burned-out teacher who is tired of feeling like you should be able to handle every classroom challenge perfectly, this episode is for you.

You don't have to earn compassion by becoming calm first. Sometimes, giving yourself permission to be upset is exactly what helps you respond with more intention.

Teacher Burnout, Stress & the Nervous System: How Teachers Can Interrupt the Stress Cycle

What happens when teacher stress and student stress feed into each other? In this episode, we’re exploring the connection between teacher burnout, classroom stress, student stress, and the nervous system—and what teachers can actually do to interrupt the cycle.

Research from the University of British Columbia found a relationship between teacher burnout and students’ cortisol levels, offering an interesting look at how the stress and emotional environment of a classroom may affect both teachers and students.

But this episode isn’t about giving teachers one more thing to worry about.
Instead, we’re talking about nervous system regulation for teachers, emotional contagion, stress responses, and why your internal state matters in the classroom. You’ll also learn why predictability and consistent classroom routines can help create a more stable environment for students.
You’ll hear about:➡️  The connection between teacher burnout and student stress
➡️  How stress can become a cycle between teachers and students
➡️  What emotional and physiological “contagion” means in the classroom
➡️  Why your nervous system responds to stress—even when you aren't actually in danger
➡️  How to notice when you're becoming activated instead of immediately reacting
➡️  Why regulating your own stress doesn't mean you're responsible for regulating every student
➡️  How predictable classroom routines can support a calmer classroom environment
➡️  Why the goal isn't to eliminate stress, but to build the awareness and skills to respond differently

If you’re a teacher feeling overwhelmed, stressed, burned out, or exhausted by the demands of the classroom, this episode offers a different way to think about what’s happening—and a more empowering place to start.

You don't have to mirror the chaos around you. You can interrupt the cycle.

Sources:
Oberle, E., & Schonert-Reichl, K. A. (2016). Stress contagion in the classroom? The link between classroom teacher burnout and morning cortisol in elementary school students.

Dimitroff et al. (2017). Physiological dynamics of stress contagion. Scientific Reports.

DeCaro, J. A., & Worthman, C. M. (2011). Changing family routines at kindergarten entry predict biomarkers of parental stress. 

Episode 123. How Strong is Your Mental Fitness, Teacher?

What if becoming a better teacher isn't about making your classroom easier—but about becoming stronger at handling the hard parts? 

A few weeks ago, Brenna hit a new PR on her back squat. She had reached a weight she once thought was completely impossible. But she didn't become a different person overnight. She simply built her capacity through consistent practice, gradually adding weight and doing the reps. 

That got her thinking:

What if we could do the same thing emotionally? 

Teachers are constantly told to manage stress, avoid burnout, practice self-care, and protect their mental health. And those things matter. But what if we started thinking about mental fitness instead? 

Mental fitness isn't about never feeling stressed, frustrated, anxious, or overwhelmed. It's about developing the capacity to experience those things without letting them completely control what you think, how you respond, or how much of your school day follows you home. 

In this episode, Brenna explores what it could look like to build your emotional and mental "muscles" as a teacher—and why you don't need to become a completely different person to handle teaching differently. 
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why mental health and mental fitness aren't quite the same thing  

✅ What Brenna's squat PR taught her about building emotional capacity  

✅ Why the goal isn't always to make your classroom easier  

✅ How difficult students, parent emails, frustrating coworkers, and stressful school days can become opportunities to build your mental and emotional strength  

✅ Why emotional strength doesn't mean never getting angry, anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed  

✅ What it means to experience difficult emotions without being controlled by them  

✅ How to increase your capacity to handle stress without taking everything home with you  

✅ Why you don't need to become a completely different teacher to feel better at school  

✅ What it means to treat difficult experiences as "reps"  

✅ How small moments of awareness, regulation, and intentional response can build emotional strength over time 

This week, pay attention to one difficult moment at school. Instead of judging yourself for how you reacted, ask: 

What would one stronger rep look like next time? 

Maybe it's pausing before responding. 
Maybe it's questioning the thought that's making the situation worse. 
Maybe it's taking a few minutes before answering an email. 
Maybe it's allowing yourself to feel frustrated without deciding that the entire day—or your entire career—is terrible. 
You don't have to get it perfect. 
You're building capacity. 
And every rep counts.  
Click HERE to download a list of 10 Things Mentally Fit Teachers Do regularly.

Want to build your mental and emotional strength as a teacher? 

This is exactly the work I teach inside Calm in the Classroom. 

You'll learn how to understand what's happening in your brain when teaching gets hard, regulate instead of automatically reacting, and develop practical skills for handling stress, frustration, anxiety, and overwhelm. 

Because the goal isn't a classroom where nothing difficult ever happens. 

The goal is becoming a teacher who can handle herself when it does. → Learn more about Calm in the Classroom CLICK HERE!
Keywords 

teacher mental health, teacher mental fitness, teacher stress, teacher burnout, teacher emotional regulation, emotional regulation for teachers, managing teacher stress, classroom stress, teacher overwhelm, teacher anxiety, teacher self care, teacher resilience, how to handle teacher stress, coping with teacher burnout, teacher wellness, mental health for teachers, stress management for teachers, emotional resilience for teachers, teacher mindset, managing emotions in the classroom 

Episode 122: The First Week of School Isn't Supposed to Feel Good

If you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or already wondering whether you're doing something wrong during the first week of school, take a breath. The first week of school is supposed to be hard.

In this episode of the Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna Nelson talks about the pressure teachers put on themselves at the beginning of a new school year—and how quickly a difficult classroom experience can turn into a story about what we think that experience means about us.
Because there's a big difference between:“This is hard.”and“This shouldn't be this hard.”
One acknowledges reality. The other adds another layer of stress, frustration, and self-doubt.
The beginning of the school year comes with a huge amount of adjustment. You're learning new students, establishing classroom routines, figuring out relationships and boundaries, managing expectations, and trying to keep up with everything else that comes with being a teacher. You aren't supposed to have everything figured out in the first week.
You're learning, too.
And while you can't control everything that happens in your classroom, you can learn how to handle your own thoughts, emotions, and stress differently when things don't go according to plan.
In this episode, you'll learn:
 ✔️ Why feeling exhausted or overwhelmed during the first week of school doesn't mean you're failing

 ✔️ The difference between “This is hard” and “This shouldn't be this hard”

 ✔️ How teachers add a second layer of stress to difficult classroom situations

 ✔️ Why a difficult class period doesn't have to become a difficult day

 ✔️ How thoughts like “I'm already failing” or “My students don't respect me” can make a challenging situation feel even worse

✔️ A simple thought shift you can use when you're feeling overwhelmed: “This is hard.”

 ✔️ Why you don't need to have your classroom, classroom management, or teaching figured out immediately

 ✔️ How to give yourself permission to be a beginner again—even if you've been teaching for years

 ✔️ Why emotional regulation and working with your own brain are skills you can learn

 ✔️ How becoming better at handling difficult teaching moments can change your experience of the entire school year

A simple exercise for this week
The next time you catch yourself thinking:
“This shouldn't be this hard.”
Try replacing it with:
“This is hard.”
Then ask yourself:
“What do I want to do next?”
You don't have to convince yourself that everything is fine. You don't have to put a positive spin on a frustrating situation. You can acknowledge that something is hard and still choose what you want to do next.
Want help feeling better while teaching is still hard?

That's exactly what I teach inside Calm in the Classroom—how to understand your brain, regulate instead of automatically reacting, and handle the difficult parts of teaching without carrying all of it home with you.

If you're ready for a different teaching experience, I'd love to help.Learn more about Calm in the Classroom → CLICK HERE!

Or, if you're not sure where to start, send me a message on Instagram @next.level.teacher or email [email protected] and let's talk about your options.
Keywords

first week of school, first week of school tips for teachers, back to school stress, teacher stress, teacher overwhelm, teacher anxiety, teacher burnout, classroom stress, teacher mental health, teacher emotional regulation, classroom management stress, how to handle teacher stress, teacher self care, beginning of the school year, back to school for teachers, teacher mindset 

 Episode Summary

As summer comes to an end, are you carrying guilt into the new school year?

Maybe you feel guilty that you didn't get enough work done. Or you worked too much? Or that you didn't spend enough quality time with your family. Maybe you didn't rest enough...or maybe you rested so much that now you feel behind.

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

In today's conversation, I'm sharing a simple mindset shift that has helped me stop carrying guilt for all the things I should have done and start focusing on what actually matters.

You'll learn why guilt isn't proof that you're a good teacher or a good parent, why our brains naturally create "should" thinking, and one powerful question that can help you move forward with intention instead of self-criticism.If you're ready to begin this school year without carrying the weight of a "perfect" summer that never existed, press play.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
 🔹 Why so many teachers feel guilty at the end of summer
 🔹 Where "should" thinking comes from—and why it keeps us stuck
 🔹 The difference between learning from the past and living in it 
 🔹 A simple question that shifts you from guilt to intentional action
 🔹 How to start the school year feeling lighter instead of weighed down


Mentioned in This Episode

🎓 Free Workshop: How to Have Your Best School Year YetWant to learn the internal skills that help teachers stay calm, resilient, and emotionally steady throughout the school year? Reserve your free spot using the link below.
Click HERE to Register!


Connect with Brenna

Website: brennanelsoncoaching.comInstagram: @next.level.teacherIf this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with another teacher who's feeling the pressure of back-to-school season.