The Next Level Teacher Podcast

Episode Summary

What if the biggest thing shaping this school year isn't your students, your schedule, or your administration—but the thoughts you're bringing into it?

As teachers, it's easy to carry last year's experiences into a brand-new school year without even realizing it. Our brains naturally look to the past for evidence about what teaching is like, but when we define our future by our past, we often end up recreating the same experience.

In this episode, I'm sharing a simple mindset shift that can completely change how you approach this school year. Instead of asking, "What happened last year?" you'll learn to ask a much more powerful question: "Who do I want to become this year?"'

I'll also walk you through three practical ways to start thinking like your future self today so you can stop replaying old patterns and begin creating a school year you're genuinely excited about.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
 🔥 Why your brain naturally wants to recreate last year's experience
 🔥 The hidden cost of defining teaching by your past
 🔥 Three simple mindset shifts to help you create your future intentionally
 🔥 How to make decisions from the teacher you're becoming—not the teacher you've been
 🔥 Why preparing yourself may be even more important than preparing your classroom


Mentioned in This Episode
🎓 Free Workshop: How to Have Your Best School Year YetIf you're ready to learn the three internal skills every teacher needs to stay calm, resilient, and confident this year, reserve your free spot using the link below.
Click HERE to Register (It's Free!)
Connect with Brenna
Website: https://www.brennanelsoncoaching.comInstagram: @next.level.teacher

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher friend who's getting ready for a fresh start this school year. 

Episode Summary

As teachers, we spend hours preparing our classrooms before school starts—organizing supplies, planning lessons, decorating bulletin boards, and making sure everything is ready for our students.

But there's one thing most of us never learned how to prepare:Ourselves.

In this short episode, I'm sharing why I believe the most important back-to-school preparation has nothing to do with your classroom and everything to do with your mind and nervous system.

You'll discover why two teachers can face the exact same circumstances but have completely different experiences—and how preparing yourself emotionally may be the best investment you make this school year.

If you're hoping this year feels different than the last one, this episode is for you.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
➡️ Why preparing yourself matters just as much as preparing your classroom
➡️ The emotional skills most teacher preparation programs never teach
➡️ How your nervous system shapes your experience in the classroom
➡️ Why your mindset—not your circumstances—has the biggest impact on your school year
➡️ A simple shift that can help you enjoy teaching more this year


Mentioned in This Episode

🎓 Free Workshop: How to Have Your Best School Year YetIf you're ready to learn the three internal skills that help teachers stay calm, resilient, and confident—even on the hard days—I'd love to have you join me for this free training.

Reserve your spot HERE!
Join me live August 13 @ 8:00 PM EDT. 
Can't make it live? Sign up anyway, and I'll send you the replay!
Connect with Brenna
Website: https://www/brennanelsoncoaching.comInstagram: @next.level.teacher

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another teacher who's getting ready for a fresh start this school year. 

Do you ever feel like you're supposed to be using the latest teaching strategy—even if it doesn't fit your classroom or your personality? 

From flexible seating and interactive notebooks to digital classrooms, morning meetings, and every new education trend that appears on social media, teachers are constantly being told what they should be doing. 

But what if the best teaching strategy is the one that actually works for you? 

In this short episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna Nelson shares a simple analogy inspired by a recipe for a wedge salad—and why it perfectly captures the pressure many teachers feel to keep up with every new educational trend. 

If you've ever wondered whether you're "doing teaching right," this episode offers a refreshing reminder that effective teaching isn't about copying someone else's classroom. It's about creating a classroom that aligns with your students, your strengths, and your values. 
In this episode, you'll learn: 
Why you don't need to follow every teaching trend  
A better question to ask instead of "Should I be doing this?"  
How comparison steals confidence in the classroom  
Why effective teachers succeed with many different teaching styles  
How to build a classroom that works for both you and your students  
A simple mindset shift that can reduce teacher stress and overwhelm 

Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran educator, this episode will remind you that there isn't just one right way to teach.  

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another teacher who could use this reminder today. 

What if the most important habit you could develop as a teacher had nothing to do with lesson planning or classroom management? 

In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna Nelson shares the one daily habit she would recommend to every educator—whether you're a first-year teacher, a seasoned veteran, or somewhere in between.
 The answer might surprise you. 
It's not becoming more productive. It's not finding the perfect planner. And it's not squeezing in more self-care. 
It's learning how to intentionally care for your nervous system. 
Your nervous system influences how you respond to challenging students, stressful parent emails, overflowing to-do lists, and unexpected classroom disruptions. When you spend your day in survival mode, teaching becomes harder than it needs to be. But when you learn to regulate your nervous system, you create more patience, resilience, and emotional steadiness—both for yourself and your students. 

In this episode, Brenna explains why nervous system regulation is one of the most overlooked tools for preventing teacher burnout and improving your overall well-being. 
In this episode, you'll learn: 
Why nervous system regulation matters for teachers  
How chronic stress impacts your classroom experience  
Why two teachers can experience the same day very differently  
The connection between teacher burnout and nervous system activation  
Why consistency matters more than long self-care routines  
One simple question to ask yourself throughout the school day  
How becoming more grounded benefits both you and your students 

If you're looking for practical ways to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and enjoy teaching again, this episode is a great place to start. 
 Resources Mentioned: Ready to learn how to regulate your nervous system and create a calmer classroom experience? 

Schedule a free  Call with Brenna and learn how to get started on your personalized journey. Click HERE to find a time that works for you!

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another teacher who could use a little more calm this school year. 

Do you feel like summer break is supposed to "fix" everything? 

If you've ever caught yourself thinking... 
I need to make this summer count.
I should be happier by now.
I only have a few weeks left.
I need to get my life together before school starts.

...you're not alone. 

In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna Nelson explores the hidden pressure many teachers unknowingly place on summer break—and why those expectations may actually make it harder to recover from teacher burnout. 

Instead of allowing summer to be a season of rest, many educators turn it into another checklist filled with self-improvement, productivity, and unrealistic expectations. Brenna explains why burnout doesn't magically disappear when school ends, how our thoughts create unnecessary pressure, and what to focus on instead if you want lasting emotional well-being. 

If you're hoping to return to school feeling calmer, healthier, and more grounded—not because summer magically transformed you, but because you've learned how to care for yourself—this episode is for you. 
In this episode, you'll learn: 
Why teachers often expect too much from summer break  
The hidden thoughts creating unnecessary pressure and guilt  
Why teacher burnout doesn't disappear just because school is out  
How "should" thinking steals your peace  
The difference between intentional rest and guilt-filled rest  
Why summer isn't meant to fix you  
A healthier way to prepare for the next school year 

If you're ready to stop trying to earn your rest and start enjoying the season you're actually in, press play.  

Connect with Brenna:
Ready to change your relationship with teaching? Find out how by signing up for a free discovery call with Brenna. Click HERE to schedule today--spots are limited; sign up now!

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another teacher who needs permission to let summer simply be summer. 

 Do you ever feel guilty for slowing down during summer break? You're not alone.

In this episode, Brenna challenges the belief that you have to be productive every minute of your time off. She shares why rest isn't something you have to earn, how guilt can quietly steal the benefits of downtime, and why the thoughts driving your actions matter more than the actions themselves.

Whether you're spending your summer organizing your classroom, pursuing personal goals, or simply catching your breath, this episode will help you let go of the pressure to "do more" and instead choose what genuinely serves you.
In this episode, you'll learn: ⭐ Why rest is one of the most productive things you can do.
 ⭐ How guilt and shame sabotage true recovery.
 ⭐ The difference between acting from obligation versus desire.  
 ⭐ Why your worth isn't determined by your productivity. 
 ⭐ How to recognize the thoughts and emotions driving your summer decisions.

If you'd like help sorting through the mental clutter and creating a calmer, more intentional school year, schedule your free coaching call at brennanelsoncoaching.com/free. 

🎧 In This Episode:
Teacher burnout is at an all-time high, and while the statistics paint a bleak picture, the root causes are often deeper than workload or policy. In this episode, Brenna dives into the sneaky thoughts many teachers believe that unknowingly contribute to their burnout. These thoughts sound helpful on the surface, but they actually create emotional stress, anxiety, and exhaustion.

What You'll Learn:
🗬 Why even well-meaning thoughts like “I should be able to handle this” or “There’s not enough time” may be doing more harm than good
🗬 How to identify when a thought is useful vs. harmful by tuning into your emotions
🗬 Simple mindset shifts that help calm your nervous system and prevent burnout
🗬 The real reason self-care advice often falls flat—and what works instead
🗬 How this all ties into what recent teacher burnout statistics are missing


👩‍🏫 This episode is for you if:
You feel like you're on the edge of burnout

You’re tired of surface-level “self-care” tips and want real, science-backed tools

You’ve ever thought “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done right” or “There’s just not enough time”

🎁 Mentioned in this episode:
👉 Enrollment is OPEN for Calm in the Classroom – a transformative course for teachers who want to build emotional resilience, manage stress effectively, and feel better in their classroom.

💡 Quote to Remember:
"You can struggle and still be a great teacher. Beating yourself up doesn’t help—it only drains the resilience you need to move forward."
Check out The Next Level Teacher Blog! More free help for educators who are not just tired, but teacher-tired.

Episode 113: How Teachers Can Feel More Joy: Raising Your Emotional Baseline After Burnout

Summer break gives teachers a much-needed chance to rest—but what if feeling better requires more than simply stepping away from the classroom?In this episode, Brenna explores why so many educators operate from a baseline of stress, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion—and why joy can sometimes feel surprisingly unfamiliar.

You'll learn how your brain becomes comfortable with familiar emotions (even uncomfortable ones), why happiness isn't a switch you can flip, and how practicing joy can gradually raise your emotional baseline.

If you've been wondering why it's so hard to feel genuinely happy—even during summer break—this episode is for you.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
💠 Why stress becomes the default emotional state for many teachers  
💠 How your brain prefers familiar emotions over better-feeling ones  
💠 Why joy is a skill that can be practiced  
💠 A simple exercise to increase your capacity for positive emotions  
💠 The connection between thoughts, emotions, and emotional resilience  
💠 Practical ways to create more joy this summer and beyond 

Whether you're recovering from burnout or simply wanting to enjoy life more fully, this episode will help you begin building a healthier emotional baseline.

Related Episodes:
The 50-50 Principle
Summer Break Will Not Cure Teacher Burnout
Why Teachers Don't Feel Better After a Break

Do you ever find yourself replaying worst-case scenarios in your mind?

Whether you're worrying about the first day of school, a difficult administrator, job uncertainty, or something happening at home, your brain may be running its own version of a scary movie.

In this episode, Brenna shares a funny story about accidentally watching one of the scariest movies of her life—and how it sparked an important conversation about anxiety, overthinking, and the mental habits that keep teachers stuck in stress.

You'll learn three practical strategies to help you stop spiraling, quiet anxious thoughts, and build more trust in yourself when uncertainty shows up.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
✅ Why your brain naturally rehearses worst-case scenarios  
✅ The connection between overthinking and anxiety  
✅ How to "change the channel" when worry takes over  
✅ The surprising power of scheduled worry time   
✅ Why self-trust is the antidote to uncertainty  
✅ How to handle future problems without suffering today 

If you've ever felt trapped in overthinking, this episode will give you simple tools you can use immediately.🔥

Teaching is a big part of who you are—but it shouldn't be the only part.

In this episode, Brenna shares a fascinating story from the NBA Finals and introduces the psychological concept of self-complexity: the idea that having multiple meaningful roles and interests makes us more resilient when one area of life becomes difficult. 

If you've ever felt like a tough day, difficult year, or classroom challenge shook your entire sense of self, this episode is for you. Learn why cultivating interests, relationships, and identities outside of teaching can help protect your mental health, reduce burnout, and increase resilience.

In this episode, you'll learn:➡️ What self-complexity is and why it matters  
➡️ How teacher identity can contribute to burnout  
➡️ Why resilient educators cultivate multiple aspects of themselves  
➡️ Practical ways to build a stronger sense of self outside the classroom 

Free Resource:
Download my free guide, 10 Things Resilient Educators Do Differently, at brennanelsoncoaching.com/resilient