The Next Level Teacher Podcast

How to Stop Caring What Other People Think (Especially at School)
Episode Summary:
Teachers are some of the most caring professionals on the planet—and while that empathy makes you great at your job, it can also leave you emotionally exhausted. In this episode, Brenna Nelson, certified life coach for teachers, breaks down how to stop caring what other people think using practical mindset tools rooted in brain science.

You’ll learn:
 ✅ Why your brain is wired to care about others’ opinions (and how that’s not a moral flaw).
 ✅ The thought patterns that keep teachers trapped in overthinking, overworking, and perfectionism.
 ✅ How to create confidence that isn’t dependent on praise, evaluations, or approval.
 ✅ Real-life examples of shifting from external validation to internal calm.
 ✅ How to apply the Thought Model to stop rumination and emotional burnout.

Listen in for a permission slip to stop performing for approval—and start teaching, living, and showing up from calm confidence.
Mentioned in this episode:
 👉 Calm in the Classroom course — learn to manage stress and emotions with thought work tools: brennanelsoncoaching.com/calm

The Invisible Load of Teaching (and How to Set It Down)
Episode Summary:
Ever feel emotionally drained after a school day, even when nothing major “went wrong”? That’s the invisible load of teaching — the emotional labor no one sees but every educator feels.

In this episode, Brenna Nelson, educator and certified life coach for teachers, shares practical teacher stress relief tips to help you recognize emotional over-functioning, release what’s not yours to carry, and build sustainable calm in your classroom and your mind.
You’ll learn:
 ✅ What “the invisible load” really is and how it shows up in daily teaching life.
 ✅ Why so many teachers feel pressure to manage everyone’s emotions.
 ✅ How to use The Model to separate what’s yours from what isn’t.
 ✅ Practical teacher stress relief tips to decompress and reset after work.
 ✅ How to care deeply without burning out.

Tune in to learn how to set down the invisible emotional weight of teaching—without losing your compassion or your calm.

Mentioned in this episode:
 👉 Calm in the Classroom course: brennanelsoncoaching.com/calm

When your students’ emotions run high, it can feel like your entire classroom is falling apart. But what if their big feelings didn’t have to derail your day?

In this episode, Brenna shares how teachers can handle disruptive students without yelling, snapping, or losing control. Using cognitive and emotional strategies and tools, she breaks down how your thoughts create your emotions — and how your emotional regulation can calm the room faster than any behavior chart.

You’ll Learn:
 ✅ Why student emotions feel contagious — and how to take charge of your own emotions.
 ✅ How to utilize The Model to manage your mind during classroom chaos.
 ✅ Simple thought shifts to stay calm when students act out.
 ✅ How your nervous system can help regulate your students’ nervous systems.
 ✅ Why your calm is the most powerful classroom management tool you have.

Mentioned in this episode:
 👉 Calm in the Classroom — Brenna’s signature course for teachers who want to reduce stress and stay emotionally grounded. brennanelsoncoaching.com/calm
Related Episodes:
Episode 7: Why Emotions are Important

In this episode of Next Level Teacher, Brenna explains why one of the most important keys to teacher burnout prevention is addressing your nervous system—not just your mindset. You’ll learn how your body sets the stage for your thoughts, why “regulation before reframe” is the order that works, and practical ways to calm your nervous system so mindset tools finally stick.
You’ll learn:✅ Why mindset-only stress strategies often fall flat
✅ The role your nervous system plays in burnout prevention
✅ A two-step process: regulate first, reframe second

If you’ve ever tried to “think” your way out of stress without success, this episode will give you a more effective approach to preventing burnout.
Related Episodes:
🎙️Episode 57: The Best Classroom Management Advice for Teachers
🎙️Episode 63: How Nature Calms Teachers' Nervous Systems  

Resources & Links:💻 Course: Calm in the Classroom: Modern Day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety - The necessary teacher training you didn't get (but probably need!) Click HERE for more info! Use the discount code PODCAST to get over 25% off!

📷 Follow Brenna on Instagram: @Next.Level.Teacher

🔗 Learn more at The Next Level Teacher Blog. Click HERE!

In this episode of Next Level Teacher, Brenna shares a personal story about how a single offhand comment made her question her teaching ability—and even her self-worth.

She explores how depending on external validation is one of the hidden teacher burnout causes, and why rooting our confidence internally is the key to resilience.
In this Episode You’ll learn:
✅ Why external validation never feels like enough
✅ How relying on outside approval creates burnout for teachers
✅ A simple mindset shift to help you remember your unshakable worth
✅ Listen in for encouragement and practical insight on breaking free from the cycle of conditional self-worth.

Related Episodes:
🎙️ Episode 4: Your Infinite Worth
🎙️ Episode 20: When Teachers Make Mistakes
🎙️ Episode 44: Embracing Imperfection - Breaking Free From Teacher Perfectionism

Resources & Links:💻 Course: Calm in the Classroom: Modern Day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety - The necessary teacher training you didn't get (but probably need!) Click HERE for more info! Use the discount code PODCAST to get over 25% off!

📷 Follow Brenna on Instagram: @Next.Level.Teacher

🔗 Learn more at The Next Level Teacher Blog. Click HERE!

Teacher training programs prepare us with pedagogy, lesson planning, and content knowledge—but there’s one crucial skill they often leave out: emotional regulation. In this episode, Brenna shares why this overlooked skill is one of the most powerful tools for preventing burnout and thriving in the classroom.

If you’ve ever felt like teaching is more emotionally draining than you expected, this conversation will help you understand why—and what you can do about it.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why emotional regulation is rarely taught in teacher prep programs
✅ How your emotions affect your teaching more than you realize
✅ Why emotional regulation is the invisible foundation of effective pedagogy
✅ Practical next steps for new teachers who want to avoid burnout

Resources & Links:💻 Course: Calm in the Classroom: Modern Day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety - The necessary teacher training you didn't get (but probably need!) Click HERE for more info! Use the discount code PODCAST to get over 25% off!

📷 Follow Brenna on Instagram: @Next.Level.Teacher

🔗 Learn more at The Next Level Teacher Blog. Click HERE!

Most lists of “teacher self care ideas” focus on bubble baths, pedicures, or coffee breaks. But if you’ve tried those things and still feel exhausted, you’re not alone. 

In this episode, Brenna explains why traditional self-care isn’t enough for teachers, and shares what actually works to build resilience and prevent burnout.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why common teacher self care ideas often fall short
✅ The deeper reason teachers still feel burned out despite “self-care”
✅ The missing link: emotional regulation and nervous system awareness
✅ Practical strategies to support yourself beyond surface-level fixes

Resources & Links:
🆓 Free Mini Course: Why Self-Care Doesn’t Work for Teachers (and What to Do Instead)

📷 Follow me on Instagram: @Next.Level.Teacher

🔗 Learn more at The Next Level Teacher Blog. Click HERE!

Teacher burnout isn’t just about long hours, heavy workloads, or a never-ending to-do list. At its root, burnout is an emotional response to the thoughts we carry every day—and it’s leaving many teachers drained and disheartened.

In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna Nelson shares a 5-step framework that shows you how to prevent teacher burnout by working with your brain, emotions, and nervous system. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can use right away—not more “self-care tips” that don’t actually solve the problem.

If you’ve ever wondered why bubble baths and coffee runs aren’t enough to restore your energy, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface—and how to change it.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ What teacher burnout really is (and what it isn’t)
✅ Why self-care alone doesn’t work to prevent burnout
✅ How your brain’s survival mode may be keeping you stuck
✅ 5 practical steps to build resilience and restore calm in your classroom
✅ How to start rewiring your thought patterns with simple shifts
Resources & Links Mentioned
🎧 Listen to my episode on Toxic Positivity for a deeper dive--Click HERE.

💻 Want to go deeper? Check out my course, Calm in the Classroom, where I guide you step-by-step through this framework. Learn more here.

🆓 Looking for personalized help with YOUR situation? Sign up for a free one-on-one coaching session with Brenna! Click HERE to schedule.

📲 Connect with me on Instagram: @next.level.teacher

👉 Read more on The Next Level Teacher blog! Click HERE!
Next Steps
If this episode on how to prevent teacher burnout resonated with you, please:❇️ Share it with a teacher friend who needs this message.
❇️ Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.
❇️ Leave a review to help more teachers discover these tools for resilience and calm.

✨ Burnout doesn’t have to define your teaching journey. With the right framework, you can feel calmer, clearer, and more in control every day in your classroom.

What makes some teachers bend without breaking? Why do some stay steady even during the hardest weeks, the toughest years, or the most challenging classrooms? 

It’s not luck—it’s resilience.
In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing 10 things resilient educators do differently—and how you can start practicing them right now.
You’ll learn:**Why separating facts from drama protects your energy.
**How resilient teachers process emotions instead of resisting them.
**Simple shifts to question negative thoughts (and what I tell “Barbara,” my inner critic).
**How to generate useful emotions on purpose—even during grading marathons.
**Why having an identity outside of teaching makes you stronger inside the classroom.

Resilience isn’t about being perfect or never struggling—it’s about how quickly you bounce back. These 10 practices will help you build the habits that fuel strength, calm, and joy in teaching.

👉 Download the free guide, “10 Things Resilient Teachers Do Differently” at brennanelsoncoaching.com/resilient.

Hey Teacher, are you tired of hearing “just stay positive” or “practice more self-care” when you’re already overwhelmed by life in the classroom? In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, Brenna Nelson (Certified Life Coach + veteran teacher) breaks down the difference between toxic positivity and the real emotional resilience tools that actually help teachers. 
Tune in to Learn: 
** What toxic positivity really looks like in the classroom
** Why ignoring or “masking” emotions keeps you stuck
** How to allow and process stress in healthy ways
** The difference between resisting emotions vs. building resilience
** Practical tools to feel calm and grounded—without pretending everything’s fine

✨ Whether you’re battling burnout or just want better ways to handle teaching stress, this episode will give you clarity and real strategies you can start using right away. 

Resources + Links Mentioned in This Episode: 
Free 1:1 Coaching Session → brennanelsoncoaching.com/free

Calm in the Classroom: Modern-day Solutions to Teacher Stress, Overwhelm, and Anxiety  → brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacher

FREE 5-Day Mini-Course: Why Self-care Doesn't Work for Teachers (And what to do instead!)  Click HERE to join! It's FREE!