The Next Level Teacher Podcast

Episode 70: A Teacher’s Guide to Boundaries

Do you struggle with setting and holding healthy teacher boundaries?

In this episode of The Next Level Teacher Podcast, we’re breaking down the myths around boundaries and giving you practical tools to protect your time, energy, and peace of mind.

You’ll learn:
**Why boundaries don’t push people away—they actually strengthen relationships
**The biggest misconceptions teachers have about boundaries
**How to set limits without guilt, anger, or drama
**Five simple steps to creating boundaries that last
**Real-life examples of boundaries with students, parents, and colleagues

Boundaries aren’t about controlling others—they’re about protecting what matters most to you so you can show up as your best self in the classroom and beyond.

If you’re ready to prevent burnout and create a healthier balance in your teaching life, this episode is for you.

👉 Ready for more support?
Grab your first coaching session free at brennanelsoncoaching.com/free

Explore the Calm in the Classroom course at brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacher

We Teachers (and a lot of other human, TBH) have been taught that if our job were just better—more support, more time, fewer challenges—we’d finally be happy. But what if that’s backwards? In this episode, Brenna unpacks Brooke Castillo’s quote, “It’s not your job’s job to make you happy. That’s your job,” and shows teachers how to reclaim joy and peace right now, even in imperfect schools and classrooms.
What You’ll Learn:
**Why your job can’t create your happiness—and why that’s actually empowering
 
**A real-life teacher example of how thoughts shape your classroom experience

**The difference between blame and emotional responsibility

**Three mindset tools to help you feel better—without needing anyone else to change

**A gentle reminder that your worth is never tied to your job

This episode is for you if:
**You feel like your happiness is totally at the mercy of your admin, students, or workload

**You’re tired of waiting for the system to change before you can feel better

**You want practical, honest, and compassionate mindset support as a teacher

🎁 Mentioned in this episode:
 👉 Calm in the Classroom – a coaching-based course for teachers who want to feel more in control of their emotional wellbeing.
Use code PODCAST for a listener discount.

Follow along on IG: @Next.Level.Teacher

If you’re a new teacher, this episode is for you!

Inspired by a comedian’s story of how he built his stand-up set one joke at a time, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what it really takes to grow as an educator. You don’t need to have it all figured out—you just need to be willing to experiment, reflect, and try again. 

Learn why comparison will slow you down, why failure is part of the process, and how life coaching principles can help you build confidence and calm as you grow your teaching practice.
What You’ll Learn:
** Why veteran teachers seem like they “have it all together” (and what’s actually true)

** The stand-up comedy story that reframes what it means to “figure out teaching”

** A life coach’s take on building confidence through repetition and resilience

** Encouragement for those in their first few years of teaching

**How to define success on your terms


🎁 Mentioned in this episode:
Calm in the Classroom - Teacher Resilience Course – My signature course for building emotional resilience as an educator.

Enroll at brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacher and use code PODCAST for a special discount.
Follow along on Instagram @Next.Level.Teacher

As the new school year looms large, it’s easy to get swept up in the rush of to-do lists and outside expectations.

But in this episode, Brenna invites you to pause and ask one grounding question:

 👉 What would a successful school year look like—for YOU?

Forget test scores, admin approval, or Pinterest-worthy classrooms. This is about creating a definition of success that’s clean, empowering, and completely within your control.
You'll learn:** Why most definitions of success leave teachers feeling anxious or defeated
** What a “clean goal” is—and how to create one
** How to shift your focus from external results to internal growth
** A simple mindset exercise to help you set the tone for your entire school year
** Why your worth as a teacher (and human) isn’t tied to your performance

💛 Final Thought:

Your success is yours to define.

You don’t have to earn your worth this year.

You’re already worthy.

Now let’s teach from that place.
🔗 Links & Resources:
🧘‍♀️ Calm in the Classroom - Resilient Teacher Course – Get the tools to regulate your nervous system, manage your mind, and create a more sustainable teaching life.

👉 brennanesloncoaching.com/calmteacher

🎉 Use code PODCAST for over 25% off for a limited time!


📌 Connect with Brenna:
Website: brennanesloncoaching.com
Instagram: @brennanesloncoaching

Subscribe & Review: If this episode helped you, share it with a teacher friend and leave a quick review!

 In this episode of The Next Level Teacher, we’re diving into something that often gets overlooked in back-to-school prep: your mindset. 

Learn two simple yet powerful strategies that can help you shift your thinking, reduce stress, and set yourself up for a more empowered school year. 

Whether you're feeling nervous, frustrated, or just not ready, this episode will help you start the year with more clarity and confidence. 
In this episode, you'll learn: 🧠 Why your thoughts matter more than your lesson plans
🧠 A 5-minute mindset check-in you can do before school starts
🧠 Two go-to strategies to manage unhelpful thoughts
🧠 How to create emotional relief without resorting to toxic positivity

Links & Resources: 🎓 Course: Calm in the Classroom
Use code PODCAST for over 25% off

📷 Follow me on Instagram: @brennanelsoncoaching 

🎧 Podcast Show Notes for Episode 65: Choose to Go Back to School (or Not!)

Summary:
 In this episode, Brenna offers a powerful mindset shift for teachers facing the start of a new school year. By realizing that you always have a choice—whether to stay in the classroom or step away—you can reclaim your agency, release resentment, and walk into the year with renewed purpose.What You'll Learn:
**Why teaching from a sense of obligation leads to burnout and resentment

**How to reframe your career as a conscious choice

**A personal story that illustrates the power of agency

**The most important mindset shift you can make this year

**How the Calm in the Classroom course can help you build resilience and avoid burnout


Mentioned in this Episode:
Calm in the Classroom course

Let’s Connect:
Website: brennanelsoncoaching.com


Instagram: @next.level.teacher


Subscribe to the Next Level Teacher Podcast wherever you listen

As we head into the back-to-school season, many teachers are noticing something: the tools, strategies, and habits that once worked just don’t seem to cut it anymore. 

Whether it’s behavior management, your own energy levels, or student engagement, the truth is—everything has shifted.

In this episode, Brenna shares a personal story (yes, it involves the dentist!) and walks you through how to recognize when you're stuck in resistance… and how to shift into a more empowered, solution-focused mindset. Because sitting in frustration won't solve anything—but curiosity just might.
What You’ll Learn:
**Why old strategies may not work in a post-COVID classroom

**The emotional toll of resisting change—and what to do instead

**How to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth

**A mindset shift that can carry you into the new year with clarity

**How the Calm in the Classroom course can help you build resilience and confidence


Mentioned in This Episode:
Calm in the Classroom Course


Subscribe & Stay Connected:
Website: brennanelsoncoaching.com


Instagram: @next.level.teacher

Do you feel like your brain is stuck in overdrive as the school year creeps closer? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken. In this episode, Brenna shares the science behind how time in nature lowers stress, soothes the amygdala, and helps teachers regulate their nervous systems.

After spending a week camping and backpacking in northern Michigan with 60 teens and a group of incredible leaders, she felt the shift in her own body and mind—and wants to encourage every teacher to explore nature as a healing, empowering tool.

What You’ll Learn:
**What happens in your brain when you walk in nature

**Why your amygdala keeps you in survival mode—and how to calm it

**The difference nature made after a week totally unplugged

**How this applies directly to the demands of teaching

**How the Calm in the Classroom course helps you regulate your nervous system all year long


Links Mentioned:
Calm in the Classroom course


Let’s Stay Connected:
Website: brennanelsoncoaching.com


Instagram: @next.level.teacher

Welcome back to the Next Level Teacher Podcast! In this summer-themed episode, Brenna unpacks a different kind of teacher professional development—one that doesn’t involve lesson plans, curriculum maps, or new tech tools. Instead, she makes a powerful case for using this season to increase your emotional capacity.
You’ll learn:
**Why emotional resilience is the foundation for effective teaching

**How increasing your emotional capacity improves classroom management, communication, and your own mental well-being

**Why traditional PD misses this essential skill

**Practical ways to build emotional resilience this summer

Whether you’re fully unplugging or itching to prep for next year, this episode will help you set intentional goals that support your personal and professional growth.

🎧 Ready to turn summer rest into strength? Let’s dive in! Visit brennanelsoncoaching.com/calmteacher today!
Resources Mentioned:
 👉 Calm in the Classroom course
👉 1:1 Coaching with Brenna
 📩 Questions? Email: [email protected]
 📱 Let’s connect on Instagram: @Next.Level.Teacher

Change the System or Change the Teacher? Why Teachers Should Work on Themselves First

In this powerful episode of The Next Level Teacher, Brenna explores the real teacher burnout definition and challenges the idea that systemic change alone will fix the emotional and mental exhaustion many educators face.
We often look to external solutions—lower class sizes, better testing policies, or more classroom support—to solve the teacher burnout crisis. While these are important, they aren't enough.
Burnout is not just a result of the education system—it’s an emotional experience rooted in unmanaged stress, pressure, and internal thought patterns.
In this episode, you’ll learn:** The most accurate and helpful teacher burnout definition
** Why time off (like summer break) won’t fix burnout long-term
** The power of an “inside-out” approach to emotional resilience
** Why building inner strength is essential before we try to change the system
** Practical tools and free resources to help you reset this summer

📥 Grab the free Summer Reset for Teachers at: brennanleonsoncoaching.com/burnout

🎓 Ready to build the skills to beat burnout for good and feel empowered again?
Explore 1:1 coaching or the Calm in the Classroom course: brennanleonsoncoaching.com/resources