In this episode of 5 Takes, counsellor and coach Micheline Foss explores how educators can recharge by recognising what supports them and replenishing areas that need care.
- Breaking Down Resilience: The 5 Buckets Resilience isn’t one thing—it has 5 capacities:
Physical/Behavioral: Habits to overcome difficulty Cognitive: Ability to interpret and manage events Emotional: Tolerance for negative emotions Social: Connection to support systems Spiritual/Motivational: Purpose that drives persistence
- Reset Your Resilience Identify which type of rest refills your depleted bucket. Important distinction:
Sleep = biological state Rest = targeted recovery
Rest isn’t laziness—it’s intentional recovery. Pushing through drains, not builds, resilience.
- Micro-Actions to Recharge Daily Energy Using the 5x7 framework helps target what’s draining you and restore balance.
Example: Sofia, a middle school teacher in Bangkok, feels emotionally flat after constant student needs and limited downtime.
Emotional Resilience drained → micro-actions:
- Social Rest: Lunch with a trusted colleague (no school talk)
- Creative Rest: 10 minutes adding photos to a travel wall
- Emotional Rest: 2-minute “name it to tame it” check-in before leaving school
These small, intentional acts refill emotional reserves without adding tasks.
- Retoning Your Resilience System Think of resilience like exercise: strained muscles aren’t helped by pushing harder. When stretched thin, parts of your system—physical, emotional, mental, social, or spiritual—go offline. Re-toning gently restores energy flow.
Goal: Restore flexibility and balance, not force strength. Requires: Dedicated attention and practice, not just knowledge.
- Putting It All Together Understanding resilience breakdown and targeting the right rest allows efficient recharge without overhauling your life. Habits, some familiar, help maintain balance and avoid burnout. Some implement alone, others benefit from coaching accountability.
Links: Playbook and Coaching book: http://www.aging-boldly.com/store
