Shows
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Ultimate Teacher Survival Guide: 10 Hard-Won Lessons for Avoiding Burnout & Finding Joy in TeachingSend us a text🎙️ After 100+ episodes, I'm distilling EVERYTHING into one powerful episode. These 10 truths will transform your teaching career from surviving to thriving. Save this episode. Share it with every teacher you know. This is the one that changes everything. 🌟In this episode, Grace shares the 10 most critical pieces of advice she wishes she'd known when she started teaching—and the lessons that took her years to learn the hard way. Whether you're a brand new teacher or a 20-year veteran, these truths will help you create a sustainable, joyful teaching career.✨ ...
2025-11-0454 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutSupporting Student Mental Health & SEL with Iuri Melo of School PulseSend us a textWhat if one text message could save a student's life? In this powerful episode, Grace sits down with Iuri Mellow, co-founder of School Pulse, to explore a revolutionary mental health support system that's preventing tragedies in schools across America. After 7 students died by suicide in his Utah community, social worker and best-selling author, Iuri created a solution that gives students anonymous access to trained counselors via text—before and after school, 7 days a week.⚠️ Content Warning: Brief discussion of suicidal/homicidal ideation in youth💡...
2025-10-0955 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTeacher Wellness Done Wrong: When Teacher Book Studies Add Stress Not SupportSend us a textWhy Campus-Wide Book Studies Might Backfire (And What to Do Instead)In this candid episode, educator and author Grace Stevens shares an unconventional perspective: why mandating her own book for campus-wide studies might do more harm than good. She explores the psychology behind teacher resistance to mandatory professional development, the difference between gifts and assignments, and offers practical alternatives that respect teacher autonomy while genuinely supporting wellbeing and reducing burnout.Key Points📚 The Assignment vs. Gift Problem - When adm...
2025-09-3027 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutHow to Be a Happier Teacher: 8 Proven Habits That Actually Work in the ClassroomSend us a textIn This Episode: 🎧 Grace shares 8 powerful habits that can transform your teaching experience and help you become that "offensively cheerful" teacher who stays calm even when chaos strikes.The 8 Happy Habits: 🌟Set Healthy Boundaries 🚧 Protect your energy like it's $24,000 a dayIt's okay to disappoint people sometimesPrioritize Relationships Over Perfection 💝 Use the "2-10 Rule" (2 minutes for 10 days with struggling students)Create student shoutout circlesBuild inside jokes and laugh with your studentsPractice Micro Moments of Calm 🧘♀️ Try "Starfish Breathing" (trace your hand while breathin...
2025-08-2642 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutWorking With Difficult School Administrators (especially if you are on a PIP - Program Improvement Plan)Send us a textWhether you're facing a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) or dealing with a challenging administrator, this episode provides practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you navigate these difficult situations with grace and professionalism. Grace shares her own story of working with a demanding administrator and how changing her perspective transformed the experience.What You'll lEarn:1. Mindset ShiftsOther People's Experiences Don't Have to Be Yours - Don't let colleagues' negative stories shape your realityFocus on Facts, Not Feelings
2025-08-1532 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBTS 2025/26: Growth Mindset Shifts Every Teacher Needs — Even Beyond the ClassroomSend us a textWelcome to Part 5 of our Back-to-School Series! 🎒 But let’s be real: this one isn’t just for teachers and it’s definitely not just for back-to-school season. If you’re a human navigating life, relationships, or tough workdays — this episode is for you. 🙌 Grace shares 4 powerful mindset shifts that can completely transform how you experience teaching, parenting, and life. These simple (but not always easy!) reframes will help you feel more empowered, less triggered, and more in control of your peace and purpose.💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn: 🌟 Mindset Shi...
2025-08-0331 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBTS 2025/6: Top 3 Proven Tips to Avoid Parent-Teacher ConflictSend us a textIf you've ever opened an email from a parent and instantly felt your stomach drop — this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Grace unpacks practical and empowering ways to improve your communication with families — without burning out, over-explaining, or bending over backwards.You’ll walk away with mindset shifts and strategies to help you:De-escalate tough parent conversationsCommunicate clearly and proactively to avoid confusionSet healthy boundaries without guiltBuild trust and goodwill from day oneGrace also shares real talk about what doe...
2025-08-0245 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBack to School 2025/6: Four Steps to Be Less Stressed as a Teacher This YearSend us a textLIMITED TIME OFFER MENTIONED:www.gracestevens.com/lifeback Use coupon code BBB27 at checkoutWelcome to part one of our five-episode Back to School Special for the 2025-26 school year! In this foundational episode, Grace breaks down her proven ECHO Framework for Educator Empowerment - four essential pillars that will help you crush this school year, create your own path, and bring your own sunshine no matter what challenges come your way.The ECHO Framework ExplainedGrace introduces her comprehensive f...
2025-07-2325 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBTS 2025/26: The Complete Teacher Boundary Plan: 6 Essential Areas for Back to School SuccessSend us a textIn this power-packed episode of our Back to School 2025 series, Grace breaks down the ONE thing that can make or break your entire school year - and it's not your bulletin boards or seating charts. It's your boundary plan.You're spending hours on classroom decorations while ignoring the foundation that will determine whether you thrive or barely survive this year. Grace reveals the 6 critical areas every teacher needs to address to create sustainable work-life balance and protect their energy.💪 What You'll Learn:
2025-07-1533 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Truth About SEL: Building Emotional Intelligence That Actually Empowers Teachers and StudentsSend us a text🧠 Why SEL Curriculum Isn't Working (And What Teachers Should Do Instead)In this episode, Grace Stevens dives deep into Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and reveals why scripted curricula often fall flat. She shares real classroom observations that expose the gap between checking boxes and authentic emotional intelligence building. This episode provides actionable strategies for teachers to develop genuine EQ skills in themselves and their students without adding to their already overwhelming workload.🎯 Key Takeaways❌ What's NOT Working:Script...
2025-06-2437 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTeacher Burnout Recovery: 4 Essential Steps to Your Summer ResetSend us a text🌞 4 Essential Strategies for Teacher Summer Recovery & Burnout PreventionEpisode SummaryYou made it through another school year! 🎉 But summer break doesn't automatically fix teacher burnout. Host Grace Stevens shares 4 proven strategies to help teachers truly disconnect, recover, and prepare for renewal during summer break.🔑 Key TakeawaysStrategy #1: Create a Closing Ritual ✅Stop, Start, Continue Reflection (30 minutes) 🛑 STOP: What drained your energy without results?➡️ START: New approaches you want to try✅ CONTINUE: What worked well this yearSet an "August Problem" d...
2025-06-1036 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout7 Tips for Substitute Teacher SuccessSend us a textTeacher Self-Care: Setting Your Substitute Teacher Up for Success 🍎✨Are you dragging yourself to school when sick because writing sub plans feels overwhelming? Discover how to set yourself (and your substitute teacher) up for success with these practical strategies from a former teacher-turned substitute!Episode Highlights:The Self-Care Connection: Why creating effective sub plans is essential for your wellbeingSubstitute Teaching Insights: Lessons learned from 5 months of subbing in various schools and grade levels7 Key Strategies to ensure your class...
2025-04-0138 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout6 Teacher Tips to Slay Student Test-Taking AnxietySend us a textFor free and paid resources to help students of all ages deal with test anxiety visit:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Grace-Stevens-Happy-classroomsFeeling overwhelmed by school testing season? Dread seeing students suffer from crippling test anxiety? This podcast episode for educators of all grades is for you!🌟 Learn the one skill you should be teaching all year to ensure test-taking success!💡 Discover how to create a calm, supportive testing environment in your room.🎯 Shift the focus to what students can control and where you...
2025-03-1842 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutWhat If the Dept. of Education Disappears? How Teachers Can Empower Students Through Media LiteracySend us a textIn this powerful episode, Grace Stevens addresses the growing concerns in education and provides practical strategies for teachers to maintain their influence and effectiveness, regardless of external challenges. ICE raids, potential elimination of the Dept. of Education ... student and teacher anxiety is at an all-time high. Grace talks about the importance and empowerment that come from focusing on what you can control, including the critical areas of classroom culture, explicitly teaching media literacy and critical skills, and navigating professional relationships with people who have very different politics and opinions.
2025-02-1042 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTeacher Communication Tips: 5 Things You Say That Annoy Other TeachersSend us a textIt's time to level up your teacher communication!Could YOU be unintentionally pushing your teaching colleagues away? In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the seemingly helpful phrases that might actually be damaging your workplace relationships. Whether you're a veteran teacher or new to the classroom, these common expressions could create tension without you even realizing it!🎯 Key Takeaways:🤐 The dangerous trap of "it could be worse" and why this well-meaning phrase actually invalidates your colleagues' experiences🏆 Why saying "they never behaved that way for m...
2025-01-0727 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers: It's OK to Dread Returning To School TomorrowSend us a textIn this heartfelt mini-episode, Grace shares a "Lunchbox Love Note" to help teachers navigate the dreaded Sunday Scaries. As winter break ends and the hustle of teaching looms, many educators feel a mix of anxiety, dread, and resentment. Grace reminds you that these feelings are normal—and that you’re not alone.💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:🌈 Why it’s okay to feel conflicted about going back to school.🛑 How to stop guilt from stealing your joy today.❤️ A reminder that at least one student—and likely more—is eagerly waiti...
2025-01-0513 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutExploring Dry January to Reduce Your Teacher Stress and Teacher AnxietySend us a textThis week's ENCORE🎙️ episode is for anyone who has ever wondered if they are taking our "drink to escape/cope" culture too far. As teachers, many of us joke about needing our "lesson planning juice," but some of us have a nagging feeling that maybe our life would be better without alcohol. Educators, this is a judgment-free zone. It's an invitation to honestly ask yourself if some of your habits may be fueling your teacher stress and anxiety, not relieving them.Listen along to my conversation with sobriety coach Casey McGuire David...
2024-12-3148 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout5 Proven Teacher Tips to Calm Classroom Craziness Before BreakSend us a text➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance 📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:The Empowered Teacher ToolkitCheck out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here My TPT S...
2024-12-1032 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout🔍Why I Returned To Teaching: Key LessonsSend us a text👩🏫 Are you a teacher wrestling with the "stay or go" dilemma? This vulnerable and honest episode might be your roadmap!Episode Description: In this deeply personal episode, experienced educator Grace Stevens shares her transformative journey of leaving full-time teaching, discovering unexpected challenges in her new life, and ultimately finding her way back to the classroom—but on her own terms.Key Insights You'll Discover: 🔍 The REAL reasons teachers consider leaving their profession 💡 Surprising emotional and professional gaps created by stepping away from education 🌈 How flexibility doesn't always equa...
2024-12-0333 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutHow to Handle Pushback When You Set Healthy Teacher BoundariesSend us a textAre you nervous about setting boundaries at school because you're worried about pushback? You're not alone! In this episode, we tackle one of the most common concerns I hear from educators: "What happens when I start setting boundaries and people push back?" Whether it's passive-aggressive comments from colleagues or pressure from administrators, I'm sharing real strategies to help you stand firm with confidence and grace.✨ In This Episode You'll Discover:🔑 Why the person who complains most about your boundaries was likely benefiting most from their absence🌟 The "secret sauce" for respondi...
2024-11-2637 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout5 Teacher Tips for Stress-Free Parent ConferencesSend us a textLet me help you get ready to have the best parent-teacher conference season ever! 📝 While it can cause a lot of teacher stress, conferences are an important chance to connect with families. With some preparation, you can make conferences productive and positive! In this episode I do do a deep dive into these top 5 strategies to help everything run smoothly.🔑 First, leverage technology to take yourself out of the scheduling drama! It will also help you meet the needs of parents with inflexible schedules.⏰ Second, manage expectations upfront...
2024-11-1241 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers: Finding Peace With Election Results No Matter How You VotedSend us a textIn this empowering mini-episode, Grace examines how to deal with the aftermath of this week's election results. What if it didn't go the way you hoped? How do we rise above no matter what and find things that unite us with others, not divide us? How do we create a classroom community where everyone feels valued, safe, and included?❤️ Her advice? "Be the source." Lead with love, not fear.Take a quick time out to maybe have a mindset shift and a virtual hug to make you feel better abou...
2024-11-0910 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout5 Secrets for Beating the Sunday Anxiety for TeachersSend us a textBeating the Sunday Scaries: 5 Game-Changing Tips for TeachersThat pit in your stomach on Sunday afternoon? You're not alone. As educators, we've ALL felt that weekend-ruining anxiety creeping in. But here's the truth: you don't have to live with the Sunday Scaries forever. In this episode, I'm sharing my battle-tested strategies that helped me transform my weekends from dread-filled to rejuvenating.🎯 In This Episode You'll Discover:💡 Why it's NOT "just teaching" - the surprising truth about Sunday anxiety across all professions📚 The "Friday Power Hou...
2024-11-0431 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout😊 Easiest Happiness Hack Ever - The Lovely ListSend us a textTeachers, want to boost your daily happiness and teacher resilience?In this mini-episode, Grace shares a simple, transformative strategy that requires no time, no money, and very little effort—but has the potential to completely change how you feel and show up each day in your classroom and your life. It's all about noticing the "lovely" moments in your day and giving them just a little extra focus to turn everyday encounters into a source of joy. Dive in to learn how a “lovely list” can help you cultivate a posi...
2024-10-2909 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers: You Are Enough, You Do EnoughSend us a text🎙️ Lunchbox Love Note Bonus Mini-Episode: Just like those little love notes slipped into your lunchbox, this episode is here to brighten your day with a virtual smile and a hug. I hope you enjoy this jolt of inspiration and empowerment for teachers! And if you appreciate my content, I humbly invite you to "pay it forward" and share this episode with a colleague. Everyone wins 💛This one is all about the mindset of "enough." I promise you, you are enough, you do enough. ➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF...
2024-10-2710 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBreaking Down Dyslexia: What Every Teacher Needs to Know (But Was Never Taught!)Send us a text🎓 Breaking Down Dyslexia: What Every Teacher Needs to Know (But Was Never Taught!)Did you know that 1 in 5 students in your classroom may have dyslexia? Yet most of us learned about it in just "two paragraphs" during our teacher training! In this eye-opening episode, we chat with Lisa Parnello, a full-time dyslexia coach who's transforming how we understand and support students with dyslexia.Key Takeaways: 📚 Dyslexia isn't about seeing letters backward - it's about how the brain processes language 🧠 Three major signs to watch for:Phonemic awareness challengesExecutive functioni...
2024-10-2234 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout12 Rules for Setting Healthy Boundaries in School and at HomeSend us a textMany of us know that we need to do a better job expressing our needs, wants, desires, and preferences, but we don't know how to start the conversation or do it in a productive, positive way. If, like me, you suffer from being a chronic -people pleaser, this episode is for you!I dive deep into the art of setting healthy boundaries – a game-changer for teachers who want to avoid burnout and rediscover their work-life balance. 🏋️♀️💪Why Boundaries Matter for TeachersSetting boundaries isn't about building wa...
2024-10-1537 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout3 Ways Parents & Teachers Are Disempowering StudentsSend us a text🚀 3 Simple Ways to Help Your Students Thrive (By Doing Less!)In this episode, I reflect on an "Open Letter to Parents from Your Child's Teacher" that I wrote for ThriveGlobal.com back in 2019. I take another look into three game-changing habits that can transform your classroom dynamics and help your students develop crucial life skills.📌 Key Takeaways:🎭 Let natural consequences be the teacher🧠 Foster persistence in problem-solving🤝 Empower students to navigate social interactionsDiscover how these strategies not only benefit your students but also lighten...
2024-10-0829 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutUnconventional Commencement Speeches: Inspiration for Teachers, Students and ParentsSend us a textAre you a stressed-out teacher looking for inspiration? 🌟 This episode of the Balance Your Teacher Life podcast takes an unexpected turn, diving into graduation speeches that will make you laugh, think, and maybe even roll your eyes. But most importantly, it'll remind you why you became an educator in the first place.🎙️ Episode Highlights:The viral "Bill Gates" graduation speech that wasn't 🤯11 brutally honest rules for life that every student (and teacher) should hear 📝The truth behind the viral list and its actual author 🕵️♀️Jim Carrey's surprisingly profound commencement address 🎭The...
2024-10-0121 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutSocial Media and the Teaching Lounge: How to Balance Connection with Over-Sharing to Protect Your CareerSend us a text🚫 Do You Overshare at School? Top Tips for Protect Your Teaching Career! 🛡️As educators, we want to connect with our colleagues and build a positive work environment. But oversharing can put your career at risk! 😱 In this eye-opening episode, we tackle the delicate balance between being friendly and maintaining professional boundaries.Key takeaways:Social media pitfalls for teachers 📱Setting boundaries with colleagues 🚧Recognizing potential "snakes in the grass" 🐍Strategies for maintaining professionalism 👩🏫Don't let a moment of oversharing derail your teaching career! Learn how to protect yourself while still fostering genuin...
2024-09-2434 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBest Moments of Year One of My Podcast for TeachersSend us a textIn this special anniversary episode, host Grace Stevens reflects on a year of empowering educators to reclaim their work-life balance.🌟 Highlights:Top 3 guest interviews that sparked important conversationsMost downloaded episodes that resonated with listenersPractical strategies for avoiding burnout and setting boundariesThe surprising truth about "restorative justice" in schoolsWhy progressive discipline still matters (backed by research!)🎧 Featured Guests:Ryan Steuer on project-based learning for all grade levelsCasey Maguire on the "sober curious" movement for stressed teachersJustin Baeder on rethinking disciplinary practices and restorative justice in schools🔥 Hot Topics:5 signs...
2024-09-1738 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutCelebrating Year One of My Podcast for Teachers: ECHO Framework for Educator EmpowermentSend us a text🎉 Celebrating 1 Year of Teacher Empowerment: The ECHO Framework Revealed! 🚀Are you a teacher feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and ready to reclaim your passion for education? 🙋♀️ This episode is your lifeline! Join me as I celebrate my podcast's first anniversary and unveil the game-changing ECHO Framework for Educator Empowerment. 🔑 Key Takeaways:Discover why your energy matters more than your lesson plans 🌟Learn to control what you can (and let go of what you can't) 🎯Unlock the secret to synthesizing happiness in your classroom 😊Break free from others' expec...
2024-09-1024 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers - Who You Real Competition IsSend us a textTeachers, ever feel like you’re stuck in a race you didn’t sign up for? In this episode, Grace explains why the only competition that truly matters is the one with yourself. Get ready to let go of the comparison trap and embrace a mindset that celebrates growth, collaboration, and grace—both for yourself and your students.🎙️ Lunchbox Love Note Bonus Mini-Episode: Just like those little love notes slipped into your lunchbox, this episode is here to brighten your day with a virtual smile and a hug. I hope y...
2024-09-0810 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutNavigating Negative Co-Workers in Education: 5 Proven StrategiesSend us a textAre you a teacher or school administrator tired of energy vampires draining your enthusiasm at school? 🧛♂️ Discover how to shield yourself from negativity while maintaining compassion for your colleagues. This episode is your ultimate guide to creating a positive school campus environment, even when surrounded by Debbie Downers and Buzzkill Bobs!🎙️ Episode Highlights:Why avoiding toxic positivity in education is crucial for authentic growth 🌱The importance of protecting your peace in a challenging school environment 🛡️Five proven strategies to navigate negative co-workers effectively - even if they are your grade span team m...
2024-09-0324 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers: Don't Delay Being HappySend us a textIn this bonus mini-episode, I'm sending a virtual hug and a little teacher inspiration for this weekend, and a gentle reminder:❤️ Your life is happening NOW. Don't put off being happier until you have better circumstances in your classroom and campus. As the meme says, "Tomorrow never comes." You CAN feel empowered to find joy in your classroom right now, with the students you have.I hope you enjoy this jolt of inspiration for teachers! And if you appreciate my content, I humbly invite you to "pa...
2024-09-0108 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBack To School Pt 5: Best Advice for New TeachersSend us a text5 Pieces of Hard-Earned Wisdom for New Teachers (And Why Every Teacher Should Listen!)This episode is part five of our special Back to School 2024-2025 series, designed to set you up for success with the best strategies, attitudes, and boundary-setting tips. Whether you’re a brand new teacher or a seasoned educator, today’s episode is packed with wisdom that’s taken a lifetime to earn. I reflect on my 20-year journey and share five powerful "do's." I wish I could go back and tell my younger self—i...
2024-08-2735 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers: 6 Things You'll Never RegretSend us a textIn this mini-podcast episode for teachers, I address the six things you will never regret doing as a teacher. While there is such a vast amount of teacher turnover and the teacher shortage is real, teaching can be a rewarding and sustainable career if we're smart about it. Examples of things I never regretted spending time on are:🍎 taking the high road🍎 leaning into curiosity over judgment🍎 embracing the "tangents" that lead to teachable moments🍎 opting out of the "I'll be happy when" mentality🍎 investing time in dignifying stud...
2024-08-2512 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBack-to-School 2024 Pt. 4 - A Better Metaphor for School and Life Balance as a TeacherSend us a textAttention ALL stressed educators! If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list or guilty about not getting everything done, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down the myth of the perfect balance and giving you tools to prioritize effectively so you can lead a more fulfilled and empowered teaching life.In part four of our Back-to-School series, we’re diving into one of the most powerful metaphors to help you redefine what balance really means in your teacher life. Spoiler alert: There's no such thing as the pe...
2024-08-2027 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Importance of Doubling Down on Your Back-to-School Classroom Management PlanSend us a textAre you feeling anxious about controlling student behavior this year? Are you stressed at the thought that your classroom management plan that used to work in the past is no longer stringent enough for today's challenging classroom behaviors? If these feelings resonate, then this week's podcast episode for teachers is going to be perfect for you! In this empowering episode, I explore:🚀 Why classroom management is MORE important now than ever before🧠 The mindset shift you need to take responsibility for behavior issues🏫 How recent policy changes are impacting discipline (especially...
2024-08-1340 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBack to School 2024 -Pt 2-Positive Teacher/Parent PartnershipsSend us a textIn this episode, I continue our "Back to School" series, focusing on the all-important aspect of building positive parent-teacher relationships. Drawing on 20 years of experience, I share my "secret sauce" to fostering a productive partnership with parents. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned educator, these insights will set you up for a successful school year.Key Takeaways for Teachers and Instructional Leaders:🔑 Mindset Shift: Adopt a partnership mentality with parents. Remember, they want to feel seen, heard, and valued, just like their children.🔑 Emotio...
2024-08-0631 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Encouragement for Teachers Going Back to School 2024/25Send us a text❤️ A mini-episode in my Lunchbox Love Notes series - purely inspiration and motivation to support teachers. This one is for you if you have mixed feelings about going back to school. 🍎➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance 📘 My lates...
2024-07-3109 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBack to School 2024 - Pt 1 - When Your Class List Causes Teacher StressSend us a textBack-to-school season can be a rollercoaster, whether you're thrilled to start lesson planning or dreading the endless professional development icebreakers. But nothing causes as many back-to-school jitters as (finally) getting your new class list. This is the first in a 5-part back-to-school 2024 series. I break down when to take that unbalanced list to administration and when not to, and the 5 top mindsets to adopt to ensure you don't derail your year before it's even begun.Episode Highlights:📋 New Class List: Tips on handling the exci...
2024-07-3029 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBest Tip for Back to School Success for Teachers: Set Up A Boundary PlanSend us a textAttention teachers who are getting ready to go back to school - this is the ONE thing you MUST do before school starts to set yourself up for success. This isn't hype – it's a game-changer that will transform your teaching experience.🍎 In this episode, we dive into:The 6 crucial elements of a perfect boundary plan (you've probably only thought about #1!)Why setting up your classroom isn't enough to prepare for the year aheadThe secret to managing difficult parents, needy coworkers, and demanding studentsHow to protect your peace and avoid becoming a "sh...
2024-07-2330 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBack to School Reflection Prompts for Teachers: Reflecting on How to Avoid Teacher BurnoutSend us a textDiscover how to use the summer break to reflect on your teaching practice, set empowering boundaries, and show up as your best self in the classroom. These thought-provoking prompts will help you avoid burnout and reignite your passion for education!Highlights:🌟 Summer Break: The Perfect Time for Teacher ReflectionWhy stepping off the "teaching treadmill" is crucial for growthHow reflection can lead to a happier, more balanced teaching life🤔 Powerful Reflection Prompts to Transform Your Teaching Practice:Evaluate your self-care activities and their impact on your moodAs...
2024-07-1636 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutDo Classroom Decorations Matter? Designing Optimal Classroom EnvironmentsSend us a textYou know when you are spending hours poring over Pinterest and Instagram for the best classroom decor - have you ever stopped to wonder if the time, energy, and money you pour into your classroom decorations are actually making a difference in your student's learning? 🌟 In this episode, we dive into the big question: What is the best classroom decor and does classroom decor really matter? Let's separate fact from fiction, dig into the educational research, and find a balance for you and your students.Key P...
2024-07-0730 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTop 5 TED Talks for Special Education TeachersSend us a text This episode delves into the top five TED Talks for special education teachers. These talks are full of inspiration and insights and cover important topics for ALL educators (not just those in SPED) who want to enhance their understanding and approach in the classroom.Top 5 TED Talks Discussed:Cole Blakeway: "We Are All Different and That's Awesome"Celebrates differences and showcases a beautiful friendship between a young boy and a man with autism.Emphasizes that nobody needs fixing and everyone is perfect as they are.Qu...
2024-07-0224 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTop 5 TED Talks for Educators 2024Send us a textI LOVE TED Talks. About six years ago, I posted my list of favorites for teachers on my blog, and it has been shared thousands of times. I decided it was time to update things, as the educational landscape has changed so much since then. Guess what? Even with all the changes, three of my Top 5 have withheld the test of time. Get ready to be inspired and invigorated!Top 5 TED Talks for Teachers 2024 updated:Rita Pierson - "Every Kid Needs a Champion"
2024-06-2521 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutSelf-Care Hack for Teachers: Is Your Mental Diet Harming You?Send us a textTeachers, have you ever considered how your mental diet could be harming you?Would your outlook improve if you could train your mind to think you live in a friendly, not hostile, universe?Then don't miss this episode of THE podcast just for teachers' well-being and true teacher self-care.In this episode of Balance Your Teacher Life, host Grace Stevens dives deep into the concept of a "mental health diet." She explains how what we consume mentally—through books, movies, podcasts, TV shows, social media, and the ne...
2024-06-1828 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutAvoiding Teacher Burnout for Over-Givers with Phil JanuszewskiSend us a textIn this episode, Grace talks with Phil Januszewski, a science teacher, keynote speaker, and positive psychology enthusiast, about practical strategies for teachers to avoid burnout and bring more joy into their lives and classrooms. This conversation is a delightful reminder to prioritize self-care and intentionally cultivate positivity.Highlights include:Meet Phil Januszewski, a high school chemistry and physics teacher, who's on a mission to help educators avoid burnout and become happier through positive psychology 🧠💡Discover the power of focusing on your "ERs" – the things you are, do, and perform daily that bui...
2024-06-1148 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutForget Professional Development This Summer And Focus on Personal Development InsteadSend us a text🎙️ Ready for a fresh take on summer prep? Discover why less professional development for teachers and more personal growth might be your key to a rejuvenated classroom experience next year. 🌞💡In this episode of the Balance Your Teacher Life podcast, host Grace Stevens dives into a topic that sparked some controversy but holds powerful insights for educators. Grace shares her bold perspective on why teachers should prioritize personal development over professional development during their summer break.Key Takeaways:📧 The Controversial Email: Why the subject line "F* PD this summer...
2024-06-0421 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutStudent Accountability Matters: Rethinking Restorative Justice Practices in SchoolsSend us a textIf you're feeling fed up with the lack of student accountability, chaos in the classroom, and lack of admin support, then this episode is for you. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Justin Baeder PhD- the incredible voice of reason taking over TikTok for exhausted teachers everywhere.School leaders - you MUST listen!Teachers - you will feel so seen and validated!Topics we cover in this episode:✨ The Hot Mess of Restorative PracticesThe well-intentioned but disastrous move to remove student consequences and re...
2024-05-2853 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutHow to Set Boundaries with Your Family Over Summer Break: Top Tips for TeachersSend us a textSummer is here, and while you’re counting down the days until that final bell rings, are you also feeling the weight of a never-ending to-do list? Discover how to reclaim your summer and set boundaries that will leave you feeling refreshed and empowered.In this episode, I dive into the challenges educators face when summer arrives but free time doesn’t seem so free. If you’re tired of your summer being hijacked by others’ demands, this episode is for you. I share personal stories and practical strategies for setting...
2024-05-2125 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTips for New & Seasoned Teachers: Secrets to Surviving the End of School Year CrazinessSend us a text"Stressed Out by the End of the School Year? Don't Miss These 7 Game-Changing Tips!"The end of the school year can be an exhausting whirlwind of activities, assessments, and organizational chaos. Whether you are a new teacher or a seasoned one, you will find something in these end-of-year teacher tips to take away some stress and add some fun to your precious last few days with your students. Discover the best teacher tips for:Keeping students engaged with fun, low-prep activities (no devices required!)Managing overwhelming end-of-year paperwork l...
2024-05-1425 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTips for Teachers: How to Reject Extra Duties in Your Area of Expertise Without Feeling GuiltySend us a textFreedom From the Obligatory Teacher Duty Trap: Reclaim Your Time Without GuiltAre you drowning under a pile of extra "duties" no one else wants - graduation planning, coaching teams, chairing committees? So many teachers get stuck on the never-ending obligatory duty carousel, scared to get off for fear of looking like a slacker or letting students down. This toxicity has to stop!In this must-listen episode, learn a powerful mindset shift to escape the black hole of undesirable duties without burning bridges. Host Grace Stevens shares the exact...
2024-05-0725 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutInspiration for Teachers: What to Say to Teachers and Administrators Leaving Education This YearSend us a textThis end-of-year season can be bittersweet for teachers - especially if you have made the difficult decision to leave education. I offer words of inspiration and support to educators who are leaving and those who feel abandoned and "left behind."The decision to leave the teaching profession is rarely taken lightly, and it's important to honor the range of difficult emotions your colleagues are feeling. I hope this episode helps ❤️ and that you would consider sharing it with anyone who you feel could use some extra support today.
2024-05-0513 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTeacher Appreciation Week Dos and Don'ts:Tips for School Principals on a BudgetSend us a textHave you ever had a Teacher Appreciation Week experience that, instead of leaving you feeling treasured and valued, added stress to your week and left you feeling deflated? Me too! Even with good intentions, overwhelmed administrators often miss the mark.In this episode, I give some great tips for a budget-friendly Teacher Appreciation Week and even share a few of my favorite gestures in my two decades in the classroom. Actionable tips include:❌ DON'T give gifts that create more work for teachers ❌ DON'T give insincere, last-minute gestures ❌ DON'T giv...
2024-04-2726 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBreaking the Cycle of Competitive Misery: Why Teachers Should Support Each OtherSend us a textTired of the toxic culture of teachers one-upping each other's struggles? In this episode, I explore how to avoid competitive misery and build a supportive community to combat teacher burnout. Highlights include: 🚨 Are you guilty of one-upping your colleagues' struggles instead of offering support?💥 The toxic effects of competitive misery on teacher morale and burnout rates⭐ Learn the "validate and bounce" strategy to disengage from negative dynamics🤝 Explore ways to build a more uplifting, collaborative teaching communityI'll be honest, I get a little...
2024-04-2321 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBeyond Educator Burnout - 7 Tips for Authentic Self-Care for TeachersSend us a textAre you tired of "self-care" for teachers being weaponized, placing the burden of managing stress solely on you? This episode will empower you with authentic self-care strategies that go beyond the superficial and address the systemic issues educators face.Highlights include:😟 The Ugly Truth: How "self-care" has become a buzzword that dismisses the lack of support and unrealistic expectations placed on teachers💅 Beyond Face Masks and Pedicures: Unpacking the difference between pampering and true, holistic self-care for educatorsThe 7 Empowering Strategies for Authentic Teacher Self-Care:Prio...
2024-04-1632 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutOvercoming Imposter Syndrome Part 2 : Inspiration for TeachersSend us a textLast weeks episode on overcoming imposter syndrome in education hot a nerve with some listeners! Many reached out to say, "It's like you were in my head."Here's what I heard a lot: Imposter syndrome often shows up in education when teachers consider pursuing different roles within their school or district, whether it was transitioning into administration, curriculum coaching, or specialized positions within the district office.🎓 It shows up as fear of judgment from peers, and insecurity that they will not be taken seriously in their new role.💡...
2024-04-0921 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTips For New Teachers & Veteran Teachers on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in EducationSend us a textAre you ready to "Squash Imposter Syndrome and Start Showing Up as Your Authentic Self ?"Do you know that what people in hospice regret most is not having played "full out" in their lives, allowing the opinions of others and insecurities from doing what they truly wanted?Yikes 😳One area that holds many teachers back from living their best lives is imposter syndrome. Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran, it's time to ditch the self-doubt, ditch that inner voice that worries what people think, and embr...
2024-04-0235 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid Burnout#1 New Release in Professional Development for Educators: Beat Teacher Burnout with Better BoundariesSend us a text🔥 This episode goes out to any educator who has ever felt fed up and burned out because, even though they love teaching, they are constantly stressed, overwhelmed, and guilt-ridden that teaching seems to take up ALL of their time and energy.In this week's episode, I introduce you to my latest book Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries: The Secret to Thriving in Teaching Without Sacrificing Your Personal Life. I also take a moment to cheerlead and celebrate 🎉 🙌 that the book debuted as the #1 New Release in Professional Development for Educa...
2024-03-2724 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutWhy This One Teacher Inspiration Quote is Essential and Not Toxic PositivitySend us a text"Create Your Own Path and Bring Your Own Sunshine" - Finding Inspiration as a TeacherYou may be aware of my signature sign-off. For me, it's not a gimmick, it's a way of being, a huge part of how I avoid teacher burnout, and was my mission both as a teacher and now as an educator empowerment coach. But it has been drawing some discussion (which I love ❤️) SO in this week's episode, I break down what it means (and it IS all about empowerment) and the amazing quote that inspired it.
2024-03-1223 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutDecision Fatigue for Educators: 5 Tips to Overcome Decision Fatigue that Leads to Teacher BurnoutSend us a text🧠 Do You Suffer from Teacher Brain Fog? Overcome Decision Fatigue Now!As a teacher, have you ever felt like your brain is complete mush by the end of the day? 😩 Unable to make even the simplest decisions like what to have for dinner or what to watch on Netflix? You're not alone - it's called decision fatigue, and it's rampant in the education profession.In this insightful podcast episode, host Grace Stevens dives deep into the often-overlooked issue of decision fatigue 🥱 and its harmful ef...
2024-03-0526 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutStudent Testing Anxiety - 6 Tips to HelpSend us a textFor free and paid resources to help students of all ages deal with test anxiety visit:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Grace-Stevens-Happy-classroomsFeeling overwhelmed by school testing season? Dread seeing students suffer from crippling test anxiety? This podcast episode for educators of all grades is for you!🌟 Learn the one skill you should be teaching all year to ensure test-taking success!💡 Discover how to create a calm, supportive testing environment in your room.🎯 Shift the focus to what students can control and where you...
2024-03-0533 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutHow to Stay Calm When Your Classroom Management Plan is ImplodingSend us a textHow to Stay Calm When Things Get Heated in the Classroom: 5 Battle-Tested StrategiesEver felt dangerously close to "losing it" with a disruptive student or challenging class? You're not alone. Escalating behaviors push even the most patient teachers to the brink.In this empowering episode, learn battle-tested techniques to:✅ Keep your composure when tensions run high 😰✅ Respond vs. react to provocative student behaviors 😡✅ Activate your logical brain, not your fight-or-flight response 🧠✅ Short-circuit the urge to make situations worse 💥✅ Check your inner storytelling when emotions surge 💬
2024-02-2727 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutInspiration for Teachers: LLN Don't Let Anyone Convince You You Aren't a Good TeacherSend us a text💛 Educator inspiration for the week ahead. This week's bonus episode is about not. being so hard on yourself, and not letting one negative interaction, or one out of control student convince you that you are not a good teacher 🧑🏫Listen and PAY IT FORWARD by sharing with a colleague who might need to hear this today 🎧➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
2024-02-2507 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutReduce Teacher Stress by Adopting a Gain v. Gap Mindset ShiftSend us a text🎧 What can a documentary about a cycling hero and a top business book have to teach you about how to: ✅ Reframe mindset around standardized testing gaps❤️ Better support students who are far below grade level?A lot, as it turns out.In this week's episode, I look at the key concepts from the game-changing book "The Gap and the Gain" 📚 These key concepts can help you:➡️ Better support students who are academically deficient, but working hard ➡️ Help foster...
2024-02-2040 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutDramatically Increase Student Engagement with Project Based Learning with Ryan Steuer of PBL SimplifiedSend us a textDo you ever feel like your students are bored and disinterested during lessons? 😴 Are you frustrated with scripted curriculum that leaves no room for creativity? 😤 As teachers, we want our students to be engaged and empowered, not passive. That's where project-based learning (PBL) comes in! 💡To dig into this student-centered teaching method, I interviewed Ryan Steuer, former engineer, turned middle school teacher turned PBL expert. Ryan is the host of the PBL Simplified podcast 🎙️, the driving force behind the best PBL resources out there, and has a mission that should set you on 🔥 ...
2024-02-1343 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Ultimate Teacher‘s Handbook for Being Happier Part 4 - Wanted v. UnwantedSend us a textThis week's episode is part four of our series The Ultimate Educators Handbook for Being Happier where I expand on some of the concepts in my book Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers. THIS is the one you have been waiting for ...🎧 Everything has been leading to this episode - where we will dive into the science AND the habits of how we can have a more positive teaching experience, right here, right now, in the circumstances that we have (not when we get our "dream class" or our...
2024-02-0628 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLLN: Inspiration for Teachers: Could Mother Teresa Make It In Your Classroom?Send us a text💛 Educator inspiration for the week ahead. This week's bonus episode is about those students who push your buttons the most. I pose the question: could Mother Teresa even handle this level of "spiritual practice"? 😌Listen and PAY IT FORWARD by sharing with a colleague who might need to hear this today 🎧➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check ou...
2024-02-0411 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Ultimate Educators Handbook for Being Happier - Part 3 - Being a Joy DetectiveSend us a textThis week's episode is part three of our series The Ultimate Educators Handbook for Being Happier where I expand on some of the concepts in my book Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers. 🎧 Get ready teacher friends - this episode has some 🤩 magical joy practices you can start using TODAY to become a joy detective! 🕵️♀️First up, understand the 🧠 science - how your brain is wired to keep you safe, not happy. Then, learn the strategies on how to override your natural tendency to be on alert for danger and drama, and seek out j...
2024-01-3037 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutInspiration for Teachers: Focusing on Students Who Want a Way "In"Send us a textA mini-episode in the Lunch Box Love Notes series to motivate and encourage educators. This episode's theme is focusing less on students trying to find a way out and "game the system, and focusing more on those trying to find a "way in."➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Te...
2024-01-2809 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Ultimate Educator's Handbook for Happiness: Part 2 - Presence, Flow & Classroom Brain BreaksSend us a textWhat is the secret to improved student outcomes AND improved happiness for you, the teacher, all had one superpower habit at their core? And that habit was as simple as being present and getting in a "flow" state? This episode is part two in the series of The Ultimate Educator's Handbook for Happiness where I do a deep dive into some of the habits in my book Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers. And this episode is all about:🧘♀️ How to give students what they really need from you - your pres...
2024-01-2327 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutInspiration for Teachers: Never Doubt Your ImpactSend us a textA mini-episode in the Lunch Box Love Notes series to motivate and encourage educators. This episode's theme is "never doubt your impact."➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance 📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:The Empowered Teacher To...
2024-01-2110 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Ultimate Educators Handbook Part 1 - The Science of How to Be Happier for EducatorsSend us a textWhat of the Ultimate Educator's Handbook wasn't about classroom management strategies, curriculum planning, or even data-driven instruction? What if what educators MOST need to learn is to avoid teacher burnout and to be happier?In this week's episode, Grace introduces her best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers and proposes the idea that the best thing you can invest in for student outcomes and yourself is to learn the skills and habits it takes to be happier.This jam-packed episode overflows with neuroscience-backed tips to transform...
2024-01-1637 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLunch Box Love Notes: 50%Send us a textA mini-episode for overwhelmed teachers who feel guilty that some days they only have 50% of their energy to give to students. I promise you, it's enough 💛➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance 📘 My latest (and greatest!) boo...
2024-01-1409 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutTeacher Burnout : 5 Signs to Recognize Before It's Too LateSend us a textWe all know that teacher burnout can be a genuine occupational hazard - but when does ordinary "teacher tired" become "tired of teaching?"In this week's 🎙️episode, we discuss all things teacher burnout, including the 5 warning signs that can let you know burnout is sneaking up on you, and, more importantly, what you can do to get yourself out of the burnout rut!This episode is for you if you're experiencing any of the following:Physical and emotional depletion (constant "teacher tired)Detachment and cynicismPlummeting sense of efficacyShortened fuse...
2024-01-0929 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLunchbox Love Notes: Feelings Can Coexist (Encouragement for Teachers)Send us a textIn this bonus Lunchbox Love Note episode (encouragement for teachers), I talk about how the thought of returning back to school tomorrow may have you feeling mixed emotions - and that's perfectly OK.🧘🏼♀️ Take a breath and listen to my quickie episode"virtual hug" when you need a little encouragementI believe in you. You got this 💛 Grace xoxo➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching
2024-01-0708 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutDry January Tips for Teachers: Judgement Free Advice for Sober Curious Educators with Casey McGuire DavidsonSend us a textThis week's 🎙️ episode is for anyone who has ever wondered if they are taking our "drink to escape/cope" culture too far. As teachers, many of us joke about needing our "lesson planning juice," but some of us have a nagging feeling that maybe our life would be better without alcohol. Educators, this is a judgment-free zone. Listen along to my conversation with sobriety coach Casey McGuire Davidson, where we discuss all things "sober curious" for educators, including:The Allure and Cost of Teacher Drinking Culture 🍾The Benefits of Going...
2024-01-0247 min
Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLunchbox Love Note: Enough (Inspiration for teachers)Send us a textIntroducing Lunchbox Love Notes: Mini podcast episodes for educators who need a virtual hug, extra teacher support, inspiration, or just the simple joy of a love note snuck in their lunchbox.This episode is titled "Enough" and works with Dr. Wayne Dyer's mantra of the three phases of "enough."From my ❤️ to your ears. Enjoy. Grace xoxo➡️ To get your FREE 🎁 PDF Guide The Professional Teacher's Guide to Saying "No" visit: www.gracestevens.com/sayno Want to truly thrive in teaching ...
2023-12-2608 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutDetach from School Stress: 5 Ways Teachers Can Enjoy a Worry Free Winter BreakSend us a textTeachers, are you frustrated that you were SO excited for winter break, but now that it's here, you are having a hard time relaxing and being fully present with your family? I feel you! In this 🎙️episode, we talk about how to stop worries about school robbing you of your peace and well-deserved relaxation. I share 5 simple strategies including:👉 Set firm cut-off dates and away messages before your break 📅👉 Survey family on most meaningful holiday activity ❤️👉 Schedule a power hour to tackle lingering tasks ⏱️👉 Limit...
2023-12-1929 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutHow Chronic People Pleasing is Driving Your Teacher BurnoutSend us a textBuckle up educators - in this 🎙️ episode, I discuss the dark side of "going with the flow" and how it is fueling teacher burnout.I explain that people pleasing provides short-term benefits but long-term costs. As a recovering people pleaser, I dive into how this tendency that is so prevalent in educators is leading not only to teacher stress, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion - but also to deteriorating physical health.I am answering the questions such as:How did we get here? - Hint: ...
2023-12-1238 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutEasy Stress Management for Educators: The Power of Small Changes with Dr. Naomi HallSend us a textWhat if we told you that the secret to managing life's stressors could be as simple as tacking on a couple of extra minutes of sleep or adding a splash of protein to your breakfast?Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Noami Hall, (the Recovering Educator) a seasoned educator who knows a thing or two about stress management. With her wealth of experience spanning two decades, Dr. Hall shares the five fundamental blocks to managing stress - movement, nutrition, sleep, hydration, and mindset, proposing that even the tiniest tweaks...
2023-12-0531 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutSetting Boundaries to Avoid Teacher Burnout: 5 Misconceptions That Are Holding You BackSend us a textThe number one cause of teacher burnout is failure to set healthy boundaries. As educators, we love to please; we view ourselves as "helpers," and saying "no" doesn't come easily. 🎙️ In today's episode, I dive into the 5 biggest misconceptions that stop teachers and educators at all levels from setting them.Misconception 1 - Can't Control Others 🚫Boundaries aren't about controlling others; they're about managing your behavior and limits. Misconception 2 - Not My Nature 🤷♀️Setting boundaries is a learnable skill! With practice, it can become secon...
2023-11-2835 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutLosing Your Passion? The Science Behind Burnout versus Compassion Fatigue for TeachersSend us a textOK - let's get real here. Do you feel like you are beginning to experience teacher burnout? Think again! What you might actually experiencing is compassion fatigue. Do you know the difference between the two? They are two different issues - needing different approaches to address them.Don't worry - I got you! 🎧In this week's episode, we dive into:The difference between teacher burnout and compassion fatigue 🔍Common myths and misconceptions ❌Actionable strategies to start feeling better 💪You'll learn why you DON'T need to feel ashamed if you're st...
2023-11-2126 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutThe Power of Co-Regulation: How 5 Minutes of Mindfulness Transforms Classrooms with Kailey Leftko of Educalme.comSend us a textCan 5 minutes of mindfulness a day really transform your classroom? 🧘♀️🎙️ In this week's episode, I chat with Kailey Lefko, co-founder of EduCalme.com, about using mindfulness and emotional regulation strategies to create calm, focused classrooms.This wonderful discussion is full of science-based strategies proven to empower students to manage their emotions and behaviors and also on how to ground yourself as their teacher.My favorite part? ⬇️🔑 Kailey explains the science behind co-regulation - how our emotions and energy impact others...
2023-11-1438 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutHow to Have the Best Parent-Teacher Conference Season Ever: 5 Tips for Teacher SuccessSend us a textLet me help you get ready to have the best parent-teacher conference season ever! 📝 While it can cause a lot of teacher stress, conferences are an important chance to connect with families. With some preparation, you can make conferences productive and positive! In this episode I do do a deep dive into these top 5 strategies to help everything run smoothly.🔑 First, leverage technology to take yourself out of the scheduling drama! It will also help you meet the needs of parents with inflexible schedules.⏰ Second, manage expectations upfront...
2023-11-0738 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutMaintaining Positive Classroom Management During the Holiday ChaosSend us a textOnce Halloween hits, it seems the momentum of the holidays just doesn't stop! In this week's episode, I look at how to avoid holiday teacher burnout and how to calm the classroom chaos that this time of year brings. I promise that with these five essential teacher tips, you will transform both your home and classroom environment to be a little more grace and a little less grinch.You'll learn how to:✂️ Strategically cut back so you don't go crazy🕰 Plan for the inevitable chaos (double down on routines...
2023-10-3128 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutBreaking Free from the Teacher Martyr Myth: The Foundation of Teacher Self-CareSend us a textIf you are finding it hard to avoid teacher burnout and engage in true teacher self-care - this might be the piece you're missing. Buckle up, because in this week's episode, I am about to challenge the deep-seated belief that overwork and personal sacrifice are just part of the teaching gig. Do you feel like you need to sacrifice everything for your students? It's time to empower yourself and find the proper work-life balance. First, I'll define the teacher martyr myth a...
2023-10-2423 minTeacher Self-Care and Life Balance: Personal Growth to Empower Educators & Avoid BurnoutReducing Teacher Stress: 5 Lessons from 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff' (Best Books for Teachers Part 2)Send us a textImagine transforming your teaching day into a more peaceful, joy-filled experience. Picture a classroom where the small stuff doesn't phase you and the big stuff doesn't overwhelm you or your students (oh, happy day!)In this episode, I'm digging into Dr. Richard Carson's classic book 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff', and picking out the top five strategies that can help you feel empowered to cut through all the noise and distractions, and save your energy for the "big stuff". It's a classic text with a hundred suggestions, but I'm picking out t...
2023-10-1729 min