When we initially coach teachers and begin the conversation about how to maintain self care, we often hear the same thing:

“Self-care sounds great, but it feels impossible. I just don’t have the time.”

Let’s look at this from a different perspective;

The Rescue Dilemma 🌊

Imagine a child is struggling in a fast-flowing river. What is the most effective way to help?

• Option A: Jump in blindly.

• Option B: Throw them a life ring.

Take a second to really think about that.

If you jump in without a plan, you risk becoming a second victim. If you are “drowning” in stress, exhaustion, and burnout, you cannot effectively pull anyone else to safety. To be the life ring for your students, you have to stay afloat yourself.

The “Power of Five” Strategy 🖐️

Self-care doesn’t have to mean a weekend at a spa or an hour of meditation. We’ve seen a radical shift in the educators we coach by using the Power of Five.

It’s a simple mindset tweak that changes everything:

1. Set a “ Take 5 Alarm”: Pick one time during your day that is yours. ( imagine if you booked a doctors appointment you would stick to it . Give this time that same importance)

2. Take 5: When that alarm goes off, give yourself exactly five minutes. No marking, no emails, no “quick questions.”

   Coaching tip. This time maybe in the car before heading into school or that little window before starting the engine and heading home.

3. Reset: Breathe, stretch, or simply sit in the silence.

Ready to Stop Treading Water?

Teachers and educators deserve more than just “getting by.” You deserve to thrive. We dive deep into these practical nervous-system resets in our Glimmer Seeker Masterclass, which can be provided both online and face to face, send us an email for more info.

We help kids—and the grown-ups who support them—find their way back to solid ground. Follow us for more strategies on educator welfare.

Some awesome teachers we worked with as part of a learning outdoors workshop.

To really get what's going on and figure out the best ways to help, we've been all ears, listening to what's happening in schools. We've done surveys and had chats with students, staff, and parents – most recently through our whole school programme at a secondary. And all that amazing info has pointed us to some key areas we need to tackle together.

When students feel seen and supported, they flourish.

And guess what? Your wellbeing is a massive part of creating that positive vibe. Educators have told us that feeling better could come from sorting out resource headaches, having stronger support when things get tough, managing that never-ending to-do list, making mental health a real priority, getting a consistent handle on behaviour stuff, and just talking and working together better. Sounds familiar, right?

We're not saying we've got all the answers (wish we did). But we can give you some solid (tried and trusted) tools to put yourself first sometimes and still be there for your learners. Because, you can't pour from an empty cup. Starting with the smallest things can lead to bigger, better changes.

One of the biggest steps you can take right now?

Just knowing and believing that things can get better. If you're curious to dig deeper and grab some easy, practical tips to start making those little shifts today, then chuck your email into our free newsletter. We're in this together.

That’s me (Miranda on the left) and Laura. We own and run Happy Confident Kids.

This is just the start of us making wellbeing a real focus. In future posts, we'll zoom in on specific stuff and share simple strategies and resources you can actually use – often just little tweaks that can have a surprisingly big impact.

We're totally committed to supporting you. What small thing has made a difference to your day recently? Share your thoughts in the comments below – your experiences can totally inspire someone else.