In response to COVID-19 the ‘Live Up’ COVID COMMUNITY was set up to support our communities with practical wellbeing resources that can be used for these extraordinary circumstances of social distancing, community lockdown and quarantine. Peter Beswick is a Within School Teacher for the Ōtakaro Kāhui Ako and is the Wellbeing Coordinator at Shirley Boys’ High School. In this article Peter takes a teacher’s perspective, but his ideas are transferable across many work/life contexts. Finding ‘meaning in the small moments’ can have a positive effect on wellbeing with the added benefit of reducing ‘Burnout’.

Here is a printable PDF template you are welcome to use.

This particular circumstance may lead us to feel like we didn’t do enough, we didn’t try hard enough or we aren’t good enough, especially if we compare ourselves to other teachers we admire. This can lead to feelings of sadness, frustration, guilt or even depression. If we feel we are not having a positive impact on the lives of our students, it may feel like our jobs are not purposeful – they lack meaning. This is one of the risk factors that can lead to burnout – which plagues the teaching profession.

Thankfully, there are things we can do to reconnect with the importance of our job, to remember how important we are, and to fully grasp why we entered teaching in the first place – the people.

Viktor Frankl said: “For the meaning of life differs from person to person, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but the specific meaning of a person’s life, moment to moment”. Frankl is pointing us to the fact that it isn’t the big picture stuff that matters, it’s the day to day glimpses of meaning that build us up over time.

So, here is a short list of things we can do to keep burnout at bay, bring a little more meaning into our lives, and reconnect with our why:

Get out!

During break times, give a couple of students some of your time - reconnect with the students outside of class. This will remind you that you really do make a difference. It’s the relationships which are key, not just the academics.

Remember…

Write a list of things about your job that you are grateful for – that you love. Gratitude is a powerful positive emotion which boosts social resources. If you lead a team, this can be a great, quick exercise at the start of a meeting.

Get some perspective

Take a birds’ eye view of the work you are doing. Yes, some students are a bit behind, but they are back now, and safe and well. You can only do your best. Picture yourself, and the things you are concerned about. Zoom out to view your whole school, then your community, city, country and even the whole world. Each time you zoom out, your concerns will become a little smaller when compared to the rest of the world.

What’s important to students?

Remember what is important to your students. A couple of years ago I asked students to write down why they are grateful for their teachers. Some of what they have said are in the pictures provided. I am confident your students will feel the same way.

The main thing to remember (and remember often) is that it’s the small, daily reminders of how meaningful our jobs are that will keep energy and engagement up, and burnout at bay.

Here is a printable PDF template you are welcome to use.