I have a beautiful conversation with Beth Cregan from Write Away With Me. Beth is a teacher and a writer and runs professional development on writing and creativity for teachers as well as teaching writing to students. We talk about how teachers can use writing to support their wellbeing, both individually but also collectively in staff groups, as well as how writing can be a powerful self-care practice. We also discuss how self-care practices really come to the forefront when we’re already depleted but that we need to be extra gentle in starting up new practices in challenging times, plus the power of poetry and journalling. 

Beth also shares some great tips, one of which is called ‘The Book of Wonderings’, which is really all about how impactful it can be to ask ourselves and ponder on questions. So if you haven’t yet listened to last week’s episode about Self-coaching Questions for Teachers, I recommend that as a follow up. Also remember you can get the accompanying workbook in the freebies library at selfcareforteachers.com.au/library  I recommend doing that soon too because when you sign up for the Freebies Library you also get to then receive ‘The Advocate’ which is the Self-Care for Teachers newsletter. I have some exciting things coming up in the next few months and early 2021 and I’ll be announcing them first to readers of The Advocate, and they’ll also get some special early bird options too!

Now this episode was recorded late 2019, so when Beth says ‘last week she went to rural Victoria’, it wasn’t actually last week at the time of releasing this in November 2020! And as with Bek’s episode a couple of weeks back, there will be no mention of the pandemic in this episode because when we recorded this it hadn’t happened yet. Beth tells me that since the pandemic some of the writing programs have moved online. I believe the writing program for students in already online and others are coming soon. The best place to connect with Beth these days is on Instagram @write.away.with.me and there’s a Facebook page to follow also.

Quick reminder about the Wellbeing Champions Meetups happening in a few weeks time, on the 18th and 21st November. These are for anyone who feels like they are the ‘wellbeing person’ at their school or who cares a lot about staff wellbeing at work, and so if you’re listening to this podcast, that’s probably you! So you are invited to this virtual networking event to Connect with others like you from around Australia, go to selfcareforteachers.com.au/wellbeingchampion for more info. If you’re listening to this after November 2020 go to that link anyway because there will be more of these events and details will be there. 

 

Links mentioned in this episode:

Poetry recommended by Beth
  • Teaching with Fire -Poetry That Sustains The Courage To Teach Edited By Sam M Intrator and Megan Scribner
  • David Whyte – River Flow New and Selected Poems
  • Pilgrim By David Whyte
  • A Thousand Mornings _ Mary Oliver
  • Blue Horses by Mary Oliver
  • Upstream – Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
Beth’s Favourite Books on Writing
  • Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg
  • Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg
  • Big Magic By Elizabeth Gilbert
  • Part Wild By Deb Norton
  • Writing From The Senses 59 Exercises to Ignite Creativity and Revitilize Your Writing By Laura Deutsch
  • Creative Journal Writing – The Art of Heart and Reflection by Stephanie Dowrick
Creativity Resources Beth Recommends
  • The Artist Way by Julia Cameron A Course in Rediscovering Your Creative Self
  • On Writing by Stephen King
  • Bird By Bird by Anne Lammot
  • The Element by Ken Robinson
Some Podcasts recommended by Beth

Have questions, comments, episode ideas or want to volunteer to be a guest on the show?

Get in touch with the Self-Care for Teachers team at hello [at] selfcareforteachers [dot] com [dot] au

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Self-Care for Teachers
TWP S07 E04 Teacher Wellbeing Podcast Season 7 Blog Title Image
What lessons have you learned on your wellbeing journey? 
I've been on a personal wellbeing journey for 14+ years now and I've learned a lot, and am continuing to learn. 
These are the top 15 lessons I've learned so far. 
Tell me in the comments whether any of these lessons are ones you've learned/are learning too?
Sometimes (often!) self-care is a chore.
Are you the teacher or staff member who is the
LAST CHANCE to join this round of the Resilient Teacher Coaching Program

.
We start TOMORROW at 6pm QLD time (which is 7pm NSW/VIC/ACT/TAS)


Sometimes one of the hardest things about making an investment in your personal wellbeing is feeling like it’s the right time to take the leap into action.


You know there’s work involved. 


You know it’s going to be a bit of a commitment.


You know I'm going to be holding you accountable to the goals you set for yourself, so you can no longer stay in your comfort zone of self-neglect.


So maybe it's not the right time for you to join, and that's totally okay. 


There will be another round down the track. 


But if this year is the time that you finally focus on your wellbeing and you want my support to stop depleting yourself and start prioritising yourself?


Then I invite you to join me in The Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program.

https://selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteacher
We start tomorrow. You in? Link in my bio
Gentle reminder that time is running out to join this round of the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program. 
Here's what one of last year's participants, Jessica, said about it. 
The Resilient Teacher is a 6-month Group Coaching Program for teachers who want to not just survive in this modern education system but learn to thrive and put themselves first. 
If this is the year that you finally treat yourself like a person first and a teacher second, and develop those habits that sustain you throughout the term, not just on the school holidays, then I'd love to welcome you into the program. 
We start Tuesday evening! 
Enrol here: www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteacher 
(live link in @selfcareforteachers bio)
What would more wellbeing and resilience look like for you this year? 
🍎 Having more energy for day to day life?
🍎 Feeling less stressed and overwhelmed, more calm and collected?
🍎 Having a life outside school?
🍎 Being able to actually switch off and sleep through the night?
🍎 Reigniting the joy you once felt in the classroom?
I know the last 2 years have been full on and extremely demanding on already tired teachers. 
I know you are reading this full of uncertainty about what this term will look like for you professionally, let alone the rest of the year.
I know the end of the school holidays can loom large with a sense of the Sunday night blues on steroids.
I also know that this year can be different for you. 
Not necessarily because anything external changes (after all, we can't control the external pressures on us), but because you make the shifts in your own life that make a difference day by day. 
I know there is a way for you to build more resilience as a person first and a teacher second this term and beyond. 
It doesn't happen overnight. There are no quick fixes or magic pills. It's a wicked problem after all. But with realistic and relevant strategies, it can happen.
Despite the huge challenges we face as a profession, when teachers are well and have fuel in their tank, they can do fricken anything. 
Yes, it’s much easier to find time for you on the school holidays but it’s possible to incorporate it into your life during the term too. 
My Resilient Teacher Framework offers you 5 areas to focus on to make big improvements in your wellbeing and resilience overall. 
If that sounds like something you’d like to explore and if you’d like support with your wellbeing this year, I invite you to join me in the Resilient Teacher Group Coaching program, enrolling now.
Enrol today: www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteacher (link in my bio)
The Resilient Teacher Coaching Program starts on Saturday. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
I know you might feel like it’s not the best time to start. You've just come back from school holidays, you're feeling relatively refreshed, and there's just so much schoolwork to do.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
But let's not delude ourselves that any other part of the year is any less busy, or that there is a mythical 'perfect time' to begin a program like this. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
If not now, when? ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Do you need to wait until the end of next term, or the end of the year, until you're fully depleted again, to decide that it's time to make a change?⁠⁠
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Are you SO ready for this to be the time you get off the Depletion Spiral once and for all, and become the Resilient Teacher you long to be? ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It's not easy, I know. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
There are no quick fixes and I won't promise you any overnight transformations. That's now how this works. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
All the info you need to get started is in the webinar (replay available until 31st Jan), but building resilience takes more than just information. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
You have to take action. ⁠⁠
⁠⁠
With the right support around you, you can finally keep you and your needs on the to-do list, stick to your healthy habits, nourish your body, nurture your mind, maintain your support networks, design your life and feed your soul.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Heading into this school year, it is not the time to be complacent about your personal wellbeing and resilience.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
You are a PERSON first and a teacher second.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
It's time to be proactive and solutions-focused, and I want to help you do so.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
The Resilient Teacher is a 6-month Group Coaching Program for teachers who want to not just survive in this modern education system, but actually enjoy work and life again.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
And if this year is the time that you finally prioritise your health and wellbeing, stop falling down The Depletion Spiral and wind your way up the Resilience Spiral?⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Then I invite you to join me in The Resilient Teacher Group Coaching Program.⁠⁠
⁠⁠
We start on Saturday (or Tuesday 1st Feb if you choose that cohort). Are you in?⁠⁠
⁠⁠
Enrol here: www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/resilientteacher⁠⁠
(live link in @selfcareforteachers bio)
We all know what day it is. I'm of the belief that if it's causing pain to an important part of our population, then as an inclusive society, we should listen and do something about that. ⁠
⁠
Unfortunately, whether or not Australia is an inclusive society generally depends on who you are (which means it's not really inclusive at all). ⁠
⁠⁠
Anyway, I don't want to centre myself in this conversation. Plenty of First Nations voices to listen to on this matter. I do, however, want to make my values very clear to anyone following. ⁠
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Inclusion. Equity. Justice. Believing people when they share their lived experiences and explain how things impact them.⁠
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These are things I value deeply and for everyone, not just for a select few. ⁠
⁠
I live and work on the land of the Giabal people in Toowoomba. I pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. ⁠
⁠
I acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. This always was, always will be Aboriginal land, and today is #notthedatetocelebrate
One thing I want you to remember is that this term, whatever it ends up being, will not be the 'be all, end all' of education for your students.
There are some messages flying around, perpetuated by politicians, media personalities and regular folk in comment sections, expecting teachers to sacrifice even more than usual. 
And yes, sure, it's going to be tough and you'll need to rise to the occasion, as you always do. 
But there is gaslighting going on about this back to school being 'make or break' for Australian students. 
In case you don't know, gaslighting is defined as