The Chalk Full of Life Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kelli Wise
Hey teacher friends! I have a treat for you! We have our very first guest on the podcast- Sara Marye. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Science of Reading and lesson planning. In this episode she is spilling all of her tips for making lesson planning more streamlined and efficent so you can complete your lesson plans without working past your contracted hours. Sara Marye has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She is now CEO of The Stellar Teacher Company and a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers around the world grow their students into lifelong readers. Sara's mission is to make teachers' lives a little easier by providing them with endless encouragement, effective strategies, and engaging no-fluff resources. Sara is also the host of the Stellar Teacher Podcast, where she loves to share her favorite literacy tips each week! website: https://www.stellarteacher.com/
podcast:https://www.stellarteacher.com/stellar-teacher-podcast-with-sara-marye/
TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Stellar-Teacher-Company
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestellarteachercompany/
You don’t need a permission slip. But I’m going to give you one anyway.
And more importantly… I’d like you to consider giving one to yourself.
Why? Because... Teachers are really good at giving evvverything to evvveryone else.
But how good are you at giving yourself what you really need?
We get so caught up in going, going, going… Giving, giving, giving... And doing, doing, doing… That we keep thinking we need to Do MORE. And Be MORE. But I think what we reeeally need most often is to…
Do LESS.
When you do LESS, you free up your 2 most valuable resources: Time & Energy.
And when you have more Time & Energy… You’re able to show up as the best version of yourself. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking.
“That sounds great! I’d love to do less! I’m sooo exhausted, BUT…”
And then you could go on to give me a gigantic list of reasons why you can’t do less because there’s so much you HAVE TO DO. I get it.
I’ve been there. But I’d like to offer the thought that maybe the “have to” mentality isn’t serving you. What if it’s a sneaky little thought that sounds legit, but it’s actually a form of self-sabotage?
So here’s what I’d like to recommend. If you love the “idea” of doing less, but you don’t see HOW it could possibly work for you… I’d like to invite you to consider some new thoughts.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why selfish is the new selfless when it comes to being a great teacher and showing up as your best for your family and friends.
- Why doing less actually allows you to be more in every area of your life - both in and out of school.
- How to make doing less a habit that will help you step into the best version of yourself.
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Do you ever get knots in your stomach over something that happened at school? Do you ever feel like you can't breathe because you can't stop worrying about test scores, evaluations, observations, changing curriculum, changing grade levels, or anything else related to school? Then this episode is for you.
In this episode you'll learn: * + My interpretation of what "school-induced anxiety" is and why we experience it. + Why anxiety isn't the real problem. (I'll tell you what is.) + 3 Options for responding to anxiety - and which one is alwasy your best choice. + 4 steps to overcome any instance of anxiety in your life.
Taking a break can be HARD.
Especially when you love what you do. Whether it’s taking a sick day or a mental health day, maternity leave or a sabbatical, or committing to not bringing work home in the evenings or on the weekends.
Taking a break sounds awesome. But it’s not always as easy as it sounds.
I’m about to take a break this holiday season. A break from school and from Chalk Full of Life.
If you’re feeling like you need a break, too- I’d encourage you to listen to your head and your heart.
The only person you need permission from is yourself.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to master the art of taking a break from your schoolwork without feeling guilty.
- How to break free from a “Have To” mentality.
- How to consciously choose more of what you want in life by questioning your own thoughts and beliefs.
Is your schoolwork creeping too far into your personal life? If you’re constantly running out of time to get through #allthethings on your to-do list at school, you might wish there were more hours in a day. But would having more time for your schoolwork really solve anything? Or would you find even more things to add to your list? If you’re ready to leave more of your schoolwork at school, it might be time for a mindset makeover.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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The biggest reason why your school work is stealing time away from your personal life… and it has everything to do with ONE simple priority. When you shift this priority, everything can change for you.
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Four huge problems that are causing your schoolwork to take way too long to complete, and how to solve each of them.
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One simple action step you can take right away to make a big difference in how you approach your schoolwork so you can begin protecting your personal time more fiercely.
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Do you have trouble turning off your Teacher Brain when you’re not at school? Sometimes we think way too much about school when we’re not even there. If you ever wished you could just flip the off switch on your buzzing Teacher Brain and be a little more present and in tune with the rest of your life outside of teaching, this episode is for you.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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How to recognize the key differences between worrying, ruminating, and being present in the NOW - because this is the first step toward gaining control over your Teacher Brain.
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What Thought Loops {or Thought Errors} are - so you can become more aware of what they’re doing to you and how you can begin to let them go.
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A simple 3-step plan of action that you can get started with today to be more present at home or anywhere else when you just wanna turn off your Teacher Brain to enjoy your family, your friends, or a little more ME time.
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Some days I roll out of bed, get dressed, and feel like a million bucks.
Other days, I curse my skinny jeans for being too skinny. 👖
And I question whether it was them or me that changed size since the last load of laundry. 🤷♀️
Ever feel this way?
#FrustrationStation
Whether we’re frustrated with something going on at school, something at home, or something about ourselves…
Our culture has a tendency to look at frustration as a negative thing.
After all, frustration doesn’t feel good! 😖
So most of us try to rush our way out of frustration as fast as we can.
We run to the Oreos.
We binge the Netflix.
We vent to whoever will listen.
Bottom Line: We seek COMFORT.
But then the frustration rears its ugly head again.
And again.
And again.
#DejaVu
So we keep trying to run away from it.
Or we try to numb ourselves from the awful feeling. 🍦📺🍷
But what if there’s more to it?
What if we’re missing something really good hidden underneath the frustration?
What if we’re actually creating our own vicious spin cycles when we try to push it away?
What if there’s a better way to get through the frustration faster?
...And actually come out on the other side of it feeling like we’ve finally conquered it?
(Rather than feeling like the frustration itself has some sort of power over us.)
Let’s look at frustrations with fresh eyes.
And uncover the truth behind what’s really going on.
Whether you’re feeling frustrated at school, at home, with yourself (or all of the above)...
I promise you’ll know exactly what to do with your frustration by the end of the episode.
And fair warning: It might surprise you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Exactly how to move from frustration toward whatever you want most in your teacher life right now.
- The two types of discomfort you’ll experience when you’re frustrated (and how to know which one is helpful vs. which one is harmful.)
- How to consciously choose the type of discomfort that will help you realize your goals, dreams, and ambitions faster.
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As a teacher, your career might feel like it’s constantly in flux due to decisions that are being made #onthedaily without your input. From decisions about testing to decisions about your curriculum and everything in between… it can sometimes feel like you have little control over your job.
But YOU are the professional who knows what works best in your classroom… so what do you do about the decisions that impact your daily life and career - especially when you don’t agree with them?
Is feeling powerless your only option? Or is there a more useful and empowering way to respond to the decisions that are handed to you from above?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What to do when your school administrators make decisions you don’t like or agree with.
- The 3 steps you can take immediately to go from feeling frustrated or angry to being grateful that you get to be 100% in control of your own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Why this is one of the greatest opportunities you’ll have as a teacher to grow and experience what real self-empowerment feels like.
The doors are finally open to the Balanced Teacher Life Program. Click here to check it out!
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As a teacher, your career might feel like it’s constantly in flux due to decisions that are being made #onthedaily without your input. From decisions about testing to decisions about your curriculum and everything in between… it can sometimes feel like you have little control over your job.
But YOU are the professional who knows what works best in your classroom… so what do you do about the decisions that impact your daily life and career - especially when you don’t agree with them?
Is feeling powerless your only option? Or is there a more useful and empowering way to respond to the decisions that are handed to you from above?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What to do when your school administrators make decisions you don’t like or agree with.
- The 3 steps you can take immediately to go from feeling frustrated or angry to being grateful that you get to be 100% in control of your own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Why this is one of the greatest opportunities you’ll have as a teacher to grow and experience what real self-empowerment feels like.
The doors are finally open to the Balanced Teacher Life Program. Click here to check it out!
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Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed as a teacher?
With a to-do list a million miles long, it’s easy to slip right into the #teachertired. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you’d rather approach #allthethings from a place of calm, clarity, and confidence, let’s uncover a new approach to tackling your to-do’s with ease.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The difference between burnout and overwhelm - and a simple test to find out which one you’re actually dealing with.
- 5 simple steps to regain control of your time, tasks, sanity, and energy.
Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
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Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed as a teacher?
With a to-do list a million miles long, it’s easy to slip right into the #teachertired. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you’d rather approach #allthethings from a place of calm, clarity, and confidence, let’s uncover a new approach to tackling your to-do’s with ease.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The difference between burnout and overwhelm - and a simple test to find out which one you’re actually dealing with.
- 5 simple steps to regain control of your time, tasks, sanity, and energy.
Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
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Do you have a hard time saying No when an administrator, colleague, friend or anyone else asks you to volunteer for something you don’t really wanna do?
On today’s episode, we’ll explore the negative impact saying Yes can have on you and everyone else when it’s not something you’re excited about doing. And you’ll come away with a helpful mindset reframe for how to say No without feeling guilty.
So if you’re ready to become a rockstar at saying no, let’s dive on in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The hidden, scary truth of what’s really going on when you say Yes to something that you really don’t want to do.
- The #1 thing that matters the most when you’re deciding whether to say Yes or No to a request of your time at school or anywhere else.
- How to say No without feeling guilty.
- Why you never need to explain yourself when you say NO.
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We all compare ourselves to our peers. It’s natural. But it’s not always helpful.
On today’s episode, we’ll explore our natural inclination to keep up with the Mrs. Joneses. And we’ll uncover a few things we can do to flip the script on the Comparison Game.
So if you’re ready to end the comparison craziness, let’s dive on in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why do we compare ourselves to others?
- Why is this harmful?
- 3 ways we can reframe the way we handle comparison in our lives.
Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
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We all compare ourselves to our peers. It’s natural. But it’s not always helpful.
On today’s episode, we’ll explore our natural inclination to keep up with the Mrs. Joneses. And we’ll uncover a few things we can do to flip the script on the Comparison Game.
So if you’re ready to end the comparison craziness, let’s dive on in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why do we compare ourselves to others?
- Why is this harmful?
- 3 ways we can reframe the way we handle comparison in our lives.
Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
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Do you ever get knots in your stomach over something that happened at school? Or feel like you can’t breathe because you can’t stop worrying about test scores, evaluations, observations, your changing curriculum, changing grade levels or anything else related to school? Then this episode is for you.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- My interpretation of what “school-induced anxiety” is and why we experience it.
-
Why anxiety isn’t the real problem. {I’ll tell you what is.}
-
3 options for responding to anxiety - and which one is always your best choice.
- 4 steps to overcome any instance of anxiety in your life.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join the Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist and be the first to know when the doors open!
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Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Do you ever get knots in your stomach over something that happened at school? Or feel like you can’t breathe because you can’t stop worrying about test scores, evaluations, observations, your changing curriculum, changing grade levels or anything else related to school? Then this episode is for you.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- My interpretation of what “school-induced anxiety” is and why we experience it.
-
Why anxiety isn’t the real problem. {I’ll tell you what is.}
-
3 options for responding to anxiety - and which one is always your best choice.
- 4 steps to overcome any instance of anxiety in your life.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join the Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist and be the first to know when the doors open!
Follow Me On IG
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
We’ve all been there. Giving 100% to our careers. Wanting to be the best teachers we can be for our students.
But then a parent says something.
Something that makes you think, “Do you even have any cluuue how hard I’m working over here?!”
(And if they don’t have a teacher in their family, they probably DON’T have a clue.)
But the Bottom Line is…they’re not happy with what you’re doing and they think they might have a “better idea” of how you should be doing your job.
So they tell you exactly what they think and you’re left with a verbal dagger in your heart.
It can happen completely out of the blue - and for just a hot minute. Or it can feel like you’re enduring an eternity of complaints all year long.
Some parents may have the purest of intentions.
But others may be lacking in the social graces department.
Whether you’re conversing with parents in formal conferences, meetings, emails, or phone calls, developing a Mindset of Steel is an essential Teacher Survival Skill when it comes to parent communications.
Not taking negative feedback personally is easier said than done.
So let’s unpack exactly how to do it.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The hidden reality of what’s reeeally going on in parents’ heads during parent-teacher conferences.
- How to reframe the way you view parents’ negative feedback about your teaching and actions - for good - so you won’t be bothered by any more stinging comments.
- How to protect your mental and emotional energy during parent-teacher conferences (or any other communications with parents throughout the year).
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
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We’ve all been there. Giving 100% to our careers. Wanting to be the best teachers we can be for our students.
But then a parent says something.
Something that makes you think, “Do you even have any cluuue how hard I’m working over here?!”
(And if they don’t have a teacher in their family, they probably DON’T have a clue.)
But the Bottom Line is…they’re not happy with what you’re doing and they think they might have a “better idea” of how you should be doing your job.
So they tell you exactly what they think and you’re left with a verbal dagger in your heart.
It can happen completely out of the blue - and for just a hot minute. Or it can feel like you’re enduring an eternity of complaints all year long.
Some parents may have the purest of intentions.
But others may be lacking in the social graces department.
Whether you’re conversing with parents in formal conferences, meetings, emails, or phone calls, developing a Mindset of Steel is an essential Teacher Survival Skill when it comes to parent communications.
Not taking negative feedback personally is easier said than done.
So let’s unpack exactly how to do it.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The hidden reality of what’s reeeally going on in parents’ heads during parent-teacher conferences.
- How to reframe the way you view parents’ negative feedback about your teaching and actions - for good - so you won’t be bothered by any more stinging comments.
- How to protect your mental and emotional energy during parent-teacher conferences (or any other communications with parents throughout the year).
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
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Are you living the life you thought you signed up for when you became a teacher?
After my few in the classroom, I realized that I wasn’t.
I thought things would be different after those first few years.
I thought I wouldn’t be spending so much time on schoolwork outside of school hours.
I thought my evenings would be free to do what I wanted.
I thought I’d be able to enjoy my weekends without thinking about school.
I thought I’d be eating healthy, exercising regularly, and living the “good life.”
Instead, I was not eating as much as I should have, not getting enough sleep, lugging my gigantic school bag home every day (even over the weekend), but feeling too exhausted to be productive outside of school.
Sure, there was A LOT on my plate as an elementary teacher.
But my job wasn’t to blame for me not having my “perfect life” land in my lap.
Because hindsight is 20/20, I can look back now and see all the thoughts, feelings, and actions that created the life I didn’t want.
And If you’re feeling stuck like I was… wondering how you wound up with a different version of the life you thought you signed up for… I have great news for you.
You can re-engineer your life to get exactly what you want - starting today.
Your never-ending to-do lists, difficulties with administrators, challenges with colleagues, and endless obligations at home don’t have to get in the way.
You’re in charge.
You get to be the CEO of your classroom and your home.
YOU get to decide how you want your life to look a year from now. 5 years from now. And 10 years from now.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The #1 secret to getting EXACTLY what you want in your life - personally AND professionally - both inside AND outside of school.
- The 3 things you need to get crystal clear on in order stay on track with creating your most fulfilling Teacher Life.
- How to get started with creating a Vision, a Mission, and Core Values for both your career and your personal life.
Be the FIRST to know when the doors to The Balanced Teacher Life Open. Join the waitlist!
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Clikck HERE to join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Are you living the life you thought you signed up for when you became a teacher?
After my few in the classroom, I realized that I wasn’t.
I thought things would be different after those first few years.
I thought I wouldn’t be spending so much time on schoolwork outside of school hours.
I thought my evenings would be free to do what I wanted.
I thought I’d be able to enjoy my weekends without thinking about school.
I thought I’d be eating healthy, exercising regularly, and living the “good life.”
Instead, I was not eating as much as I should have, not getting enough sleep, lugging my gigantic school bag home every day (even over the weekend), but feeling too exhausted to be productive outside of school.
Sure, there was A LOT on my plate as an elementary teacher.
But my job wasn’t to blame for me not having my “perfect life” land in my lap.
Because hindsight is 20/20, I can look back now and see all the thoughts, feelings, and actions that created the life I didn’t want.
And If you’re feeling stuck like I was… wondering how you wound up with a different version of the life you thought you signed up for… I have great news for you.
You can re-engineer your life to get exactly what you want - starting today.
Your never-ending to-do lists, difficulties with administrators, challenges with colleagues, and endless obligations at home don’t have to get in the way.
You’re in charge.
You get to be the CEO of your classroom and your home.
YOU get to decide how you want your life to look a year from now. 5 years from now. And 10 years from now.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The #1 secret to getting EXACTLY what you want in your life - personally AND professionally - both inside AND outside of school.
- The 3 things you need to get crystal clear on in order stay on track with creating your most fulfilling Teacher Life.
- How to get started with creating a Vision, a Mission, and Core Values for both your career and your personal life.
Be the FIRST to know when the doors to The Balanced Teacher Life Open. Join the waitlist!
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Clikck HERE to join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
How much of your teacher life do you spend thinking about all of your day-to-day problems?
Now compare that to how much time you spend focusing on solutions.
So the question is...
Which one wins more of your brain space - problems or solutions?
As much as we’d like to say we’re always on the lookout for solutions… if we’re being really honest with ourselves, we’d probably find that “problems” are ruling our brains without us even realizing it.
We ask questions like:
-
Why am I so tired?
-
Why is my administrator so unfair?
-
Why do my grade level partners have to act like that?
-
Why can’t I keep up with all my lesson planning and grading?
And the Real Problem is that those are problem-focused questions with dead-end answers.
Those kinds of questions keep you swimming around INSIDE your problems.
They don’t help you move OUTSIDE of your problems - which is where your best solutions are waiting for you!
One of the biggest success secrets of the world’s top CEOs is staying focused on solutions.
And the great news is that this kind of mindset isn’t reserved the corporate world. Training your brain to be solutions-focused can totally transform your teacher life.
There’s a simple quote that says, “Where you Focus is what you’ll Find.”
So if you focus on problems… guess what you’ll find?
Yep… more problems!
And bigger problems!
But if you focus on solutions…
You’ll start finding more solutions.
And better solutions.
If you want to learn how to shift your brain from problems to solutions, take a listen.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- A simple 4-step approach to more quickly and easily solve ANY problem you might have at school, home, or anywhere else.
- How to harness the power of asking the right questions to find your best solutions.
- How to get beyond just trying to “fix” problems that you see on the surface so you can actually solve their underlying causes - for good.
Click HERE To Join The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Being a teacher is a lot like being a CEO.
Think about it.
CEOs make 1000s of decisions every day. So do teachers.
CEOs guide their teams to reach huge goals. Teachers guide their students to reach their highest potential.
CEOs thrive when they know their businesses are making a difference in the world. Teachers thrive when they know they’re making an impact on their students’ lives.
What’s the biggest difference between a CEO and a teacher?
You might be tempted to say it’s the difference in salaries… but I’d like to suggest something else that’s even more important.
CEOs operate with a vastly different mindset than a typical teacher when it comes to “problems.”
In fact, the way CEOs think about problems is very different than how most people on the planet approach their problems.
In this episode, and the next two episodes to come, we’re going to explore what a “CEO Mindset” looks like - and how adopting a few simple shifts in thinking can make a huge difference in your teacher life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What teachers’ biggest (hidden) Problem is when it comes to “problems” in the classroom and at home.
- How to create a healthier, more effective “Problem Philosophy” with 3 mindset shifts that can completely change how you approach your problems… and come out on the other side with way better results.
- A 24-Hour Problem Assessment you can try out on your own to discover what kind of impact your problems are really having on your day-to-day life.
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
CEOs are problem solvers. So are teachers.
Sign up for The Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
https://www.chalkfulloflife.com
Are you struggling with Teacher Guilt? Wifey Guilt? Mama Guilt? Friend Guilt? #AlltheGuilts? Let’s take an honest look at what guilt really is, why you’re experiencing it, and how to overcome it.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- How to define guilt for what it really is.
- Why guilt is so prevalent and harmful for teachers.
- The practical steps you can take to keep yourself from feeling like you’re not doing enough or being enough for everyone.
Join the Balanced Teacher Life Waitlist
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Is it actually possible for teachers to shift from busy to balanced? My answer is yesss! Let’s talk about the #1 strategy you can use to win your tug-of-time battle.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why we need to redefine the terms “busy” and “balanced.”
- How your survival brain turns time management into an internal tug-of-war.
- The best strategy for owning your time to create the life you want.
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Ever feel like you’re just not showing up the way you want to... at home, school, or anywhere else? You know you could be so much better with your kids at home or your students at school… but for some reason, you’re feeling like the opposite of the best version of yourself in certain situations.
Maybe your kids are acting crazy at bedtime, and you wish they would put you to bed instead of the other way around. Your energy is low. Your patience is thin. And you find yourself having some “not-so-proud moments” in parenting.
Or maybe you feel like you’re losing it at school. You can’t believe you’re sliding toward the Dark Side of snapping at your students or getting grouchy with your colleagues.
Well, don’t worry. The best version of yourself IS still alive and well. You might just need to get reacquainted with her.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
How to identify what the best version of yourself actually looks and feels like.
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Exactly what causes you to feel like your best self (no matter what your circumstances may be).
-
How to start feeling more like your best self in your most challenging situations.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Stress can be a daily struggle for any teacher who cares about giving her best at school each day. But is it something you just have to get used to and live with? Or is there a way to transform your stress into empowerment?
With the right tools and mindset, I believe you can learn how to overcome your stress faster than ever before, and enjoy sooo much more of your everyday life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The surprising truth about what school-related stress really IS and what it isn’t.
- A new definition of stress that will completely change the way you think about it.
- Whether you should avoid stress, embrace it, or manage it.
- How to shift from feeling stressed to empowered in 4 quick, actionable steps.
CTFAR Model
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
How do you feel when you get home after a looong day of school? Do you have any energy, patience, or attention to give your family? Or are they just getting your leftovers?
Do you wish you could come home with more mental, emotional, and physical energy… so you could actually enjoy your evenings away from school?
Well, the good news is that feeling great at the end of a school day isn’t just a pipe dream. You CAN make it happen. But it will take some intentional planning and purposeful follow-through.
When you carefully manage your energy at school with simple routines at various checkpoints throughout the day, you can finally go home feeling your best.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your After School Routines can be the most important routines of your entire day.
- How to find out if you need a major or minor After School Routines Makeover.
- 5 energy-giving strategies to transition more smoothly from school to home - so you can be more present with the people you love and enjoy your weekday evenings more than ever before.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group!
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Do you spend the first few weeks of school helping your students get their daily routines nailed down? Of course you do!
You know it’s going to take some time and practice, but you’re super intentional about it because you know these routines are going to set your students up for success.
But... are you giving the same level of thought and intention to your own school day routines? What if a few tweaks in your day could have a huge impact on your time and energy? What if some simple changes in your routines could help you make this your best year ever?
If you’re feeling drained at the end of each school day, it’s time to consider some seamless strategies to increase your energy.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your school day routines are just as important as your students’ routines {and equally as important as your morning routines}.
- How to find out if you need a major or minor School Day Routines Makeover.
- 4 simple steps you can take today to seamlessly embed intentional routines into your workday so you feel your best all day long {without going home feeling like you just ran a mental, emotional, and physical marathon}.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: Click here to join!
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
How do you start your day? Do you feel sluggish and slow - after having hit the snooze button one too many times? Or do you hit the ground running - rushing around in a world record-breaking sprint to head out the door?
Many teachers today would say there’s “no time” to squeeze healthy or energizing morning routines into their fast-paced days. But let’s consider the opposite. What if teachers don’t have the time to NOT be intentional with their morning routines?
Extensive research studies on energy, productivity, and creativity tell us that humans function their best {and feel their best} when they have carefully crafted routines and habits that create momentum for everything else they do throughout each day.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your morning routines can help to either make or break your day.
- How to find out if you need a major or minor Morning Routine Makeover.
- How to redesign your morning routines so they become your secret recipe for starting each day feeling your best… even {and especially} on Mondays!
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Click HERE to join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group.
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Are you having a hard time saying farewell to all the fun you had this summer? And wishing you could do it all over again?
Are you dreading the weeks ahead - as you think about how craaazy full your to-do list is getting already?
Well, if you’d rather shift into a more energized and excited approach to the new school year, this episode will give you a secret sauce recipe for getting your Back to School groove on.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The quickest way to get your Back to School Groove back if you’re still dwelling on missing your summer fun or dreading the craziness of the next few weeks.
- Why your routines will either be your biggest ally or your worst nightmare as you get started with the new school year.
- A quick assessment you can use to determine if it’s time for a major (or minor) routine makeover to refresh and reset your days for more joy and energy.
Grab your teacher energy + time scorecard here!
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group Here
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Now that the new school year is in kick-off mode, are you feeling a pretty intense mix of emotions? Excited and nervous? Ready, but not ready? Hopeful, but worried?
All. At. The. Same. Time.
Well, the good news is that you’re not alone. Transitioning from summer back to the school year stirs up a mix of emotions for everyone. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students are all feeling it.
But the Best news is that YOU get to control your emotions rather than letting THEM control you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why teachers experience an intense mixed bag of emotions every year when it’s Back to School time… even if you’ve been teaching for what seems like forever.
- How to take control of your emotions so they won’t control you anymore.
- A simple Back to School Challenge that has the power to completely change the tone of your entire school year.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group:
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Teachers across the U.S. are beginning to head back to their classrooms and their first Back to School PD sessions. And you know what that means, right? Everyone’s asking each other all about their summer breaks.
With your teacher besties, you get to share all the juicy details of where you went and what you did. It feels awesome to reflect on all the great memories you’ve accumulated over the last few weeks, but there’s one deadly little phrase that often pops up in these summer break catch-up conversations. And it’s doing more internal damage to teachers than you might realize.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The one phrase you’re going to want to drop immediately from all your “How was your summer?” conversations (after you realize the negative effect that it’s been having on you).
- The #1 reason why your summer break may have disappeared “too quickly.”
- How to use a simple mindset shift to start viewing your time in a more positive light.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: Click here to join!
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Teacher Time Score Assessment Tool
When those Back to School commercials start cranking up on TV, and the school supplies hit center stage at Target…
Do you get a rush of adrenaline? Do you feel a happy dance coming on when you think about getting your hands on a fresh new set of Flair pens? Can you hardly wait to see what’s on the shelves in Dollar Spot heaven?
Well, there’s nothing wrong with feeling a little giddy about getting some new school supplies.
But if we dig a little deeper, there’s an interesting lesson for us to learn about false happiness vs. full happiness.
Whether you love Back to School shopping or not… there’s an ah-ha moment waiting for you in this episode, and it has everything to do with tapping into your happiest teacher life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why the way you approach Back to School Shopping might actually reveal a significant pain point in your teaching life.
- What effect dopamine and “buffering” have to do with your happiness in and out of the classroom.
- How to gain more control over your happiness during not only the Back to School season, but all year long.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: Click here to join!
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Let’s face it. Blah days happen. Those days when you’re running on low energy and low emotions.
Things aren’t horrible, but you’re trudging through the day feeling like something {or everything!} is “off.” All day long, you’re thinking, “Can I get a do-over?”
Well, let’s put an end to the bad wrap we give our Blah Days. With a simple reframe, you’ll see why Blah Days can be sooo good.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why rating and reviewing your days is a simple, but powerful practice.
- The secret to having more and more great days - regardless of your current circumstances.
- The one emotion you can tap into at any moment to change the trajectory of your day.
- My 4-Part Secret Sauce Recipe for creating my best days over and over again.
Want join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: Click here to join!
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Creating a Bucket List is an amazing form of self care. It’s all about deciding what intentional things you want to do in your life to feel your best - mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Bucket Lists don’t have to be all about traveling the world or having “mountaintop experiences.” The more practical your wish list of ideas is, the more likely you’ll be to actually follow through and take action on the things you want to do.
If you’re feeling like summer is passing through your fingers too quickly, now is the perfect time to make a Bucket List of all the things you want to do to soak up every last second of your time off from school.
But... Bucket Lists shouldn’t just be reserved for summertime or later on in your life, they should be for right now - no matter the season or stage of your life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Bucket Lists are a fun and intentional form of self care for teachers.
- Why Bucket Lists shouldn’t be reserved solely for HUGE accomplishments or activities that you look forward to for a very long time.
- Lots of creative twists and unique ideas for Bucket Lists that don’t have anything to do with travel (which is what most people think of!).
- 6 Practical steps you can take today to get your own Summer Bucket List AND Life Bucket Lists in gear.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group:
Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
If you want to be (and feel) your best both in and out of the classroom, self care shouldn’t be the last thing at the bottom of your to-do list. It should be your #1 responsibility.
If teaching IS your life and you’re constantly feeling drained because there’s very little time for anything you love outside of school, you’re approaching your career backwards.
It’s the time and space you give yourself outside of school that makes you the best teacher you can possibly be when you’re there.
Self care should be your first priority if you want to be the best teacher, wife, husband, mom, dad, friend, or anything else. It’s what enables you to make your biggest contribution in the world.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Self Care should be considered the #1 requirement at the top of your job description as a teacher.
- The surprising (or not so surprising) truth found in recent research studies on productivity and overworking.
- 3 steps to start adding more self care into your life in simple and practical ways…. with a short list you can write down and work off of right away.
Want join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group:
Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
What do you think of when people talk about “self care?”
Is it indulgent? Is it pampering yourself? Is it a luxury for people who have oodles of extra time on their hands?
And be honest. Does self care sound a little selfish to you?
In my opinion, there are loads of misconceptions about self care circling around mainstream America today. I think it’s time we get clear on what self care IS and what it ISN’T.
Why? Because I want to suggest that self care is the opposite of selfish. It’s the very best thing you can not only do for yourself as a teacher, but also for your family, your friends, and your students.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Exactly what self care IS and what it is NOT.
- Why self care is the greatest gift teachers can give their families, friends, and students.
- The best (and easiest) way you can get started with self care - starting today.
Want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group:
Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Teachers need each other today more than ever. It's been a wild last few years. Having the support of a community of friends who “get it” can make all the difference. When teachers bring their heads and hearts together, they’re unstoppable.
Social media and online learning communities have made it incredibly easy to connect with other teachers around the globe. In a lot of ways, this is amazing. But it also means it’s easier than ever to get caught up in the Instagram-worthy, Pinterest-Perfect Comparison Game. Rather than trying to keep up with each other, let’s focus on lifting each other up.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why teachers need connection today more than ever.
- What you can do right now to start developing the connections that will support you in your journey toward living your best teacher life.
Do you want to join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/219911903663914/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
There’s only one formula you need for creating a better #teacherlife. Seriously. With the tool we’re talking about in this episode, you can take action toward whatever change you want in your life… starting today.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why the Self-Coaching Model is the only formula you need for creating your very best teacher life.
- Why you haven’t been able to make the changes you want in your life.
- The first step you can take today towards making a real and lasting change in your life.
CTFAR Self-Coaching Model
Follow me on IG @ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
What’s the real cause of your stress and exhaustion as a teacher? It’s probably not what you think it is.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why your circumstances aren’t the problem.
- The true cause of your stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm.
- The simple tool you can start using today to overcome whatever’s keeping you from living the life you really want.
Follow me on IG- @ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
I think the teaching world is ready for a major shift in thinking. If we can agree that teachers’ lives are just as important as the ones they’re changing, it’s time to start talking about the honest realities of #teacherlife. It’s time to discuss real solutions to teacher burnout, overwhelm, and chronic exhaustion.
In this episode you’ll learn:
- Why I believe you need to shift your thinking if you feel like you’re sacrificing your own health and happiness in order to be a great teacher.
- How my journey as a teacher inspired me to create The Chalk Full of Life Podcast™ so you finally have a permission slip to put yourself first.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Welcome to the Chalk Full of Life Podcast. A podcast for overwhelmed and burnt out teachers where you will get a permission slip to put yourself first. I’ll be the first to say that the best gift you can give yourself, your family, and your students is a happy, healthier you.
P.S. If you like what you heard in this trailer, be sure to give this podcast a follow and do me a favor. Screen shot this episode, add it to IG, and tag me @chalkfulloflife. This helps me spread the word about this podcast to other teachers.
Taking a break can be HARD.
Especially when you love what you do.
Whether it’s taking a sick day or a mental health day.
A maternity leave or a sabbatical.
Or committing to not bringing work home in the evenings or on the weekends.
Taking a break sounds awesome.
But it’s not always as easy as it sounds.
I’m about to take a Big Break right now.
And it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
I’ve been experiencing a rollercoaster of mixed emotions.
And it’s requiring me to manage my mind on a whole new level.
If you’re feeling like you need a break, too...
I’d encourage you to listen to your head and your heart.
The only person you need permission from is yourself.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to master the art of taking a break from your schoolwork without feeling guilty.
- How to break free from a “Have To” mentality.
- How to consciously choose more of what you want in life by questioning your own thoughts and beliefs.
Dear Loyal Listener,
Please be sure to listen all the way to the end of this episode.
I’m sharing a little love note with you…
To let you know how much you’ve meant to me on this Chalk Full of Life journey…
And where the journey may be taking us next.
Always Cheering You On,
Kelli
My husband and I have been through some HARD times.
We’re talking rollercoaster moments, for sure.
But over the last 16+ years, we’ve learned A LOT.
Especially in the past few years.
Here are 3 of the best lessons we’ve learned.
RELATIONSHIP LESSON #1:
We don’t make each other happy.
What the other person says or does is never the source of our happiness.
Our happiness comes directly from our individual thoughts.
So… the more we manage our own minds, the happier we are.
Individually. And together.
RELATIONSHIP LESSON #2:
We’re happiest when we let go of our expectations.
When we consciously drop:
— all the “he shoulds” and “she shoulds”…
— and the desire for each other to learn mind reading techniques…
We free up so much mental and emotional energy to truly enjoy each other’s company.
RELATIONSHIP LESSON #3:
Unconditional love is hard, but it’s worth it.
We don’t HAVE to love each other.
We CHOOSE to love each other.
Not because the other person is following our individual unwritten, unspoken manuals for being the Perfect Spouse…
But because focusing on LOVE is so much more fun.
Regardless of what the other person says or does.
When we decide that there are no conditions for our love…
We simply get to love each other because that’s what we want to do.
Is a great marriage (or any other kind of relationship) easy?
Heck no.
Especially when you’re so consumed with school that you feel like you have nothing left to give. #beenthere #donethat
But taking the time and energy to figure out how to have an amazing relationship is one of the most rewarding things you could ever do.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The most common challenges of a teacher marriage when at least one spouse is a teacher (as seen from both sides of the relationship).
- The ultimate solution for the struggles you face in your marriage as a teacher.
- How your relationship can improve dramatically when you take full responsibility for your needs and consciously choose to love your partner unconditionally.
Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
My oldest son likes to invent and design his own board games.
I love seeing his 10 year old brain bursting at the seams with creativity and enthusiasm.
And I think his love of board games is rubbing off on me…
Because I had a MAJOR light bulb moment the other day about a board game.
The Ultimate Board Game.
It felt like an epiphany.
So simple.
But so powerful and true.
This is what I realized.
Life is like a board game.
There are rules for how the game works.
And so often, like outraged preschoolers, we want to complain about the rules.
We don’t think the rules are fair.
We have ideas about how the rules could be “better.”
But when we get fixated on how much we don’t like the rules…
We miss out on all the fun.
We forget that we could have spent our time WINNING rather than complaining.
If we could only let go of how we “wish things could be…”
We’d find that the rules of the game actually allow us to win whenever we want.
If we could actually embrace the Game of Life the way it’s meant to be played…
We could get really excited about the fact that…
We’re 100% in charge of whether we’re winning or losing All. The. Time.
It doesn’t matter how anyone else moves their pawns.
And it doesn’t even matter which cards you pick up along the way.
Winning is available to you at every moment of every day.
It doesn’t matter if you have a challenging class.
It doesn’t matter if your spouse isn’t helping out at home.
It doesn’t matter if your kids are whining.
And it doesn’t matter how many papers you have to grade.
YOU get to decide what winning means for you.
No one else gets a vote.
You get to be in charge of how you think and feel about EVERYTHING.
And you get to create whatever results you want.
I can’t think of a more amazing game to play than the Game of Life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why my favorite new metaphor for your #teacherlife is to think of it like a board game.
- Why it doesn’t do any good to argue with the already established Rules of Life.
- How to make winning inevitable in your teacher life Every. Single. Day.
Which one matters more?
… Professional Development?
… Or Personal Development?
Which would you say?
Obviously, the goals of these two different types of PD are different.
The goal of your teacher PD is to improve your efficacy in your work as a teacher…
While the goal of Personal Development is to improve allll the areas of your life.
So take a quick sec to reflect on this.
Which one do you give more focus and attention right now?
And… is that how you want it to be?
I’m not asking in order to insinuate a “right” or “wrong” answer.
I’m asking because awareness is the first step toward creating everything you want in your life.
So I’d encourage you to take this opportunity to get clear right now.
Are you spending more time improving your teaching career or improving your life?
Personally, I love both options.
And I believe they’re both entirely valid at different times in a teacher’s life.
The question is… which one do you want or need the most right now?
Do you clearly understand the difference between these two different options?
And do you know how they can help you in very different ways?
Maybe you’re not sure which one should get more attention right now…
So I’d love to help you sort this out.
If you’re feeling like you can’t “keep up” with the lightning fast changes in the world of education…
Or you’re feeling inadequate compared to alllll the things you see other teachers doing…
Or you’re wishing you had more time for other priorities in your life outside of school (without dropping the ball)…
Personal Development is the place to focus.
On the other hand…
If you’re looking for a new strategy to use with your students or you’re working toward a new degree or certification, Professional Development is what you need.
The problem is…
Too many teachers are looking for Professional Development to give them personal results like:
- Feeling more confident as a teacher.
- Being more organized.
- Being an excellent manager of your time.
- Eliminating stress and overwhelm.
Unfortunately, these areas aren’t being addressed in professional development opportunities for teachers today.
If you want to continue to grow as a teacher AND love your life even more as time goes on, be sure to tune in for this episode.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The biggest difference between Professional Development and Personal Development — and why this matters if you want to be less stressed and have more free time.
- Why Personal Development is where your focus needs to be if you want to feel more confident and relaxed, and have more time outside of school WITHOUT having to do more or prove yourself to anyone.
- Three steps you can take today to make the most of your Professional Development AND Personal Development so you can continue to grow as a teacher, but also love your life even more as time goes on.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
You know Bob Ross, right?
The painter with the amazing hair and the put-you-to-sleep soothing voice.
Yeah, I actually have a friend (and a husband) who both listen to his videos sometimes when they’re trying to fall asleep. True story.
I mean, how can you not love this guy?
I’m mesmerized by how effortlessly he paints.
And I love his nonchalant take on imperfections.
If you make a mistake in your painting… No problem!
“It’s a happy accident!” Bob chuckles.
According to him, it’s a perfect opportunity to make a cute little birdie in the sky.
But what about mistakes in Real Life?
Do we actually see our mistakes as happy little accidents?
What if our mistakes are giving us results that we reeeally don’t want?
And what if we’re making detrimental mistakes without even realizing it?
Well, my intention here is definitely not to stress you out.But I’ve gotta tell you something.
I see teachers making this ONE REALLY BIG MISTAKE All. The. Time. without knowing it.
And the reason I want to point it out is because I want to help you avoid it.
Because it is 100% avoidable.
And it’s definitely worth avoiding because it’s the #1 cause for why you might take a lot of action to try to solve a problem, only to find that you didn’t get the result you wanted.
Or you did get a great result at first, but it didn’t stick.
Some examples of this would be…
- trying a new diet and getting some results, but ultimately giving up on it in the end.
- trying a new exercise routine and getting some results, but feeling like it’s too hard to keep it going.
- trying a pretty new planner to get organized and better at prioritizing your time, but finding that the planner didn’t really help you fix anything.
- trying to improve a relationship by saying or doing things differently, but ending up feeling like nothing much changed.
If you’ve experienced any of those frustrations after trying so hard to make a change…
I know the root cause of why it’s been such a struggle.
But do you?
Or have you been thinking the things you’ve struggled with changing will always continue to be a struggle?
Well, the great news is…
There’s a much better (and much more effective) way to make lasting changes in your life
It’s’ 100% in your control.
And it’s not complicated.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The #1 biggest mistake teachers are making today without even realizing it, and how it has everything to do with your life at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Exactly how to avoid this #1 mistake if you want to live your best life in and out of the classroom.
- The powerful changes you’ll immediately start noticing in yourself when you’re no longer trapped by the #1 mistake.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Are you ready for a sing-a-long?
I think you know this one…
It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeeear…
With the kids filling in bubbles…
And everyone telling you, “State testing is here!”
It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeear!
Or maybe we should replace the word “wonderful” with “stressful?”Not because it’s particularly stressful to hand out all the No. 2 pencils…
And walk 79 laps around your classroom while the bubbles are being filled in…
But because you’re left wondering if you’ve done enough.
If your students are actually going to try their hardest.
If they’re actually going to take their time and check their work.
And if they’re actually going to remember all the things you’ve worked so hard on together this year.
Now it’s just a waiting game.
It’s out of your hands.
And all there is left to do is just hope…
Until it’s time to gear up for a brand new round of test anxiety next year.
But is that really the only option you have?
Do test scores and teacher evaluations have to cause you stress and turmoil?
Is this just a part of what it means to be a teacher today?
Does anxiety over all the numbers have to be the norm?
Nope.
I know I might be making some waves here…
But this is what I truly believe.
None of the scores have to cause you any emotional pain.
You do NOT need to be stressed over your students’ scores or your teacher evaluation scores.
The stress isn’t serving you.
It’s not making you a better teacher.
And it’s not making you a better parent, spouse, or friend.
So why hang onto it?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your students’ state test scores (and your teacher evaluation scores) don’t ever need to stress you out again.
- How a simple shift in your thinking can make a world of difference in your approach to the mandatory testing and evaluations in your school district.
- The 3 steps you can start taking today to release yourself from the stress of all the scores that don’t have to define your worth as a teacher.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
If you listen to The Chalk Full Of Life podcast on the regular, you might find this as funny/enlightening as I do.
At LEAST once a month…
When I find myself in some sort of tailspin or end-of-the-world drama…
My dear ‘ol hubby likes to tell me:“I know a really good podcast episode I think you should listen to.”
And, of course, he’s referring to my OWN podcast.
“Haha, you’re so funny,” I tell him.
I love/hate it when he points me back to my own words because…
He’s totally right. I need the same coaching that I give on the podcast.
I think it’s so interesting that the help we give others is often the same help we need ourselves.
It’s kind of like looking for your glasses when they’re right there on your face.
On this week’s episode, I’m going to tell you about the #1 skill I bet you’re already teaching your students.
That might not sound too exciting, but here’s why it really is.
It also happens to be the most important skill you can use to make any change you want in your own life.
But if you’re like me, you might need someone else to point out that amazing skill you’re always teaching…
So you can use it to your own advantage.
I’m telling you… there are HUGE advantages to gain from this one skill.
Wanna have more time with your family on the weekend?
Wanna leave school earlier each day?
Wanna start a new exercise routine?
Wanna get your papers graded faster?
This ONE skill is the starting point for allll of those changes.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The #1 skill you teach your students that you can use to make the most massive difference in your own life.
- How to shift from living a surface level life to achieving your fullest potential and reaching your highest fulfillment.
- How you’ll know you’ve been successful with using this skill to make positive changes in your life.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Check out Betsy Potash’s podcast, The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast.
Do you ever wonder how your significant other would tell the story of your teacher life?
Like, if your partner was on the Ellen Show and she asked what it’s like to be married to (or date) a teacher…
What do you think your main squeeze would say?
Well, I don’t think I ever fully pondered that question until this week.
Why?
Because I handed the mic over to my husband this week on the podcast!
I told him he could share whatever he thought would be helpful for our Chalk Full of Lifers…
So Brian decided to tell my story — from HIS perspective.
He wanted you to hear what it was like to be married to me while I was in the classroom.
And how nothing really changed when I left.
How I carried my workaholism with me when I started working from home.
How I didn’t change my poor eating or exercising habits.
How I thought I was doing it all because “that’s just the way it had to be.”
And because I thought it was what I had to do to help support our family financially.
He’s seen me at my best and my worst.
He was there during my full-blown panic attacks, my chronic exhaustion, and many years of ongoing anxiety.
He’s also seen me go through a pretty radical metamorphosis over the past couple of years.
In this week’s episode, you won’t get any specific “take action” steps.
So what WILL you get?
You’ll get to hear from a husband who knows what it’s like to be married to a teacher who always wanted to be great in the classroom AND great at home…
But who seriously struggled in both areas.
You’ll hear how he felt like he was constantly being pushed to the bottom of my priority list.
How my stress put a real strain on our marriage.
And you’ll find out what finally “clicked” for me to start making changes in my life, and what ripple effects of goodness that’s created for our family.
But what I hope the most?
I hope you’ll start believing that the changes I’ve made in my life are 100% available to you, too.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What it was like to be the husband of a workaholic teacher.
- Why Brian believes that leaving the classroom WASN’T the answer to changing Kelli’s mindset, unhealthy behaviors, or give her any more free time with her family.
- How real, lasting changes ARE possible if you’re willing to do things differently than what you see most teachers doing… and why it’s so worth it for the sake of your family.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Ok, I’ll admit it.
I love me some Bachelor.
(Even though it’s been a couple seasons since I’ve watched.)
The drama gets me every time.
Don’t get me wrong…
I’m not a fan of drama in my owwwn life.
But there’s this “I-just-can’t-turn-my-head-away-from-the-train-wreck” feeling that comes over me when it comes to watching reality tv.
Know what I’m sayin?
Drama’s fun when it’s on tv.
Or in a movie.
But Not-So-Much when it’s in your house.
Or in your hallway at school.
It’s exhausting.
Can I get an amen?
It feels like The Drama is following you everywhere you go when…
- Your toddler throws an epic fit about putting his jacket on.
- Your Little Miss Drama Queen stirs the pot of emotions in your classroom.
- Your coworkers turn the faculty room into Gossip Girl Central.
But the truth of the matter?
The Drama doesn’t have to affect you. At All.
You get to be 100% in charge of your drama-meter.
You can let everyone around you go crazy pants.
While you stay cool as a cucumber.
Are you sick of allll The Drama?
I’ve got your back.
Calmer waters are waiting for you, my friend.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to pinpoint the drama in your life that’s driving you bonkers – so you can get rid of it.
- The difference between drama vs. math in your teacher life.
- How to de-dramatize any challenge, frustration, conversation, or situation you encounter out of the blue (or that’s ongoing) in any area of your life.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
You don’t need a permission slip.
But I’m going to give you one anyway.
And more importantly…
I’d like you to consider giving one to yourself.
Why? Because…
Teachers are really good at giving evvverything to evvveryone else.
But how good are you at giving yourself what you really need?
We get so caught up in going, going, going…
Giving, giving, giving…
And doing, doing, doing…
That we keep thinking we need to Do MORE.
And Be MORE.
But I think what we reeeally need most often is to…
Do LESS.
When you do LESS, you free up your 2 most valuable resources:
Time & Energy.
And when you have more Time & Energy…
You’re able to show up as the best version of yourself.
Now, I know what you’re probably thinking.
“That sounds great! I’d love to do less! I’m sooo exhausted, BUT…”
And then you could go on to give me a gigantic list of reasons why you can’t do less because there’s so much you HAVE TO DO.
I get it.
I’ve been there.
But I’d like to offer the thought that maybe the “have to” mentality isn’t serving you.
What if it’s a sneaky little thought that sounds legit, but it’s actually a form of self-sabotage?
(Remember last week’s episode?)
So here’s what I’d like to recommend.
If you love the “idea” of doing less, but you don’t see HOW it could possibly work for you…
I’d like to invite you to consider some new thoughts.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why selfish is the new selfless when it comes to being a great teacher and showing up as your best for your family and friends.
- Why doing less actually allows you to be more in every area of your life – both in and out of school.
- How to make doing less a habit that will help you step into the best version of yourself.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
When I was a kid, I loved choreographing dance and rollerblade routines that my friends and I performed for sold-out (parental) audiences in my driveway.
I also loved directing, performing in, and filming my own spin-offs of fairy tales.
(Yeah, my mom has the embarrassing video footage to prove it.)
One of my Academy Award Winning silliest performances was Little Red Riding Hood.
We had my dog, Greta, play the part of the wolf.
She was pretty convincing.
I swear you couldn’t tell the difference between her and my grandma.
(Just kidding, Grandma.)
But seriously. Do you know what really IS convincing?
We have these pretty little thoughts.
Thoughts that SOUND really well-meaning, caring, and noble.
But they often do us more harm than good.
Thoughts like…
“I just want everyone to be happy.”
“These kids deserve better.”
“I need to do better.”
“I should ________.”
“I shouldn’t ________.”
Without us even realizing it, these pretty little thoughts can morph into poison.
Like the wolf who LOOKS like Granny…
Our pretty little thoughts might SOUND good at first…
But when you peel back the top layer to see what’s really going on underneath…
You might find that they’re NOT serving you at all.
In fact, these thoughts might be holding you back from showing up as the the best version of yourself at school, at home, and in your personal life.
They might be the reason why you feel frustrated all the time.
Or the reason why you feel like you’re never doing enough.
Or being enough.
So let’s catch these pretty little thoughts before they can do any more damage.
Let’s take a look at the thoughts that look innocent on the outside…
But may actually be holding you hostage on the inside.
If you wanna make sure you’re not unintentionally showing up as the wolf in your own thought life…
You’ll wanna listen very carefully with a wide-open mind.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What pretty little thoughts sound useful to us as teachers, but how they’re more like poison when you discover what they’re actually doing to you.
- How to distinguish between good-sounding thoughts that are actually serving you vs. the ones that are harming you.
- The 3 steps you can take right away if you discover you’ve been holding onto a thought that’s been doing you more harm than good.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A beta tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Check out Jody Moore’s Podcast, Better Than Happy, which Kelli references in this episode.
Some days I roll out of bed, get dressed, and feel like a million bucks.
Other days, I curse my skinny jeans for being too skinny. 👖
And I question whether it was them or me that changed size since the last load of laundry. 🤷♀️
Ever feel this way?
#FrustrationStation
Whether we’re frustrated with something going on at school, something at home, or something about ourselves…
Our culture has a tendency to look at frustration as a negative thing.
After all, frustration doesn’t feel good! 😖
So most of us try to rush our way out of frustration as fast as we can.
We run to the Oreos.
We binge the Netflix.
We vent to whoever will listen.
Bottom Line: We seek COMFORT.
But then the frustration rears its ugly head again.
And again.
And again.
#DejaVu
So we keep trying to run away from it.
Or we try to numb ourselves from the awful feeling. 🍦📺🍷
But what if there’s more to it?
What if we’re missing something really good hidden underneath the frustration?
What if we’re actually creating our own vicious spin cycles when we try to push it away?
What if there’s a better way to get through the frustration faster?
…And actually come out on the other side of it feeling like we’ve finally conquered it?
(Rather than feeling like the frustration itself has some sort of power over us.)
Let’s look at frustrations with fresh eyes.
And uncover the truth behind what’s really going on.
Whether you’re feeling frustrated at school, at home, with yourself (or all of the above)…
I promise you’ll know exactly what to do with your frustration by the end of the episode.
And fair warning: It might surprise you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Exactly how to move from frustration toward whatever you want most in your teacher life right now.
- The two types of discomfort you’ll experience when you’re frustrated (and how to know which one is helpful vs. which one is harmful.)
- How to consciously choose the type of discomfort that will help you realize your goals, dreams, and ambitions faster.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A beta tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
We’re about to go waaay beyond lighthearted jokes about being #TeacherTired.
Are you ready?
This week’s episode is pretty heavy.
And raw.
It’s not the topic I planned to share with you.
But when you have a ~~light bulb~~ lightning-bolt-striking-your-head-and-heart moment, you’ve gotta just go with it, you know?
Let me cut straight to the chase.
A few days ago, I was listening to a podcast (not CFOL!)…
And I got one of those knock-the-wind-out-of-you feelings of conviction.
It completely stopped me in my tracks (or rather… stopped me from continuing to put the laundry away. #busted).
Here’s what happened.
I heard just a few sentences that hit me like a ton of bricks…
Because something dawned on me out of the blue:
⚡#1 ➡️I was being a complete jerkwad.
That was ROUGH admitting to myself.
But the convicting words I heard were exxxxactly what I needed to hear…
Even though they felt like a dagger twisting through my heart.
So I backed up, and listened again and again…
And then an even bigger realization dawned on me:
⚡#2 ➡️There’s been a recurring pattern in my life that needs to end.
Now.
If you’re feeling #TeacherTired…
To the extent that you’re fearing that you’re missing out on too much of what really matters in your life…
I’m pretty sure we’re kindred spirits.
And I’m positive this episode is for you.
If you’re feeling like things are a bit out of whack in your life right now…
Trust me. You’re not alone.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- My 3 most devastating moments from the past 5 years (that have everything to do with feeling like a failure in my personal #TeacherLife).
- How to receive the exact messages you need to hear and learn the exact lessons you need to learn in your own perfect timing.
- How to decide what your best next step should be when you experience a wake-up call moment that makes you realize you need to make a big change in your life.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A beta tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
I totally bombed my first teaching job interview.
And that was just the first of maaany more #TeacherFails to come.
For starters…
There was that time I showed up at the wrong building for an important meeting. 🏫
That time one of my students said I should be on an episode of “What Not To Wear.” 👗
That time my grade level partner told me I was “hard to work with.” 🙄
That time my car ran out of gas on the way to school, and I had to walk the rest of the way in heels. 👠
And that time I discovered I put my underwear on inside out while I was in the bathroom. 😂
I mean… I could go on for days.
And not just with silly failures.
I could probably write an entire autobiography on all the ways I felt like a failure as a teacher.
I wanted to be awesome in the classroom, but I felt like I was nevvver doing enough.
If we could chat over a Starbucks latte, we’d probably be there for hours…
But seriously.
There. Are. So. Many. Ways. To. FAIL. As. A. Teacher.
Or rather… FEEL like we’re failing…
As teachers.
As wives.
As moms.
As friends.
You name it.
Because as a teacher, you’ve got no less than 5,324 things on your plate at all times.
There’s an abundance of ways to feel like you’re failing in your personal or professional life (or both!).
And that’s what was always the hardest thing for me.
Knowing that I had so much potential to be great at school AND at home…
But feeling like I was constantly failing to reach my potential… everywhere.
So if you’re feeling like you’re failing at something in your life right now, you’re not alone.
And I’m here to tell you that even though I’m still a work in progress when it comes to this whole “failing thing”…
I’ve learned soooo much over the past few years that has completely shifted the way I see failure and its purpose in my life.
If you’re sick of feeling like you’re:
— Failing at school
— Failing at home
— Failing in your relationships
— Or failing to take better care of yourself
… I’ve got some good news.
You can Fail Forward toward anything you want in your teacher life.
In fact, failure is the best path toward success.
I have so much more on this topic to share with you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your personal and professional successes will always be achieved through failure (and how you can speed up your your success by doubling down on your failures).
- How to look for the lessons inside each failure that make your success so much easier to achieve.
- How to tell the difference between your self-sabotaging failures and your successful failures, so you can avoid the negative thought patterns that will only slow you down.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A beta tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Do you remember your first interview for a teaching job?
I remember mine… and it was AWFUL.
I remember being stunned when I saw the huge boardroom table filled with about 15 administrators… all staring… at ME.
And that’s about all I remember.
Because I think I went into shock. 😵
LOL.
And then I started rambling off all sorts of nonsense as they continued to stare.
Continued to fire questions at me.
And continued to circle low numbers on their scoring sheets.
So needless to say, it wasn’t a big surprise when they didn’t call back to offer me a job.
I felt like a huuuge failure.
I bombed it. And I sounded like a blubbering idiot.
At least that’s how I saw it at the time.
Now I can look back and see it very differently.
(Yay for hindsight and new ways of thinking!)
Now I’m seeing failure in a brand new light.
And it feels sooo much better.
I haven’t mastered it yet, but I’m on my way.
I feel like I’m in the trenches learning a really hard new skill.
But even though it’s hard…
I know it’s going to be 1000% worth the effort.
How do I know that?
Because I know I’m the thinker of my own thoughts.
And I know my thoughts are the direct cause of my feelings.
The idea of failure used to make me feel lousy, incapable, and not good enough.
But now failure feels more natural, comfortable, and purposeful.
And on my best days, it’s even beginning to feel empowering…
(And dare I say a tad bit exciting!)
So here’s what I’d like you to think about.
What’s one thing you feel like you’re failing at right now?
Or something you’re afraid to fail at… so you’ve been avoiding it?
Maybe it’s something at school.
Maybe it’s something at home.
Or maybe it has to do with your mental, emotional, or physical health.
Whatever it is…
How does it feel to you right now?
Does it feel heavy or uncomfortable?
Do you wish you could just get over it?
Is it keeping you up at night?
Or would you just rather not think about it?
If you’re nodding your head…
I want you to know it doesn’t have to be this way.
I’d love to show you how you can turn it all around so you can forever change the way you think about failing, and rewire your brain for faster and easier success (no matter what goals you have as a teacher – at school, home, or in your personal life).
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why you need to reframe what failure means to you – especially if you’re not getting what you want in a specific area of your teacher life right now.
- How to get unstuck if you’re feeling paralyzed by failure or a fear of failure.
- The first step you need to take in order to rewire your thoughts and feelings about failure – when it comes to anything you want to change at school, at home, or in your personal life.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A beta tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
When you’re working toward new nutrition or exercise goals in your teacher life…
Do you ever wish you could get a little turbo boost to get to the finish line?
When that initial honeymoon phase wears off, things can get T O U G H.
You keep trying to pack the healthy lunches.
And you muster up all your willpower to turn on those exercise videos.
But in the back of your head, you keep wondering…
“Is this even working?”
“Is all this effort really worth it?”
“Can I keep this up?”
“Do I even WANT to keep this up?”
It feels like you’re moving forward at a snail’s pace.
Some days you wonder if you’ve even moved a millimeter closer to your goal.
And sometimes it feels like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel.
You keep going, but you feel like you’re not really getting anywhere.
And then you contemplate giving up.
You question whether you’re asking too much of yourself.
You’re exhausted.
You have sooo many other things on your plate.
Things to keep up with at home.
And a boat to keep afloat at school.
You want to feel better in your body…
And you know you’re smart.
(Heck! You’re a highly educated and highly motivated person.)
So why is it soooo crazy difficult to figure out how to reach your personal health goals?
Why haven’t you found a way to make a simple change in your life that doesn’t feel impossible?
Or like some form of cruel and unusual punishment?
Well, let’s face it.
Our culture has done a pretty lousy job of teaching us how to actually set and achieve doable, healthy lifestyle goals.
Everywhere we look for help, we’re told to…
“Do this thing.”
“Do that thing.”
#BabySharkDooDoo… Do… Do… Do ALL the things!
But this is completely backward.
It’s why only 8% of people reach their goals each year.
Because everyone’s always telling you all the ACTIONS you’re “supposed to” take.
But here’s the truth.
Beginning with action-taking doesn’t work.
Real change begins WITHIN.
It begins on the INSIDE – with your thoughts and feelings.
But don’t just take my word for it.
Pyschologists and neuroscientists have the data to back it up.
Are you familiar with Brooke Castillo’s CTFAR Model?
You know how Einstein developed the formula, E=mc2, to explain the correlation between energy and mass?
Well, Brooke developed the formula, CTFAR, to explain how humans create their own results in life.
In a coconut shell, here’s how the CTFAR Model works from beginning to end (top to bottom):
Circumstance: An observable fact. (Ex: You weigh 162 lbs.)
Thought: You create a meaning in your head about that fact. (Ex: “I’m so overweight!”)
Feeling: Your thought creates a feeling. (Ex: self-loathing, frustration, disgust, etc.)
Actions: Your feeling drives your actions. (Ex: Willpowering your way to losing weight.)
Results: Your actions create your results. (Ex: Your willpower runs out. You give up.)
So do you see why most people are starting at the wrong place with their health goals?
When you only focus on taking all kinds of new ACTIONS, it’s like you’re trying to hop into a marathon at mile 20, having skipped miles 1-19.
You’re completely missing out on the pieces of your human nature that need to be addressed BEFORE you jump into action.
You’ve gotta gain clarity on your Circumstances, and what’s going on INSIDE of you with your Thoughts and Feelings FIRST…
When you work from the inside-out, you can take muuuuch better Actions that will actually stick and lead to long-term Results.
If you’re like, “Whoah. This makes sense, but I don’t know where to begin…”
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The 6 key ingredients you need to have in place in order to make sure your nutrition & exercise goals actually STICK – so they can transform into long-term habits on autopilot. The 6 key ingredients you need to have in place in order to make sure your nutrition & exercise goals actually STICK so they can transform into long-term habits on autopilot.
- How to get your Survival Brain on board with the new changes you want in your life (because it IS going to put up a fight!).
- Real examples from my own life – so you can follow what works and avoid what doesn’t.
JOIN the movement TRUTH: You don’t have to sacrifice your health or happiness to be a great teacher.
DARE: Regret-proof your #teacherlife by doing things differently.
(Re)discover the life you thought you signed up for.
Say goodbye to the #teachertired and say hello to the very best version of yourself.
A beta tribe of teacher wellness warriors is launching soon!
Get all the tools, strategies, and support you need to reclaim your time, restore your happiness, and transform your mental, emotional, and physical health.
Click here to be first in line.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
How do you feel about cold turkey?
No, no, silly… not the kind you have for leftovers after the holidays.
I mean going Cold Turkey on harmful habits.
Like when I used to say, “Yeah. I’m gonna stop drinking soda every day in the new year.”
And then poof…
I thought if I just said it, I’d be able to instantly make it happen with sheer willpower.
And what about “All or Nothing” ideals?
I used to think, “If I’m gonna exercise, it’s gotta be for at leeeeast 30 minutes for it to make a difference. And since I can’t seem to find a spare 30 minutes anywhere in my life, I guess it’s pointless to even try right now.”
Meanwhile, in the back of my head, I’d be like, “Maybe I’ll have the time when my kids go off to college in 15 years!” #kiddingnotkidding
Is it just me? Or have you said things like this to yourself, too?
Well, if there’s a twinkle of desire inside you to create some new nutrition and exercise habits this year, you’re in the right place.
I have a very special guest that I’d like to introduce you to this week.
His name is Brian Wise.
And he’s not only my biggest encourager, supporter, and motivator…
He’s my hubby!
(And the behind-the-scenes audio editing genius who makes sure the podcast sounds sooo good each and every week.)
Working in a high stress, mentally & emotionally challenging pediatric intensive care unit…
(where life and death decisions are a part of the daily grind)
Brian’s learned a thing or two about the challenges of prioritizing your health when you’re pouring so much of yourself into your career.
Also, thanks to the many years that he’s lived with a super stressed teacher…
(Eh hemmm… that would be me.)
Brian totally gets how hard it can be for teachers to create and maintain healthy eating and exercising habits.
So Brian and I put our heads together…
And created our very first tag team Chalk Full of Life episode for you!
From his medical expertise and personal experience, Brian’s sharing the most practical, doable strategies you can implement right away to improve your eating and exercise habits in 2019.
And I’m chiming in with all the critical mindset stuff that will help you (finally) stay on track with your goals.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your busy teacher life isn’t an excuse for not being able to develop better eating and exercising habits.
- How to set nutrition and exercise goals that are actually doable (with a busy schedule) to experience lasting results and feel better in your body.
- Why “All or Nothing” and “Cold Turkey” mentalities don’t work when in comes to building new diet and exercise habits – and what you need to focus on instead.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
I have a gift for you today, my teacher friend!
Wanna guess what it is??
I’ll give you a couple hints.
Hint #1 — Marty McFly
Hint #2 — Your Best Year Yet
Give up??
Ok, ok!
Cue the Confetti Drop.
We’re going Back to the Future together…
To reverse engineer your BEST year yet in 2019.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to rent the DeLorean.
But I DO have something even better for you.
Something that doesn’t require time travelling.
It’s my 5-step process for setting the Right goals for your life in 2019…
So you can actually, fiiinally reach them. For real.
Whether you wanna lose 20 pounds.
Work less. (Goodbye 55-hour teacher work weeks!)
Reclaim more time for your family.
Make more money. (Hello side gig!)
Move into a new house.
Or just take better care of yourself. Period.
I usually only do this for my coaching clients.
But I consider you a dear friend because you’re one of my podcast pals.
So I wanted to make this workbook just for you.
It’s phreee. (Yes, with a ph. It’s too cool for school.)
And it goes along with Episode 047.
It’s Part 2 of your fail-proof plan for Goal Getting in 2019 with the right inside-out strategies that will help you make this your best year yet.
(Make sure you don’t miss Part 1 in Episode 046 – also with a workbook!)
And don’t worry.
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
I’ll walk you through the whole process.
So you’ll have more clarity + confidence about 2019 than you’ve ever had before.
Or your money back.
Waaaaaait. What?
Oh that’s right… It’s my Happy New Year gift to you!
Let’s rock this year like it’s nobody’s business.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why your thoughts and feelings are more important than the actions you take to reach your biggest teacher life goals.
- Why your Future Self is the wisest guru who always knows the best next steps to take in your life.
- My 5-step process for setting the Right goals for your life with results-driven action items that will ensure your inevitable success.
>> Click Here to download your printable podcast companion workbooks:
Download your free workbooks here (for a limited time). Click the button above to kick-start your goal getting this year!
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Did you know that only 8% of people achieve their personal goals each year?
These were the findings of a recent study by the University of Scranton.
And Michael Scott may or may not have been one of the 8%.
(Ok… I couldn’t help myself. I mean, you can’t NOT throw a little Dunder Mifflin humor into any mention of Scranton, PA.)
But seriously…
Why do 92% of people fail with their goals in life?
Well, I haven’t conducted a scientific study on it.
But after having taught 11 years in the classroom and having coached and trained hundreds of teacherpreneurs on how to set and achieve their goals…
…I’ve observed some very real patterns for what makes both kids and adults fail.
But more importantly…
…What makes goal achievement not only possible, but INEVITABLE.
So I’ve gotta ask.
What are your hopes and dreams for 2019?
What do you really wish you could accomplish?
Do you wanna lose some weight?
Start a new exercise routine?
Spend more time with your family?
Take a big vacation?
Buy a new house?
Make more money?
You might be thinking that your dreams are impossible.
Or that they’re too hard.
Or that other people can do it, but for some reason you can’t.
Well…
If you wanna be in the 8%, you’ve gotta rewire those limiting beliefs.
And you CAN.
I’ve not only seen it happen for many of my friends, colleagues, students and clients…
…But I’ve also done it myself.
The biggest reason why most people don’t accomplish their goals is because they set themselves up for failure before they even get started.
And they don’t even realize they’re shooting themselves in the foot.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could skip over all the self-sabotage and follow a few proven (and simple) steps for achieving your biggest, boldest goals?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why results-driven goals and action plans can help you achieve everything you want in 2019, but resolutions will leave you empty-handed.
- The 3 things that hold most people back from achieving their goals (so you can avoid these pitfalls).
- The most important first step toward reaching a new goal in your life (that most people miss!).
>> Click Here to download your printable podcast companion workbooks:
Download your free workbooks here (for a limited time). Click the button above to kick-start your goal getting this year!
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Red Lion, Pennsylvania – New Year’s Eve – We raise a lion holding an 8 foot cigar.
Have you ever seen the episode of Seinfeld where Elaine finds out that the label maker she gave somebody got regifted to Jerry?
It’s a classic.
That episode, in all its glory, actually popularized the concept of “regifting.”
And I’ve gotta admit that thoughts of regifting got popularized in my own teacher brain when I somehow managed to receive more mugs, bottles of lotion, and candles than one human could ever put to good use.
While I definitely believe “it’s the thought that counts”…
I secretly wished my students’ families would have just shared their kindness with me through a simple card (or a Starbucks gift card! heehee).
Because there was always this little twinge of guilt whenever I’d donate #allthemugs to the faculty room…
Or regift the lotions and candles to my grandmas.
You feelin’ me?
But this year I’ve decided to reinvent “regifting.”
I’m spinning it in a whole new light.
My new definition of regifting has nothing to do with extraneous presents you know you’ll never use.
And it has everything to do with you giving the BEST gift you could evvvver give your students, your family, and your friends – regardless of what day it is.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- A surprising twist on the concept of regifting that’ll help you make this the most magical holiday season of all time.
- A new definition for what it means to be “gifted” and why YOU deserve to be in the Gifted Teachers’ Club.
- Two simple “take action challenges” that will amplify your gift giving – for free.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Personality test: https://www.16personalities.com
Closing song by Kelli’s husband, Brian. https://soundcloud.com/brianwise/o-come-all-ye-faithful-bwise
Photo by Caley Dimmock on Unsplash
If you’re a teacher, I’ve got a riddle for you.
What do…
-
Full Moons
-
Snow in the forecast
-
and the WHOLE month of December
… ALL have in common?
That’s right! Students bouncing off the walls.
You’re so smart.
But you’re also probably pretty stressed right now if you’re experiencing this phenomenon in your own classroom.
So the Million Dollar Question is:
How can you keep your ish together?
… AND go from Chaos Coordinator back to Totally Calm & In Control?
Well, I’ve got some counterintuitive tips for you to try TODAY.
Oh… and they’re #QuickAndEasy.
These aren’t things I found on the interwebs or learned from other teachers.
These strategies are 100% straight-up from Yours Truly.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
What’s really going on when your students are suddenly bouncing off the walls (OR not paying attention OR not following simple directions).
-
The 2 troubleshooting options you can quickly and easily choose from to turn your ship around so you won’t drown in classroom chaos.
-
How to make a 180 degree shift that will not only melt away your stress, but also harness your students’ energy for good (and not for evil – mwahaha!).
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Or find the fun on Instagram: @chalkfulloflife
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Park Troopers on Unsplash
When my oldest kid was a toddler, I learned that it was a B-A-D idea to take him grocery shopping.
Going to the grocery store went from being my least favorite chore to “the thing I swear I will never, ever do again with this 2 year old.”
The day he put on his Academy Award winning performance for Most Loud, Tantrumy, Candy-Deprived Child in History was the last day he and I bonded in the cashier’s line for a verrry long time.
It’s crazy how kids try to get what they want by begging, pleading, whining, and throwing embarrassing fits in public…
Because it rarely ever works out in their favor.
As adults, we know that misbehaving isn’t the way to get what we want.
But even when we aren’t acting like a bunch of outta control toddlers, we often get in the way of our own happiness – without realizing it.
We stomp on the brakes and unintentionally hold ourselves back…
Rather than hitting the gas to get what we really want – so much faster and easier.
So what are we doing that’s slowing down our own happiness?
And how can we get what we want without so much effort?
It all comes down to gratitude and abundance.
And it’s pretty simple.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
How to tell whether you’re (unintentionally) pressing on the brakes or hitting the accelerator when it comes to creating your own happiness in your teacher life.
-
How to get more of what you want in life (at school, home, or anywhere else) with zero resistance.
-
How to use the Abundance Sandwich exercise to develop a greater sense of gratitude today and create much more abundance in your life with less effort.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by gabrielle cole on Unsplash
Do you ever play with the filters on Instagram or other photo editing apps on your phone?
Isn’t it amazing how a simple filter can completely change the look and feel of your photos?
I’ve found the same to be true of my thoughts.
If I wake up thinking, “I’m so stressed out.”
Or… “There’s way too much to do.”
Then I’ve put on my “Life is So Hard” filter.
And I begin seeing evvverything in my day through that filter.
With my “Life is So Hard” filter on, my day ends up looking like this:
-
My kids are out of control.
-
My husband isn’t helping out around the house.
-
The house looks like a hot mess.
-
I can’t get all my work done fast enough.
That’s a HARD day, right?
But when I consciously choose to put a different filter on my thoughts, my day shapes up verrry differently.
With my Gratitude filter on, my days look more like this:
-
I notice the humor and joy my kids add to my life.
-
I notice how much my husband compliments me and shows me affection.
-
I notice how much I love my new white dishes – whether or not they’re piling up in the sink.
-
I feel grateful for the work I get to do each day.
I often think it would be interesting to live the same day twice.
Once with my “Life is So Hard” filter.
And again with my Gratitude filter.
I have a huge hunch that these filters are what make ALL the difference.
Not my list of to-do’s.
Or what someone else said or did.
Our days are shaped by the “thought filters” we consciously choose.
So do you want more hard days? Or more happiness?
The choice is yours.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
The one key ingredient you need in order to shift from hard days to more happiness in your teacher life.
-
Why you might be shooting yourself in the foot when it comes to living your day to day life in greater alignment with what you really want.
-
How to consciously create more abundance in your life on a moment by moment basis.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Anthony Ginsbrook on Unsplash
Survival Mode.
It’s no fun.
I spent yeeears of my life trapped in it.
As a teacher, I thought that was just the way it had to be.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Wake up. Get dressed.
Wake the kids up. Get them dressed.
Grab a coffee and a granola bar.
Get the kids in the car. Drop them off at daycare.
Head to school.
BLINK. (AKA: Do 2,345 things at school.)
Head back to daycare. Head home.
Make dinner. (AKA: Find something frozen to heat up.)
Clean up from dinner. Get the kids ready for bed.
Try not to fall asleep during bedtime stories.
Stare at my teacher bag. Stare at my mountain of laundry.
Decide that there’s no way I could get caught up with #AllTheThings, so I might as well go to bed.
That was my daily routine.
It didn’t really feel like a “life.”
It felt more like a neverending Groundhog Day.
But I learned the hard way that it didn’t have to be like that.
It took too many panic attacks, ongoing anxiety, losing too much weight, gaining too much weight, and getting sick All. The. Time. to wake me up.
When I finally realized (and believed) that I could create a different kind of life, everything changed.
And it all started with one baby step.
I solved one small problem.
And then another one. And another one.
Until I was breathing easier. Feeling better. Finding more time. And being present for my everyday life rather than just going through the motions.
If you’re ready to say goodbye to Survival Mode, I know you can do it.
Do you believe you can?
Do you wanna know how?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
The real life superpower you can develop (no matter how busy you are) in order to keep #AllTheThings running smoother than ever at home and school.
-
The best place to start when you’re ready to eliminate the most annoying or frustrating parts of your home or school life (that YOU have control over).
-
How to plan for (and take action on) a new system or process that will instantly lift a ton of stress off of your shoulders.
If the first frustration you’d like to tackle is your meal & grocery list planning, I’d love to share one of my biggest sanity savers with you. It’s called Plan To Eat, and it will save you loads of time and stress.
No more headaches over trying to figure out what to make for dinner each week.
No more agonizing over making that grocery list.
For stress-free, time-saving meal & grocery planning, check out Plan To Eat.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by elizabeth lies on Unsplash
We’ve all been there. Giving 100% to our careers. And wanting to be the best teachers we can be for our students.
But then a parent says something.
Something that makes you think, “Do you even have any cluuue how hard I’m working over here?!”
(And if they don’t have a teacher in their family, they probably DON’T have a clue.)
But the Bottom Line is…
They’re not happy with what you’re doing.
And they think they might have a “better idea” of how you should be doing your job.
So they tell you exactly what they think.
And you’re left with a verbal dagger in your heart.
It can happen completely out of the blue – and for just a hot minute.
Or it can feel like you’re enduring an eternity of complaints all year long.
Some parents may have the purest of intentions.
And others may be lacking in the social graces department.
But whether you’re conversing with parents in formal conferences, meetings, emails, or phone calls…
Developing a Mindset of Steel is an essential Teacher Survival Skill when it comes to parent communications.
Not taking negative feedback personally is easier said than done.
So let’s unpack exactly how to do it.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
The hidden reality of what’s reeeally going on in parents’ heads during parent-teacher conferences.
-
How to reframe the way you view parents’ negative feedback about your teaching and actions – for good – so you won’t be bothered by any more stinging comments.
-
How to protect your mental and emotional energy during parent-teacher conferences (or any other communications with parents throughout the year).
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Are you living the life you thought you signed up for when you became a teacher?
After my first 5 years in the classroom, I realized that I wasn’t.
I thought things would be different after those first 5 years.
I thought I wouldn’t be spending so much time on schoolwork outside of school hours.
I thought my evenings would be free to do what I wanted.
I thought I’d be able to enjoy my weekends without thinking about school.
I thought I’d be eating healthy, exercising regularly, and living the “good life.”
Instead, I was stress eating all the time, not getting enough sleep, lugging my gigantic school bag home every day (even over the weekend), but feeling too exhausted to be productive outside of school.
Sure, there was A LOT on my plate as an elementary teacher.
But my job wasn’t to blame for me not having my “perfect life” land in my lap.
Because hindsight is 20/20, I can look back now and see all the thoughts, feelings, and actions that created the life I didn’t want.
And If you’re feeling stuck like I was… wondering how you wound up with a different version of the life you thought you signed up for… I have great news for you.
You can re-engineer your life to get exactly what you want – starting today.
Your never-ending to-do lists, difficulties with administrators, challenges with colleagues, and endless obligations at home don’t have to get in the way.
You’re in charge.
You get to be the CEO of your classroom and your home.
YOU get to decide how you want your life to look a year from now. 5 years from now. And 10 years from now.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
The #1 secret to getting EXACTLY what you want in your life – personally AND professionally – both inside AND outside of school.
-
The 3 things you need to get crystal clear on in order stay on track with creating your most fulfilling Teacher Life.
-
How to get started with creating a Vision, a Mission, and Core Values for both your career and your personal life.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Candice Picard on Unsplash
How much of your teacher life do you spend thinking about all of your day-to-day problems?
Now compare that to how much time you spend focusing on solutions.
So the question is…
Which one wins more of your brain space – problems or solutions?
As much as we’d like to say we’re always on the lookout for solutions…
…If we’re being really honest with ourselves, we’d probably find that “problems” are ruling our brains without us even realizing it.
We ask questions like:
-
Why am I so tired?
-
Why is my administrator so unfair?
-
Why do my grade level partners have to act like that?
-
Why can’t I keep up with all my lesson planning and grading?
And the Real Problem is that those are problem-focused questions with dead-end answers.
Those kinds of questions keep you swimming around INSIDE your problems.
They don’t help you move OUTSIDE of your problems – which is where your best solutions are waiting for you!
One of the biggest success secrets of the world’s top CEOs is staying focused on solutions.
And the great news is that this kind of mindset isn’t reserved the corporate world. Training your brain to be solutions-focused can totally transform your teacher life.
There’s a simple quote that says, “Where you Focus is what you’ll Find.”
So if you focus on problems… guess what you’ll find?
Yep… more problems!
And bigger problems!
But if you focus on solutions…
You’ll start finding more solutions.
And better solutions.
If you want to learn how to shift your brain from problems to solutions, take a listen.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
A simple 4-step approach to more quickly and easily solve ANY problem you might have at school, home, or anywhere else.
-
How to harness the power of asking the right questions to find your best solutions.
-
How to get beyond just trying to “fix” problems that you see on the surface so you can actually solve their underlying causes – for good.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Being a teacher is a lot like being a CEO.
Think about it.
CEOs make 1000s of decisions every day. So do teachers.
CEOs guide their teams to reach huge goals. Teachers guide their students to reach their highest potential.
CEOs thrive when they know their businesses are making a difference in the world. Teachers thrive when they know they’re making an impact on their students’ lives.
What’s the biggest difference between a CEO and a teacher?
You might be tempted to say it’s the difference in salaries… but I’d like to suggest something else that’s even more important.
CEOs operate with a vastly different mindset than a typical teacher when it comes to “problems.”
In fact, the way CEOs think about problems is very different than how most people on the planet approach their problems.
In this episode, and the next two episodes to come, we’re going to explore what a “CEO Mindset” looks like – and how adopting a few simple shifts in thinking can make a huge difference in your teacher life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
What teachers’ biggest (hidden) Problem is when it comes to “problems” in the classroom and at home.
-
How to create a healthier, more effective “Problem Philosophy” with 3 mindset shifts that can completely change how you approach your problems… and come out on the other side with way better results.
-
A 24-Hour Problem Assessment you can try out on your own to discover what kind of impact your problems are really having on your day-to-day life.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash
Do you know someone at your school who has zero tact or courtesy? Someone who bulldozes every idea or suggestion you give? Someone who tries to control or manipulate every situation? Or someone who carries drama around like a purse – everywhere they go?
Maybe you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around them so you don’t accidentally press the wrong button. Or maybe you try to avoid them altogether.
Your job as a teacher is hard enough on its own. And having to deal with difficult people while you’re there can make it feel like it’s 10 times harder.
But is there anything can you do about it?
Is hiding from your “toxic” coworkers really your best option?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
What the Real Problem is when it comes to “toxic” coworkers and school environments – because it probably isn’t what you think it is.
-
How your students and your own children can be your best teachers when it comes to handling the most challenging people and situations in your life.
-
The 2 best strategies for overcoming the mental and emotional drain of dealing with difficult people at school.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Have you ever noticed that you can receive loads of compliments from your coworkers, parents, and principals, but it’s always that one negative comment that stays in your brain for daaays?
And whenever someone dishes a plate of negativity in your direction… do you react with negativity or are you able to let it go?
Even if you wouldn’t consider yourself to be a “negative person,” you might be surprised to discover how much negativity is sneaking into what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling every day – without you even realizing it.
This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. In the world of psychology this is called Negativity Bias, and it’s a completely normal reality for our human brains.
But the best news is that we have the power to turn it around whenever we want.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
Why and how negativity is taking far more control over your days than you probably realize.
-
How to identify your own negative tendencies – even if you don’t consider yourself to be a “negative person.”
-
2 ways to drastically improve your day-to-day teacher life by making subtle shifts in what you notice around you and within yourself.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by JodyHongFilms on Unsplash
Ever feel like you’re just not showing up the way you want to… at home, school, or anywhere else? You know you could be so much better with your kids at home or your students at school… but for some reason, you’re feeling like the opposite of the best version of yourself in certain situations.
Maybe your kids are acting crazy at bedtime, and you wish they would put you to bed instead of the other way around. Your energy is low. Your patience is thin. And you find yourself having some “not-so-proud moments” in parenting.
Or maybe you feel like you’re losing it at school. You can’t believe you’re sliding toward the Dark Side of snapping at your students or getting grouchy with your colleagues.
Well, don’t worry. The best version of yourself IS still alive and well. You might just need to get reacquainted with her.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
How to identify what the best version of yourself actually looks and feels like.
-
Exactly what causes you to feel like your best self (no matter what your circumstances may be).
-
How to start feeling more like your best self in your most challenging situations.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Mikail Duran on Unsplash
As a teacher, your career might feel like it’s constantly in flux due to decisions that are being made #onthedaily without your input. From decisions about testing to decisions about your curriculum and everything in between… it can sometimes feel like you have little control over your job.
But YOU are the professional who knows what works best in your classroom… so what do you do about the decisions that impact your daily life and career – especially when you don’t agree with them?
Is feeling powerless your only option? Or is there a more useful and empowering way to respond to the decisions that are handed to you from above?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
What to do when your school administrators make decisions you don’t like or agree with.
-
The 3 steps you can take immediately to go from feeling frustrated or angry to being grateful that you get to be 100% in control of your own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
-
Why this is one of the greatest opportunities you’ll have as a teacher to grow and experience what real self-empowerment feels like.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Stress can be a daily struggle for any teacher who cares about giving her best at school each day. But is it something you just have to get used to and live with? Or is there a way to transform your stress into empowerment?
With the right tools and mindset, I believe you can learn how to overcome your stress faster than ever before, and enjoy sooo much more of your everyday life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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The surprising truth about what school-related stress really IS and what it isn’t.
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A new definition of stress that will completely change the way you think about it.
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Whether you should avoid stress, embrace it, or manage it.
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How to shift from feeling stressed to empowered in 4 quick, actionable steps.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash
How do you feel when you get home after a looong day of school? Do you have any energy, patience, or attention to give your family? Or are they just getting your leftovers?
Do you wish you could come home with more mental, emotional, and physical energy… so you could actually enjoy your evenings away from school?
Well, the good news is that feeling great at the end of a school day isn’t just a pipe dream. You CAN make it happen. But it will take some intentional planning and purposeful follow-through.
When you carefully manage your energy at school with simple routines at various checkpoints throughout the day, you can finally go home feeling your best.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why your After School Routines can be the most important routines of your entire day.
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How to find out if you need a major or minor After School Routines Makeover.
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5 energy-giving strategies to transition more smoothly from school to home – so you can be more present with the people you love and enjoy your weekday evenings more than ever before.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Do you spend the first few weeks of school helping your students get their daily routines nailed down? Of course you do!
You know it’s going to take some time and practice, but you’re super intentional about it because you knooow these routines are going to set your students up for success.
But… are you giving the same level of thought and intention to your own school day routines? What if a few tweaks in your day could have a huge impact on your time and energy? What if some simple changes in your routines could help you make this your best year ever?
If you’re feeling drained at the end of each school day, it’s time to consider some seamless strategies to increase your energy.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why your school day routines are just as important as your students’ routines {and equally as important as your morning routines}.
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How to find out if you need a major or minor School Day Routines Makeover.
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4 simple steps you can take today to seamlessly embed intentional routines into your workday so you feel your best all day long {without going home feeling like you just ran a mental, emotional, and physical marathon}.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash
How do you start your day? Do you feel sluggish and slow – after having hit the snooze button one too many times? Or do you hit the ground running – rushing around in a world record-breaking sprint to head out the door?
Many teachers today would say there’s “no time” to squeeze healthy or energizing morning routines into their fast-paced days. But let’s consider the opposite. What if teachers don’t have the time to NOT be intentional with their morning routines?
Extensive research studies on energy, productivity, and creativity tell us that humans function their best {and feel their best} when they have carefully crafted routines and habits that create momentum for everything else they do throughout each day.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why your morning routines can help to either make or break your day.
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How to find out if you need a major or minor Morning Routine Makeover.
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How to redesign your morning routines so they become your secret recipe for starting each day feeling your best… even {and especially} on Mondays!
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash
Are you having a hard time saying farewell to all the fun you had this summer? And wishing you could do it all over again?
Are you dreading the weeks ahead – as you think about how craaazy full your to-do list is getting already?
Well, if you’d rather shift into a more energized and excited approach to the new school year, this episode will give you a secret sauce recipe for getting your Back to School groove on.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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The quickest way to get your Back to School Groove back if you’re still dwelling on missing your summer fun or dreading the craziness of the next few weeks.
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Why your routines will either be your biggest ally or your worst nightmare as you get started with the new school year.
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A quick assessment you can use to determine if it’s time for a major (or minor) routine makeover to refresh and reset your days for more joy and energy.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Renan Kamikoga on Unsplash
Now that the new school year is in kick-off mode, are you feeling a pretty intense mix of emotions? Excited and nervous? Ready, but not ready? Hopeful, but worried?
All. At. The. Same. Time.
Well, the good news is that you’re not alone. Transitioning from summer back to the school year stirs up a mix of emotions for everyone. Teachers, administrators, parents, and students are all feeling it.
But the Best news is that YOU get to control your emotions rather than letting THEM control you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why teachers experience an intense mixed bag of emotions every year when it’s Back to School time… even if you’ve been teaching for what seems like forever.
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How to take control of your emotions so they won’t control you anymore.
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A simple Back to School Challenge that has the power to completely change the tone of your entire school year.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash
Teachers across the U.S. are beginning to head back to their classrooms and their first Back to School PD sessions. And you know what that means, right? Everyone’s asking each other all about their summer breaks.
With your teacher besties, you get to share all the juicy details of where you went and what you did. It feels awesome to reflect on all the great memories you’ve accumulated over the last few weeks, but there’s one deadly little phrase that often pops up in these summer break catch-up conversations. And it’s doing more internal damage to teachers than you might realize.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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The one phrase you’re going to want to drop immediately from all your “How was your summer?” conversations (after you realize the negative effect that it’s been having on you).
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The #1 reason why your summer break may have disappeared “too quickly.”
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How to use a simple mindset shift to start viewing your time in a more positive light.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Bonus Closing Music: “Make It Funky” by Groove Jones. https://soundcloud.com/rod-goelz/rod-goelz-groove-jones-make-it-funky
Kelli’s free resource, the Teacher TimeScore™ can be found here: http://chalkfulloflife.com/opt-in-teacher-timescore/
When those Back to School commercials start cranking up on TV. And the school supplies hit center stage at Target…
Do you get a rush of adrenaline? Do you feel a happy dance coming on when you think about getting your hands on a fresh new set of Flair pens? Can you hardly wait to see what’s on the shelves in Dollar Spot heaven?
Well, there’s nothing wrong with feeling a little giddy about getting some new school supplies.
But if we dig a little deeper, there’s an interesting lesson for us to learn about false happiness vs. full happiness.
Whether you love Back to School shopping or not… there’s an ah-ha moment waiting for you in this episode, and it has everything to do with tapping into your happiest teacher life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why the way you approach Back to School Shopping might actually reveal a significant pain point in your teaching life.
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What effect dopamine and “buffering” have to do with your happiness in and out of the classroom.
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How to gain more control over your happiness during not only the Back to School season, but all year long.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Let’s face it. Blah days happen. Those days when you’re running on low energy and low emotions.
Things aren’t horrible, but you’re trudging through the day feeling like something {or everything!} is “off.” All day long, you’re thinking, “Can I get a do-over?”
Well, let’s put an end to the bad wrap we give our Blah Days. With a simple reframe, you’ll see why Blah Days can be sooo good.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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- Why rating and reviewing your days is a simple, but powerful practice.
- The secret to having more and more great days – regardless of your current circumstances.
- The one emotion you can tap into at any moment to change the trajectory of your day.
- My 4-Part Secret Sauce Recipe for creating my best days over and over again.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Creating a Bucket List is an amazing form of self care. It’s all about deciding what intentional things you want to do in your life to feel your best – mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Bucket Lists don’t have to be all about travelling the world or having “mountaintop experiences.” The more practical your wish list of ideas is, the more likely you’ll be to actually follow through and take action on the things you want to do.
If you’re feeling like summer is passing through your fingers too quickly, now is the perfect time to make a Bucket List of all the things you want to do to soak up every last second of your time off from school.
But… Bucket Lists shouldn’t just be reserved for summertime or later on in your life, they should be for right now – no matter the season or stage of your life.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why Bucket Lists are a fun and intentional form of self care for teachers.
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Why Bucket Lists shouldn’t be reserved solely for HUGE accomplishments or activities that you look forward to for a very long time.
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Lots of creative twists and unique ideas for Bucket Lists that don’t have anything to do with travel (which is what most people think of!).
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6 Practical steps you can take today to get your own Summer Bucket List AND Life Bucket Lists in gear.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
If you want to be (and feel) your best both in and out of the classroom, self care shouldn’t be the last thing at the bottom of your to-do list. It should be your #1 responsibility.
If teaching IS your life and you’re constantly feeling drained because there’s very little time for anything you love outside of school, you’re approaching your career backwards.
It’s the time and space you give yourself outside of school that makes you the best teacher you can possibly be when you’re there.
Self care should be your first priority if you want to be the best teacher, wife, husband, mom, dad, friend, or anything else. It’s what enables you to make your biggest contribution in the world.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why Self Care should be considered the #1 requirement at the top of your job description as a teacher.
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The surprising truth found in recent research studies on productivity and overworking.
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3 steps to start adding more self care into your life in simple and practical ways…. with a short list you can write down and work off of right away.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
What do you think of when people talk about “self care?”
Is it indulgent? Is it pampering yourself? Is it a luxury for people who have oodles of extra time on their hands?
And be honest. Does self care sound a little selfish to you?
In my opinion, there are loads of misconceptions about self care circling around mainstream America today. I think it’s time we get clear on what self care IS and what it ISN’T.
Why? Because I want to suggest that self care is the opposite of selfish. It’s the very best thing you can not only do for yourself as a teacher, but also for your family, your friends, and your students.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Exactly what self care IS and what it is NOT.
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Why self care is the greatest gift teachers can give their families, friends, and students.
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The best (and easiest) way you can get started with self care – starting today.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Teachers need each other today more than ever. With expectations rapidly increasing in the classroom, having the support of a community of friends who “get it” can make all the difference. When teachers bring their heads and hearts together, they’re unstoppable.
Social media and online learning communities have made it incredibly easy to connect with other teachers around the globe. In a lot of ways, this is amazing. But it also means it’s easier than ever to get caught up in the Instagram-worthy, Pinterest-Perfect Comparison Game. Rather than trying to keep up with each other, let’s focus on lifting each other up.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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The healthiest way to view all of your relationships – both in and out of the teaching community.
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Why teachers need connection today more than ever.
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What you can do right now to start developing the connections that will support you in your journey toward living your best teacher life.
Wanna join a community of teachers who are exploring what it means to live your best life in AND out of the classroom?
Join our Chalk Full of Life Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chalk/
Let’s support each other with honest conversations about not being perfect, pursuing what matters most… and doing life together.
Everything you create in your life begins with where you place your focus. If you keep focusing on where you’ve been and where you are right now, you’ll keep getting more of what you’ve always gotten.
If having more free time in your teacher life is what you really want, that means you’ve gotta start focusing on the future — by creating a vision of what your life looks like with more time for what matters most to you.
If that feels next to impossible right now, that’s completely normal. Creating new things in life is about shifting from what’s never been done before to what’s possible, by imagining it first and then continuing to take action until you get there.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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What the difference is between having a Past Focus vs. a Future Focus – and how that determines what kind of life you’re creating right now.
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Why “impossible” is a perfect starting point for creating a more balanced teacher life.
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How to break out of the status quo #TeacherTired to finally live the life you really want, starting today… with a very limited time invitation!!
Summer 2018 Enrollment for The Balanced Teacher Life is now open!
Join me for a 6-week journey of reclaiming your time and energy for what matters most in your teacher life: www.chalkfulloflife.com/join
Doors close June 28, 2018.
Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pexels
Do you have a Growth Mindset or a Fixed Mindset when it comes to your thoughts about time?
You might be surprised by what’s actually holding you back from getting all the free time you really want in your teacher life.
If you’ve been trying to figure out how to balance #alltheSCHOOLthings and #alltheHOMEthings by looking for external “solutions” like productivity hacks, pretty planners, or apps for your phone, there’s a reason why these things aren’t getting you the results you want.
Getting more free time as a teacher starts with your mindset. External “solutions” will only be Band-Aids until you’ve changed your thinking about what’s possible for you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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The ONE thing that needs to change if you really want more free time in your teacher life.
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Why a Growth Mindset is just as important for teachers as it is for students – and how this relates to your view of time.
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Why most teachers are trapped in busyness and don’t get the time they really want for what matters most to them in life.
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How to start making the shift that will allow you to get all the free time you want.
To join the Rebalance Revolution: 5x Your Free Time & Still Rock at Teaching → click here: www.chalkfulloflife.com/rebalance
Photo by nappy from Pexels
Teachers work more unpaid overtime hours than any other profession {minus CEOs}. We can’t deny the fact that there are loads of expectations and responsibilities on teachers’ shoulders today.
But does that mean you have to sacrifice all your free time for the sake of school?
If you think that having more time for the people you love and the things you {kinda forgot} you love to do is just a pie-in-the-sky idea, you’ll always stay stuck right where you are.
The amazing news is that it doesn’t have to be that way.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why “what got you here won’t get you there” is the key to shifting from too-busy to balanced.
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Why teachers are approaching the problem of work-life balance completely backwards.
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The 3 steps you HAVE to take if you want to create more balance in your life between school + home in the year ahead – and make that your permanent reality.
To join the Rebalance Revolution: 5x Your Free Time & Still Rock at Teaching → click here: www.chalkfulloflife.com/rebalance
We’re shakin’ things up a little bit in this episode… or maybe a lot bit.
I’m saying some pretty bold things that might be hard to hear. But I believe it’s exactly what teachers everywhere need to understand because this conversation isn’t happening anyyywhere else.
And what I’m sharing with you today is the absolute truth of what you must be 100% clear on if you want to eliminate your #teacherlife exhaustion for good. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up to stay stuck.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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How your intuition is always guiding you to take your next best step.
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The root cause of why teachers around the globe are trapped in a never-ending cycle of exhaustion — and how to break the cycle so you can live your best life outside of the classroom.
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The exact next step you can take to get all the free time you want & still be an amazing teacher.
To join the Rebalance Revolution: 5x Your Free Time & Still Rock at Teaching → click here: www.chalkfulloflife.com/rebalance
The end of every school year tends to fly by in a flash. One minute you’re wishing the standardized testing season would fiiinally end… and the next minute you’re sipping Snapple poolside.
And when you think back over the school year, you might find yourself putting a label on it like… Best Year Ever, Worst Year Ever, Another Good Year, An OK Year, or An I Survived Year.
But categorizing your school year and placing it on a shelf with other years similar to it isn’t the most helpful thing to do.
The good news is that if you want next year to be your best year ever, it’s totally in your control. And I’ve got a simple reflection formula you can use to set yourself up for your greatest success yet.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why it’s not helpful to frame your school year in terms of success vs. failure or good vs. bad.
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What failure really means and why you should lean into it.
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The 3 most important questions you need to ask yourself at the end of every school year.
www.chalkfulloflife.com
@ChalkFullofLife
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Does the phrase “end of the year teacher evaluation” fill you with fear and frustration? If it does, you’re not alone. For some reason, we give this tiny little number that’s handed to us on a piece of paper waaaaay more power than it deserves.
Why do we do this? Why do we make a teeny weeny number mean something about who we are as a teacher? And more importantly… how can we overcome our natural tendency to be filled with anxiety over end of the year evaluations?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why your end of the year evaluation has much less to do with your abilities as a teacher and much more to do with your own thoughts about yourself.
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Why the external “validation” of an evaluation score will never help you feel your best.
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The only thing you need in order to own your awesomeness no matter what score you’ve been handed.
www.chalkfulloflife.com
@ChalkFullofLife
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
With last-minute projects to grade, report cards to finish, evaluations to square away, and getting your classroom packed up for the summer… is it possible to choose celebration over stress?
No matter whether you’ve had the year from you-know-where or more on your plate than ever before, the choice IS yours if you wanna make this the best end of the school year yet.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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Why you need to decide today whether your last few days will be filled with stress or celebration.
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The #1 thing you MUST shift if you wanna have the best end of the school year ever.
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3 simple strategies to ensure that you’ll be celebrating looong before the last school bell rings this year.
www.chalkfulloflife.com
@ChalkFullofLife
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Are you feeling burnt out or overwhelmed as a teacher or teacherpreneur?
With a to-do list a million miles long, it’s easy to slip right into the #teachertired. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you’d rather approach #allthethings from a place of calm, clarity, and confidence, let’s uncover a new approach to tackling your to-do’s with ease.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
The difference between burnout and overwhelm – and a simple test to find out which one you’re actually dealing with.
-
5 simple steps to regain control of your time, tasks, sanity, and energy.
www.chalkfulloflife.com
@ChalkFullofLife
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Do you have a hard time saying No when an administrator, colleague, friend or anyone else asks you to volunteer for something you don’t really wanna do?
On today’s episode, we’ll explore the negative impact saying Yes can have on you and everyone else when it’s not something you’re excited about doing. And you’ll come away with a helpful mindset reframe for how to say No without feeling guilty.
So if you’re ready to become a rockstar at saying no, let’s dive on in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
-
The hidden, scary truth of what’s really going on when you say Yes to something that you really don’t want to do.
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The #1 thing that matters the most when you’re deciding whether to say Yes or No to a request of your time at school or anywhere else.
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How to say No without feeling guilty.
-
Why you never need to explain yourself when you say No
www.chalkfulloflife.com
@ChalkFullofLife
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
We all compare ourselves to our peers. It’s natural. But it’s not always helpful.
On today’s episode, we’ll explore our natural inclination to keep up with the Mrs. Joneses. And we’ll uncover a few things we can do to flip the script on the Comparison Game.
So if you’re ready to end the comparison craziness, let’s dive on in.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why do we compare ourselves to others?
- Why is this harmful?
- 3 ways we can reframe the way we handle comparison in our lives.
www.chalkfulloflife.com
@ChalkFullofLife
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Ever get knots in your stomach over something that happened at school? Or feel like you can’t breathe because you can’t stop worrying about test scores, evaluations, observations, your changing curriculum, changing grade levels or anything else related to school? Then this episode is for you.
While this episode was inspired by our current spring “testing season” in the U.S., the steps and strategies I’ll be sharing with you are relevant to any stressor you might face at any time of the year.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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My interpretation of what “school-induced anxiety” is and why we experience it.
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Why anxiety isn’t the real problem. {I’ll tell you what is.}
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3 options for responding to anxiety – and which one is always your best choice.
-
4 steps to overcome any instance of anxiety in your life.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Send us a Voxer message about how your homework is going at https://web.voxer.com/u/kellialaina
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Are you still struggling with not having enough time for the people and things that matter most to you? In Episode 007, I gave you a little homework assignment to limit the amount of time you spend on one schoolwork task so you can create some extra space for whatever you want more of in your life outside of the classroom.
Well, I decided to take myself up on the challenge. So I chose one task that’s been taking me a crazy long time to complete each week, and I attempted to cut my task time in half. I’m here to share my results, and you’re gonna get a real peek at my own struggles with time management and perfectionism.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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The difference between your current priorities and your intentional priorities.
-
Why saying YES to one thing means you’re simultaneously saying NO to something else, and how to use that to your advantage to bring your time into alignment with your priorities.
-
How to take part in my Time Over Task homework assignment so we can hold each other accountable to spending our time on what matters most.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Send us a Voxer message about how your homework is going at https://web.voxer.com/u/kellialaina
Giveaway: bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Is your schoolwork creeping too far into your personal life? If you’re constantly running out of time to get through #allthethings on your to-do list at school, you might wish there were more hours in a day. But would having more time for your schoolwork really solve anything? Or would you find even more things to add to your list? If you’re ready to leave more of your schoolwork at school, it might be time for a mindset makeover.
In this episode you’ll learn:
-
The biggest reason why your school work is stealing time away from your personal life… and it has everything to do with ONE simple priority. When you shift this priority, everything can change for you.
-
Four huge problems that are causing your schoolwork to take way too long to complete, and how to solve each of them.
-
One simple action step you can take right away to make a big difference in how you approach your schoolwork so you can begin protecting your personal time more fiercely.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway:bit.ly/BalancedTeacherLifeGiveaway
Do you have trouble turning off your Teacher Brain when you’re not at school? Sometimes we think way too much about school when we’re not even there. If you ever wished you could just flip the off switch on your buzzing Teacher Brain and be a little more present and in tune with the rest of your life outside of teaching, this episode is for you.
In this episode you’ll learn:
-
How to recognize the key differences between worrying, ruminating, and being present in the NOW – because this is the first step toward gaining control over your Teacher Brain.
-
What Thought Loops {or Thought Errors} are – so you can become more aware of what they’re doing to you and how you can begin to let them go.
-
A simple 3-step plan of action that you can get started with today to be more present at home or anywhere else when you just wanna turn off your Teacher Brain to enjoy your family, your friends, or a little more ME time.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review
Are you struggling with Teacher Guilt? Wifey Guilt? Mama Guilt? Friend Guilt? #AlltheGuilts? Let’s take an honest look at what guilt really is, why you’re experiencing it, and how to overcome it.
In this episode you’ll learn:
-
How to define guilt for what it really is.
-
Why guilt is so prevalent and harmful for teachers.
-
The practical steps you can take to keep yourself from feeling like you’re not doing enough or being enough for everyone.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review
Is it actually possible for teachers to shift from busy to balanced? My answer is yesss! Let’s talk about the #1 strategy you can use to win your tug-of-time battle.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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Why we need to redefine the terms “busy” and “balanced.”
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How your survival brain turns time management into an internal tug-of-war.
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The best strategy for owning your time to create the life you want.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review
There’s only one formula you need for creating a better #teacherlife. Seriously. With the tool we’re talking about in this episode, you can take action toward whatever change you want in your life… starting today.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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Why the Self-Coaching Model is the only formula you need for creating your very best #teacherlife.
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Why you haven’t been able to make the changes you want in your life.
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The first step you can take today to toward making a real and lasting change in your life.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review
What’s the real cause of your stress and exhaustion as a teacher? It’s probably not what you think it is.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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Why your circumstances aren’t the problem.
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The true cause of your stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm.
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The simple tool you can start using today to overcome whatever’s keeping you from living the life you really want.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review
Resource: Fillable Self-Coaching Model Template
I believe the teaching world is ready for a major shift in thinking. If we can agree that teachers’ lives are just as important as the ones they’re changing, it’s time to start talking about the honest realities of #teacherlife. It’s time to discuss real solutions to the epidemic of exhaustion.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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Why I believe you need to shift your thinking if you feel like you’re sacrificing your own health and happiness in order to be a great teacher.
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How my journey as a teacher inspired me to create The Chalk Full of Life Podcast™ so you finally have a permission slip to put yourself first.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review
Is it possible to escape the #TeacherTired? To show up as your best self at school AND at home? To ditch the guilt and finally feel great about what you’re giving to your career, your family, and your friends?
If you’re wondering if there’s a better way to live your best life today rather than waiting for “someday,” you’re in the right place.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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The core mission and vision of the Chalk Full of Life Podcast™.
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What you can expect from the podcast in our future episodes.
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How to join our global movement to #EraseTheTeacherTired.
@ChalkFullofLife
www.chalkfulloflife.com
Giveaway: chalkfulloflife.com/review