Welcome to this special Thriving Thursday episode of Teach-Lead-Innovate! Today, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving, wellness in education, and a very personal milestone—my twin daughters, Hannah and Kaylee, are celebrating their birthday! Happy birthday, Hannah and Kaylee! 🎉

In This Episode:

• The Importance of Well-Being: Learn how prioritizing wellness can enhance resilience and job satisfaction, backed by Briner and Dewberry’s (2021) research on workplace well-being.
• Mindfulness in Teaching: Discover simple strategies from Hwang et al. (2022) to reduce stress and foster emotional regulation through mindfulness.
• Self-Compassion for Leaders: Hear how self-compassion, as explored by Neff and Germer (2020), can improve leadership effectiveness and reduce emotional exhaustion.
• A Thanksgiving Message: Reflect on gratitude and celebrate the positive impact of educators and leaders on their communities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Incorporate flexibility and autonomy into your workday for better balance (Briner & Dewberry, 2021).
2. Practice mindfulness for as little as five minutes daily to reduce stress (Hwang et al., 2022).
3. Use self-compassion to approach challenges with kindness and resilience (Neff & Germer, 2020).

References:

• Briner, R. B., & Dewberry, C. (2021). Well-being at work: An evidence-based approach to improving employee health and resilience. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 8(3), 220-238.
• Hwang, Y. S., Bartlett, B., Greben, M., & Hand, K. (2022). Mindfulness practices in teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 116, 103741.
• Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2020). The role of self-compassion in leadership effectiveness. Leadership Quarterly, 31(6), 101415.

Call to Action:

• Reflect: This Thanksgiving, take a moment to express gratitude and practice self-care.
• Connect: Share your favorite wellness strategies with me on social media @thecyclingsuperintendent or via email at thepedalingprincipal@gmail.com.

Thank you for joining us today on Teach-Lead-Innovate. Remember: Thrive, stay balanced, and be kind to yourself and others. Happy Thanksgiving!