Freedom From the Obligatory Teacher Duty Trap: Reclaim Your Time Without Guilt Are you drowning under a pile of extra "duties" no one else wants - graduation planning, coaching teams, chairing committees? So many teachers get stuck on the never-ending obligatory duty carousel, scared to get off for fear of looking like a slacker or letting students down. This toxicity has to stop! In this must-listen episode, learn a powerful mindset shift to escape the black hole of undesirable duties...

This end-of-year season can be bittersweet for teachers - especially if you have made the difficult decision to leave education. I offer words of inspiration and support to educators who are leaving and those who feel abandoned and "left behind." The decision to leave the teaching profession is rarely taken lightly, and it's important to honor the range of difficult emotions your colleagues are feeling.  I hope this episode helps ❤️ and that you would consider sharing it with anyone who you...

Have you ever had a Teacher Appreciation Week experience that, instead of leaving you feeling treasured and valued, added stress to your week and left you feeling deflated? Me too! Even with good intentions, overwhelmed administrators often miss the mark. In this episode, I give some great tips for a budget-friendly Teacher Appreciation Week and even share a few of my favorite gestures in my two decades in the classroom. Actionable tips include: ❌  DON'T give gifts that create more work for...

Tired of the toxic culture of teachers one-upping each other's struggles?  In this episode, I explore how to avoid competitive misery and build a supportive community to combat teacher burnout. Highlights include:  🚨 Are you guilty of one-upping your colleagues' struggles instead of offering support? 💥 The toxic effects of competitive misery on teacher morale and burnout rates ⭐ Learn the "validate and bounce" strategy to disengage from negative dynamics 🤝 Explore ways to build a more...

Are you tired of "self-care" for teachers being weaponized, placing the burden of managing stress solely on you? This episode will empower you with authentic self-care strategies that go beyond the superficial and address the systemic issues educators face. Highlights include: 😟 The Ugly Truth: How "self-care" has become a buzzword that dismisses the lack of support and unrealistic expectations placed on teachers 💅 Beyond Face Masks and Pedicures: Unpacking the difference between pampering...

Last weeks episode on overcoming imposter syndrome in education hot a nerve with some listeners! Many reached out to say, "It's like you were in my head." Here's what I heard a lot:  Imposter syndrome often shows up in education when teachers consider pursuing different roles within their school or district, whether it was transitioning into administration, curriculum coaching, or specialized positions within the district office. 🎓 It shows up as fear of judgment from peers, and insecurity...

Are you ready to "Squash Imposter Syndrome and Start Showing Up as Your Authentic Self ?" Do you know that what people in hospice regret most is not having played "full out" in their lives, allowing the opinions of others and insecurities from doing what they truly wanted? Yikes 😳 One area that holds many teachers back from living their best lives is imposter syndrome. Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran, it's time to ditch the self-doubt, ditch that inner voice that worries what...

🔥 This episode goes out to any educator who has ever felt fed up and burned out because, even though they love teaching, they are constantly stressed, overwhelmed, and guilt-ridden that teaching seems to take up ALL of their time and energy. In this week's episode, I introduce you to my latest book Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries: The Secret to Thriving in Teaching Without Sacrificing Your Personal Life. I also take a moment to cheerlead and celebrate 🎉 🙌 that the book debuted...

"Create Your Own Path and Bring Your Own Sunshine" - Finding Inspiration as a Teacher You may be aware of my signature sign-off. For me, it's not a gimmick, it's a way of being, a huge part of how I avoid teacher burnout, and was my mission both as a teacher and now as an educator empowerment coach. But it has been drawing some discussion (which I love ❤️) SO in this week's episode, I break down what it means (and it IS all about empowerment) and the amazing quote that inspired it. Here are...

For free and paid resources to help students of all ages deal with test anxiety visit: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Grace-Stevens-Happy-classrooms Feeling overwhelmed by school testing season? Dread seeing students suffer from crippling test anxiety? This podcast episode for educators of all grades is for you! 🌟 Learn the one skill you should be teaching all year to ensure test-taking success! 💡 Discover how to create a calm, supportive testing environment in your room. 🎯 Shift...

🧠 Do You Suffer from Teacher Brain Fog? Overcome Decision Fatigue Now! As a teacher, have you ever felt like your brain is complete mush by the end of the day? 😩 Unable to make even the simplest decisions like what to have for dinner or what to watch on Netflix?  You're not alone - it's called decision fatigue, and it's rampant in the education profession. In this insightful podcast episode, host Grace Stevens dives deep into the often-overlooked issue of decision fatigue 🥱 and its harmful...

How to Stay Calm When Things Get Heated in the Classroom: 5 Battle-Tested Strategies Ever felt dangerously close to "losing it" with a disruptive student or challenging class? You're not alone. Escalating behaviors push even the most patient teachers to the brink. In this empowering episode, learn battle-tested techniques to: ✅ Keep your composure when tensions run high 😰 ✅ Respond vs. react to provocative student behaviors 😡 ✅ Activate your logical brain, not your fight-or-flight response...

💛 Educator inspiration for the week ahead. This week's bonus episode is about not. being so hard on yourself, and not letting one negative interaction, or one out of control student convince you that you are not a good teacher 🧑‍🏫 Listen and PAY IT FORWARD by sharing with a colleague who might need to hear this today 🎧 ➡️ to download your FREE Boundaries Blindspot Quiz for Educators go to https://www.gracestevens.com/quiz To grab your free video on the 5 Habits of the Least Stressed...

🎧 What can a documentary about a cycling hero and a top business book have to teach you about how to: ✅ Reframe mindset around standardized testing gaps ❤️ Better support students who are far below grade level? A lot, as it turns out. In this week's episode, I look at the key concepts from the game-changing book "The Gap and the Gain" 📚  These key concepts can help you: ➡️ Better support students who are academically deficient, but working hard  ➡️ Help foster confidence and...

Do you ever feel like your students are bored and disinterested during lessons? 😴 Are you frustrated with scripted curriculum that leaves no room for creativity? 😤 As teachers, we want our students to be engaged and empowered, not passive. That's where project-based learning (PBL) comes in! 💡 To dig into this student-centered teaching method, I interviewed Ryan Steuer, former engineer, turned middle school teacher turned PBL expert. Ryan is the host of the PBL Simplified podcast 🎙️, the...

This week's episode is part four of our series The Ultimate Educators Handbook for Being Happier where I expand on some of the concepts in my book Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers.  THIS is the one you have been waiting for ... 🎧 Everything has been leading to this episode - where we will dive into the science AND the habits of how we can have a more positive teaching experience, right here, right now, in the circumstances that we have (not when we get our "dream class" or our "dream...

💛 Educator inspiration for the week ahead. This week's bonus episode is about those students who push your buttons the most. I pose the question: could Mother Teresa even handle this level of "spiritual practice"? 😌 Listen and PAY IT FORWARD by sharing with a colleague who might need to hear this today 🎧 ➡️ to download your FREE Boundaries Blindspot Quiz for Educators go to https://www.gracestevens.com/quiz To grab your free video on the 5 Habits of the Least Stressed Teachers go to...

This week's episode is part three of our series The Ultimate Educators Handbook for Being Happier where I expand on some of the concepts in my book Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers.  🎧 Get ready teacher friends - this episode has some 🤩 magical joy practices you can start using TODAY to become a joy detective! 🕵️‍♀️ First up, understand the 🧠 science - how your brain is wired to keep you safe, not happy. Then, learn the strategies on how to override your natural tendency to be on alert...

A mini-episode in the Lunch Box Love Notes series to motivate and encourage educators. This episode's theme is focusing less on students trying to find a way out and "game the system, and focusing more on those trying to find a "way in." ➡️ to download your FREE Boundaries Blindspot Quiz for Educators go to https://www.gracestevens.com/quiz To grab your free video on the 5 Habits of the Least Stressed Teachers go to www.gracestevens.com/happy Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset...

What is the secret to improved student outcomes AND improved happiness for you, the teacher, all had one superpower habit at their core? And that habit was as simple as being present and getting in a "flow" state? This episode is part two in the series of The Ultimate Educator's Handbook for Happiness where I do a deep dive into some of the habits in my book Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers. And this episode is all about: 🧘‍♀️ How to give students what they really need from you - your...

A mini-episode in the Lunch Box Love Notes series to motivate and encourage educators. This episode's theme is "never doubt your impact." ➡️ to download your FREE Boundaries Blindspot Quiz for Educators go to https://www.gracestevens.com/quiz To grab your free video on the 5 Habits of the Least Stressed Teachers go to www.gracestevens.com/happy Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here Wanna get...

What of the Ultimate Educator's Handbook wasn't about classroom management strategies, curriculum planning, or even data-driven instruction? What if what educators MOST need to learn is to avoid teacher burnout and to be happier? In this week's episode, Grace introduces her best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers and proposes the idea that the best thing you can invest in for student outcomes and yourself is to learn the skills and habits it takes to be happier. This jam-packed...

A mini-episode for overwhelmed teachers who feel guilty that some days they only have 50% of their energy to give to students.  I promise you, it's enough 💛 ➡️ to download your FREE Boundaries Blindspot Quiz for Educators go to https://www.gracestevens.com/quiz To grab your free video on the 5 Habits of the Least Stressed Teachers go to www.gracestevens.com/happy Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here Wanna get...

We all know that teacher burnout can be a genuine occupational hazard - but when does ordinary "teacher tired" become "tired of teaching?" In this week's 🎙️episode, we discuss all things teacher burnout, including the 5 warning signs that can let you know burnout is sneaking up on you, and, more importantly, what you can do to get yourself out of the burnout rut! This episode is for you if you're experiencing any of the following: Physical and emotional depletion (constant "teacher...