It's The Small Stuff That Bears The Biggest Impact...

(Hopefully, just like this short blog!)

Contrary to what we often think, the most hurtful type of physical or emotional trauma isn’t found in the big things:

The argument that turns physical, the betrayal of a lifetime, the accident that shakes us to our core.

Of course these events have huge impacts on how we feel - and even how our brains work…

But, for us as teachers, it’s the daily, depleting drainers that grind away at our physical, mental and emotional health.

Like water wearing away a rock, this happens incredibly slowly.

It’s the constant complaints from that parent who needs support themselves. The emotion-led eating and snacking on ultra-processed foods to get through the day. The gossiping and gaslighting that insidiously slides through the staffroom.

Our downfall is, more often than not, found in what we do daily…

"Your thoughts become your actions, your actions become

your habits, your habits determine your life," - Lao Tzu

However, fortunately for us, this also goes the other way too…

We don’t need to transform our lifestyle overnight, or adopt a whole new personality and set of values.

(In fact, we can’t!)

We don’t have to build unbreakable barriers and put distance between ourselves and others to protect our peace.

And we certainly don’t have to exercise everyday, eat like a rabbit and give up on the little pleasures in life like chocolate or dinner with friends!

We can, and would benefit more from, just starting simply.

KISS your health…

Keep. It. Super. Simple.

Can you remove your emails and school notification from your devices, or at least set a limit?

Could you come up with a script to say no to that colleague next time they ask too much of you?

Is it possible to drink a large glass of water when you wake up? Maybe add some fruit to your breakfast?

These small, seemingly insignificant shifts will stack up, bit by bit, over time and compound into not only new habits, but an entirely new identity!

“You don’t set out to build a wall. You don’t say, ‘I’m going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that’s ever been built.’ You don’t start there. You say, ‘I’m going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid.’ You do that every single day, and soon you have a wall.” - Will Smith

When your mind tries to put the wall up in one go, remind yourself that walls are built one brick at a time.

Start small, stack the bricks.

Your wellbeing will thank you!