You Might Be Experiencing Rustout, Not Burnout, at Work
Some forms of distress at work are easy to recognize because they interrupt someone’s daily performance and the work of those around them: For example, a person on your team becomes visibly exhausted, they are irritable, or they’re frequently absent. But other forms of distress are harder to see precisely because the work continues uninterrupted. […]
From Hyper-Independent to Human: Learning How to Accept Help
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” ~Brené Brown It happened on a regular Tuesday night over the smallest thing. I was cooking dinner after a really long, exhausting day at my job. I spent the whole day […]
When Doing More Is Really an Attempt to Control the Outcome
“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” ~John Allen Paulos I refreshed the analytics page even though I had checked it only a few minutes earlier. The number had not changed, so I opened the project, reread the opening line, tested a button, and […]
Am I Doing This Right? Teen Edition
Parenting a teen can sometimes make you nostalgic for the early years, when you could still scoop up a frustrated toddler and redirect her with bubbles. In the teen years, sweet hugs can provoke eye rolls; a well-intentioned “How was your day?” may be misconstrued as meddling. That’s just your teens becoming independent. Decades of […]
When Your Sadness Starts Coloring Everything
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.” ~Viktor Frankl A few weeks ago, I moved to a new city for a new job, leaving behind a quiet hill town where I had built five years of friendships, routines, and a version of myself I […]
Eight Fun Ways to Keep Your Summer Alive
Backpack-and-pencil time is just about here, but it’s not too late to treat yourself to a healthy dose of summer joy. There’s no need to feel bad about stretching that vacation feeling out as long as you can. These eight mini-vacations for the mind and spirit require no suitcases to pack (and unpack), no expensive […]
How Can We Make Relationships the Heart of Schools?
Ask any educator today, and they’ll tell you that relationships across the board are strained in schools. Our educational landscape is rife with sociopolitical pressures: political polarization, disagreements over the teaching of race and LGBTQ+ rights that lead to restrictions on addressing particular topics, curriculum debates and questions about the effectiveness of inclusive education that […]
What My Broken Face ID Taught Me About Being More Present
“Every moment, every challenge, every inner reaction is here to show you exactly what you need to let go of in order to be free.” ~Michael A. Singer The other day, while standing in the kitchen, I grabbed my phone to send a text, but it didn’t recognize my face. Suddenly, every time I wanted […]
Why Self-Care Matters Most When You Have No Time
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means me too.” ~L.R. Knost We live in a society that celebrates pushing through; burnout is often worn as a badge of honor, and many job descriptions state bluntly, “Must be able to perform well under pressure and thrive in a fast-paced environment.” I’m very well aware […]
What Happens When Sixth Graders and Elders Learn Together
In Saskatoon, Canada, a group of sixth graders spend their school year outside their normal classroom and at the Sherbrooke Community Centre, engaged in conversation and activities with the long-term care residents who live there. One day, they might be found journaling, another learning new technologies, or writing limericks with the “elders,” many of whom […]