Mindfulness for NQTs: Let go
Letting go of so many things can be so healing and improve performance and productivity in so many aspects of our lives. Let's be clear from the start though that letting go does not mean not caring anymore. In fact, letting go is the complete opposite of not caring as it allows us to make more space for what is important to us in all areas of our lives.
In encouraging you to let go, I'm promoting the idea of letting go of the pressure you may have placed/be placing on yourself to be perfect in every way whether that is in your role as a new teacher or in any other area of your life. There is no need for perfection or anyone's idea of perfection as in your NQT year and also other years the follow, you will only really be able to do the best you can do in those moments.
If you have a difficult lesson, learning from it but then let it go and carry on so don't carry it into the next lesson or your evening etc. Do your self-reflection and evaluation as soon as you can after the lesson, make a promise to yourself that you can only change what you can change and learn if necessary and then move on. Let go of any comparisons you have in terms of other NQTs or teachers in the school or from your training year. Let go of any unnecessary expectations placed on you by yourself or by others around you. Let go of any negative thoughts or interactions you have with students without carrying them on to the next lesson or next day etc.
You can also model this to your students. Tell them and then show them in every part of your responses that each day is a new day and that as much as you do that with them, then they can do that with each other and you. There is no need to hold on to anything which isn't necessary.
These tips will be shared all through August to prepare NQTs for this coming year. They can also be found across social media on my accounts.
Book your place on one of the 30 minute workshop every Wednesday through August through www.beingthebestyoucanbe.org only for £5.
Facebook: Being the Best You Can Be
Facebook group: Mindfulness and Compassion for Teachers, Educators and School Staff
Twitter: @alisonlaycock23