With the final nativity costume safely packed away, the paper chains safely in the recycling bin and your sanity safely on the run, the end of term is here, and it’s time for some much-needed time off. 

But once you wave goodbye to family and friends after the festive celebrations, what next? It’s that horrible in-between bit where you’ve done the main Christmassy ‘stuff’, and your mind begins to wander to the new term. It’s only natural - no matter how much you wish you could put it off for a few more days.

Often, it’s a time that fills us with a sense of dread, particularly as Christmas tends to be a holiday where we don’t get much time to have a proper break. Last week, Sarah Creegan wrote about the importance of thriving instead of surviving using the 3Rs - rest, relax and refresh - to help you find ways to look after your wellbeing before you return for the spring term.

But there’s one more ‘R’ to add to the mix, which can help you prepare for the new term positively: reflection.

Why is reflection an important wellbeing tool?

As a busy, overwhelmed teacher, it often feels like you’re on a treadmill where someone else has set the speed. Frantically sprinting to try and keep up with a pace you have no real control over. 

In doing so, you don’t often have a chance to stop, catch your breath and do some metaphorical quad stretches. And when you do manage to take a brief breather, it’s normally because something hasn’t gone as well as you’d hoped or planned. 

But what if you used the time over Christmas to really reflect on your school year thus far? You may find your mind instantly flooded with things you wish had gone differently, but put those to one side for a minute and instead start to think about all those things that have gone well. Big or small. 

This type of self-reflection is essential for your wellbeing because you can start to identify your strengths - the skills that, with even greater practice, you can do even better in the future. It will also give you a positive boost before tackling the new term.

How to complete a reflection practice

First and foremost, get comfy. Bring a cuppa and a notebook, put your feet up and allow yourself time to complete this exercise. It doesn’t need to take more than 20-30 minutes. 

• Step 1 - Create a list of things that went well for you this term. 

Get specific, even if it was something small. It might be a teaching skill or relationships you’ve built with pupils or parents. It could even be a conversation with a colleague or a lesson observation. Being a teacher is more than just standing in front of a class (as you know!) so look at the whole picture. 

• Step 2 - Find the why in your self-reflection

Why did that particular event/situation spring to mind? How did it make you feel at the time? How does it make you feel now? If there are any on your list you want to do more of in the spring term, add a star next to them. Take a moment to feel good about these moments - to congratulate yourself. It might seem a bit woo-woo, but it works.

• Step 3 - Note down anything you feel didn’t go as well as you’d expected

Here at Happy-Centred Schools, we’re all about helping you feel happier and more resilient. And part of that is sometimes dealing with the uncomfortable stuff rather than burying it away. But here’s where self-compassion plays a bit part. So yes, reflect on situations you might feel negatively about, but be kind to yourself, please. No one is a perfect teacher - so show yourself some love.

• Step 4 - Use your reflections to help you grow and learn

The reflection exercise is a learning opportunity. If you’re disappointed in a lesson observation or how your behaviour management is shaping up, get specific and make a plan. What was the feedback? Decide on something small to try first. Who could you ask for support? 

And finally, make a promise to yourself to build in some reflection time as often as you can manage next year - at least once per half term. But be on the lookout for opportunities to celebrate small wins and milestones throughout the year - even daily. 

Because when you notice the small things, the big things change.

In the meantime, go and put your feet up, grab a tipple of your choice and get those festive movies on. 

If you’d like further advice on how to start 2023 positively, why not check out Laughology’s FREE webinar with Dave Keeling - ‘Stop, Collaborate and Listen - How to Blow Away Blue Monday Blues’. It will be recorded, so if you can’t make this lunchtime session, you’ll be able to watch it in your jimjams at a time that suits you.