At Northbridge we believe staff wellbeing is a fundamental part of successful teaching

Planning and preparing engaging lessons as well as completing all the numerous tasks teachers do while caring for every student ensures teaching remains a highly demanding job. We recognise this at NISC and that’s why we take time out to connect, have some fun and think about how we can maintain our wellbeing and still be productive.   

This Monday, the primary staff spent some time considering what the term ‘wellbeing’ means to them. First, we tested our coordination skills while warming up to some line dancing, before breaking into groups to consider wellbeing from various angles, such as, social, academic and physical wellbeing.  

With changes in management and an ever-growing school, system changes are inevitable. To embrace these with an open mind, we considered perspective. Any event can be viewed from multiple perspectives and some of these will be negative and energy draining, while other perspectives could be motivating and energising. Common sense suggests we should select the view that empowers us.  

So, in your own busy lives of work and family, take time for your own well-being. Pause and reflect on why you are here and pay attention to the incredible impact we are having on our children. Our impact is immeasurable; hence, our wellbeing is paramount. 

Here’s a reminder of what it means to be well:

• You feel relatively confident in yourself.  
• You feel and express a range of emotions appropriately.  
• You build and maintain positive relationships with other people. 
• You live and work productively. 
• You cope with the stresses of daily life and manage times of change and uncertainty. 

Everybody has mental health as well as physical health, and sometimes you’re well and sometimes you’re not well.

Remember though, most of your stress comes from the way you respond, not the way life is. Adjust that attitude, and all that extra stress is gone.