STRATEGIES TO THRIVE out in their classrooms and , as a result , override them and change their behavioral responses .
Several studies show that mindfulness-based programs ( MBPs ) for teachers are effective for reducing teacher stress and bolstering wellbeing ( Harris et al ; Jennings et al .; Kemeny et al .; Roeser et al .). Furthermore , a recent review of studies of teacher MBPs found that , on average , MBPs generated improvements in mindfulness , well-being , job satisfaction , empathy , compassion , resilience , and emotion regulation , as well as reductions in stress , burnout , anxiety , and depression ( Lomas et al .).
The incorporation of MBPs and mindful awareness practices into teacher preparation and induction programming could be a promising direction for helping teachers to override scripts and develop greater emotional responsiveness and regulation in the classroom setting . In the Table on page 23 , I list a few evidence-based MBPs for both teachers and students to consider . K-12 schools and teacher preparation / induction programs may consider other brief approaches such as having teachers engage regularly with mindfulness-based apps and / or engage in condensed online programming ( e . g ., the online version of the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education Program ; CARE ). There are also many other practices that are freely available through university and organizational websites , apps , and streaming services .
“... as teachers transition into the profession , it can be supremely helpful to create space for teachers to identify , plan , and enact specific strategies , practices , and activities that support their own self-care and well-being .”
Strategy # 3 : Self-Care Assessment & Plan
Finally , as teachers transition into the profession , it can be supremely helpful to create space for teachers to identify , plan , and enact specific strategies , practices , and activities that support their own self-care and well-being . By self-care , I am not referring to watereddown notions of self-care propagated by the media ( e . g ., getting manicures and pedicures ). As Dr . Jennings notes , self-care has to do with bringing heightened attention to and nurturance toward the four primary domains of our personal development : the physical , emotional , intellectual , and spiritual . The physical domain involves our physical health and wellbeing , while the emotional domain refers to our emotional health and well-being . The intellectual domain encompasses our cognitive skills , our knowledge , and personal interests , while the spiritual refers to our sense of mean-
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