One fixed throughout my 30 years of educating is that the break from faculty on the finish of the calendar 12 months – winter for me and summer season for my Southern Hemisphere mates – comes at simply the correct time. Leaving for varsity at nighttime, arriving house at nighttime, the top of an extended semester of educating (and the habits of some college students) all have me craving for a couple of weeks at house with household, seasonal enjoyable, and the chance to mirror on the 12 months that got here earlier than me.
Whereas my youthful self would have inspired academics with “Let’s end robust,” “Push on by way of,” or “Crush these remaining few weeks,” …every message erring a little bit too near poisonous positivity, my older, extra reflective self nudges a extra contemplative, genuine, and nuanced message; it’s extra emotionally inclusive, and these two social posts shared under proceed to resonate strongly with me:
All of us have totally different emotional responses primarily based on our circumstances, challenges and joys, glows and groans. There isn’t a “proper” or “improper” solution to really feel proper now, however this time of 12 months encourages us to be self-aware and acknowledge our feelings. Accepting and acknowledging our emotions contributes to our emotional development and well-being.
I additionally respect this submit from Dr. Caroline Leaf. Her message encourages a extra balanced, aware method to the top of the 12 months, rejecting the strain to continuously obtain and advocating a mindset that prioritizes gratitude, leisure, and intentional pacing. A youthful me felt that success was solely measured by steady striving and accomplishment. Now, I respect that continuously being in a state of productiveness can contribute to nervousness and stress. That relaxation is not only a break from work however a vital ingredient in problem-solving and sustaining psychological and emotional well being. As Ben Alldis, considered one of my favourite Peloton instructorslikes to say, self-care isn’t egocentric.
As I mirror on the previous 12 months, I’m returning to the identical 10 prompts I’ve utilized in previous years. Listed below are a few of my ideas, together with the explanation why every query is so efficient for fostering reflection, connection, and planning for the 12 months forward.
1. Should you needed to describe the previous 12 months in a single phrase, what would you select? What occasions made you select that phrase? I might have mentioned grueling, as this was a 12-month interval wherein I mentioned sure to many time-intensive skilled initiatives. Keynotes and conferences, writing and reflections, content material creation and collaborations. Alliteration apart, all of my initiatives have come to an finish, and I now get to reap the good thing about seeing all of them come to fruition. Look out for my chapter contributions in two new books in 2026. I’ll describe 2025 as ‘profitable’.
This immediate is straightforward but highly effective. Distilling a complete 12 months into one phrase challenges us to mirror on overarching themes and highlights the occasions that outlined our experiences. It units the tone for introspection and lays the groundwork for deeper evaluation in later prompts. My annual #OneWord weblog submit is ALWAYS widespread, and can be a student-friendly exercise to do in the beginning of the brand new 12 months. I’m already enthusiastic about my #OneWord for 2026 and am at present leaning in the direction of ‘gradual’.
2. What had been your achievements from the previous 12 months that made you most proud? This query celebrates success and fosters gratitude. Reflecting on achievements, massive or small, helps to construct confidence and remind us of our development. This kind of reflection can be the right antidote for if you find yourself experiencing imposter syndromeplus it’s additionally a great way to establish what introduced us pleasure or achievement—a theme we’ll revisit later.
I’m happy with my means to carve out time to put in writing longer content material than my typical weblog posts. Contributing to 2 books, writing over 4000 phrases making use of for one thing at college, serving to with curriculum design, serving on the board of administrators for SHAPE America, all whereas juggling household commitments? I’m happy with how I navigated the previous 12 months.
3. Which occasions from the previous 12 months proved to be most difficult? How did you cope with them? Academics typically ask how I handle to do the entire issues. Remaining seen on social media and persevering with to create content material within the tenth 12 months of the slowchathealth.com website gives the look that I’m all the time hustling, and maybe I’m. Time administration stays a problem for me, and I fill all of my prep durations at college with lesson planning, project grading, and curriculum planning. My purpose is to take little to no work house in the course of the faculty week. A key to my success, and one of many the explanation why I seem like so busy, is that I’m additionally intentional about carving out time for self-care. Discovering time for meditation, studying, stretching, or a Peloton experience are all the explanation why I’ve the power and motivation to proceed my lifestyle.
Acknowledging challenges is important for studying and development. This immediate encourages self-awareness and resilience by focusing not simply on obstacles however on how we responded. It typically hyperlinks again to achievements, as overcoming difficulties could be amongst our proudest moments.
4. In what methods did your life transfer nearer towards the life for which you purpose? This query invitations us to think about progress—personally, professionally, or each. It’s a reminder that even small steps rely, and it aligns with earlier prompts about challenges and achievements. Collectively, these reflections can reveal patterns and areas for continued development.
Life is a journey, and I’m assured that I’m nearer to changing into the individual I need to be. I look ahead to many extra years of self-improvement. That mentioned, my keynote talks in regards to the totally different phases academics move by way of over the course of their careers, and I’m aware that I’m getting into the ultimate stage: making ready for retirement. My purpose is to go away behind a physique of labor and a constructive popularity once I retire. I’m assured I’m shifting in the correct course.
5. What introduced you pleasure this previous 12 months? One among my favourite books from the previous 12 months is Defend the Pleasure: A Constructive, Collaborative Method to Youth Sport by Dr. Amanda Stanec. In case you are concerned in youth sports activities or know somebody who’s, you will need to purchase this guide. This one is for all of us who ‘belief the method’. I expertise pleasure at any time when I watch my two younger sons play sports activities. You will discover me on the finish of the sideline, sometimes away from others, watching them develop as athletes and younger males.
This immediate shifts focus to the constructive, emphasizing the significance of pleasure in our lives. It’s typically linked to achievements and progress, reinforcing the worth of celebrating even the smallest moments of happiness.
6. Who made the most important impression in your life this previous 12 months, and the way did they encourage or help you? This immediate highlights the significance of reflecting on relationships and the help programs in our lives. Recognizing these connections fosters gratitude and infrequently reveals the depth of their impression. I recurrently acknowledge household, mates, and educators who encourage me and proceed to play a constructive function in my journey. I’ll use this time to additionally give a shout out to these in my brains belief.
7. What prompted you most stress, and the way did you address stressors?
This query encourages us to guage our stressors and assess the methods we used to deal with them. Understanding how we managed stress helps establish areas of private resilience and areas for enchancment in coping methods.
I’ve been very intentional about self-care because the pandemic. I’m cognizant of the nudges that my thoughts and physique give me all through the day. Chewing my lip? One thing is on my thoughts. Tight shoulders? I haven’t moved for some time. Headache? I’m dehydrated. Coronary heart racing? I want some ‘me-time’.
8. How energetic had been you in the course of the previous 12 months? Had been you as energetic as you deliberate to be?
This immediate provides an opportunity to mirror on bodily exercise and its connection to general well-being, encouraging an analysis of priorities and intentions. This query is about recognizing alternatives missed or experiences that would have been prioritized. It offers perception into the place you need to direct your power sooner or later. Regardless of my love of all issues PelotonI want be extra energetic subsequent 12 months as a result of I’m beginning to really feel (however not look!) my age.
9. In what methods did you positively impression these round you?
This query encourages reflection on the methods you contributed to the lives of others. Recognizing the way you’ve supported, impressed, or uplifted these round you fosters a way of function and reinforces the worth of significant connections. I’m extra conscious now than ever earlier than of my impression on these round me (and I’m grateful for the inclusion of ‘self and others‘ within the new SHAPE America Nationwide Well being Requirements). I used to be lately acknowledged as a ‘chief trainer’ at college, and offering proof of my impression within the faculty and group was one thing included within the software.
I additionally assume that the vastly profitable sixth annual microblog occasion on this website is proof of the group I’ve constructed and the area I’ve created for others to share their voice.
10. What would you modify from final 12 months in the event you had been handed a re-do?
This immediate permits for trustworthy self-assessment and invitations considerate reflection on choices or actions that didn’t prove as deliberate. It offers an opportunity to study from the previous and take into account easy methods to method related conditions in another way sooner or later. I sometimes stay life with out regrets, however am conscious of my shortcomings and adjustments that I must embrace in an effort to stay life to the fullest.
These prompts have served as a reflective anchor for me, and I hope they encourage you to take inventory of your 12 months and plan for the subsequent. Reflection is not only about trying again; it’s about utilizing what we’ve realized to maneuver ahead deliberately. Whether or not you’re trying ahead to a well-deserved break or dealing with the season with combined feelings, you might be a part of a worldwide group of educators making an enduring impression, and for that, I’m grateful. Right here’s to a aware and significant 12 months forward!
Final 12 months I created a tongue-in-cheek reward information for academics. The ideas are nonetheless nice, and the hyperlinks (together with low cost codes) are nonetheless legitimate.
Should you’re searching for further assets, the Calm weblog lately shared their annual Vacation Journala mixture of sensible mindfulness ideas and contemplation prompts to domesticate extra peace and pleasure.
Listed below are some finish of 12 months suggestions for you:
I actually loved Christopher Pepper and Joanna Schroeder’s Speak To Your Boys guide, each as an educator and as a father of boys.
My favourite podcast to visitor on (alongside Megaera Regan) was the Significant Podcast Expertise.
My soundtrack to 2025 (the entire songs that caught my ear this 12 months).
Now that you’ve learn this submit, listed below are 5 questions so that you can take into account. I’ll push these out on social media – slowchat type:
Q1. How typically do you put aside time to mirror in your experiences? What do you achieve from these moments? #slowchathealth
Q2. What recommendation would you give somebody who struggles to find time for reflection? #slowchathealth
Q3. Was there a second this 12 months while you felt particularly linked to your function as an educator? What made it stand out? #slowchathealth
This fall. Should you might thank one individual for his or her affect in your 12 months, who wouldn’t it be and why? #slowchathealth
Q5. Waiting for subsequent 12 months, what’s one behavior or mindset you’d like to hold ahead from this 12 months? #slowchathealth
