Mindfulness in Teaching

Stress in Teaching

• 46% of teachers report high levels of stress, comparable to nurses.
• Teachers constantly expend physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy.
• Burnout results in cynicism and questioning career choices.
• Changes in self, the world, and students contribute to dissatisfaction.
• Emotional demands of teaching are often unrecognized and unaddressed in teacher education.

Importance of Mindfulness

• Mindfulness has been crucial for coping with teaching demands.
• Teachers often become reactive due to multitasking and stress.
• Metaphor of an elevator: stress levels increase during the day without being noticed.
• Teachers may unconsciously react unfairly to students when stressed.
• Stress makes it hard to think clearly; mindfulness helps reduce stress to a baseline level.

Benefits of Mindfulness

• Mindfulness increases awareness of physical and emotional states (e.g., noticing clenched jaws).
• Awareness allows for pauses and more thoughtful reactions to students.
• Mindfulness helps manage overwhelming thoughts and provides alternative ways of being.
• Using mindfulness tools can make teaching more enjoyable and reduce stress.
• With mindfulness, lessons can be more engaging and transformational for students.
• Feeling grounded and present enhances the joy of teaching.