By Sarah Legault, Teachers Empowerment Network — Turning Teachers from Surviving to Thriving.

Hey teacher! If you’re reading this, congratulations. You’ve survived the wildest stretch of the school year:

✨ Setting expectations

✨ Building relationships

✨ Fall assessments

✨ Open House

✨ Conferences

✨ Behavior spikes

✨ The “November Slide”

✨ …and your coffee still isn’t strong enough

And somewhere in the chaos… YOU got lost in the shuffle.

November and December hit teachers differently. Routines unravel. Student stamina dips. Behaviors flare. Admin expectations ramp up. The cold season begins. And the emotional load? Heavy.

But here’s the truth no one tells teachers:

You don’t have a behavior problem. You have an exhaustion and a systems problem.

And the fastest way to reclaim control isn’t a spa day; it’s small, strategic habits that protect your energy and give you more time back.

As someone who taught for two decades, coached hundreds of teachers, AND navigated my own ADHD brain, these are the three self-care strategies that saved me (and the reason I finally hit a sustainable 40-hour week).

These aren’t fluffy.

These aren’t an Instagram aesthetic.

These are teacher-tested, classroom-proof strategies that actually change your day.

Let’s reset your November.

Tip #1: Teacher Self-Care Begins the Night Before

If you fail to plan, you’re planning to burn out.

Your morning doesn’t start at 7:45.

Your morning starts at 9:00 PM the night before.

A calm morning is the ultimate form of teacher self-care — and it’s built on repeatable routines.

Here’s the Top TEN prep checklist:

✔ Lay out clothes

✔ Pack lunch

✔ Prep your teacher bag

✔ Fill the water bottle

✔ Quick 5-minute tidy

✔ Review tomorrow’s schedule

It’s not glamorous.

It’s not trendy.

But it gives your tomorrow a fighting chance.

And if you’re thinking:

“I don’t have time… I’m still at school at 5:30.”

That’s exactly why we need to talk.

It’s not your effort — it’s your systems.

If you want a calmer day, clearer focus, and teaching that feels aligned instead of frantic…

📘 Grab the Free 6-Step Empowered Lesson Plan Guide

This guide helps you:

• Plan faster

• Reduce decision fatigue

• Stay intentional

• Teach with purpose (not panic)

👉 Download your free guide — and reset your planning system today.

We’ve all been there: morning rush, missing buttons, forgotten lunches. One small hiccup can derail your entire day.

To dodge these disasters, here’s the game plan:

• Lay out your clothes the night before

• Prep your lunch

• Pack your bag

This nightly ritual paves the way for a focused, calm, and intentional start to your day. Prioritizing these routines isn't just smart—it's self-care.

Tip #2: To-Do Lists Are Your Teacher Self-Care Lifeline

Teachers don’t need more time — teachers need better prioritization.

A clear running to-do list:

✔ Keeps your brain uncluttered

✔ Prevents decision fatigue

✔ Helps you finish faster

✔ Stops the 10,000 open tabs in your mind

The trick?

Realistic prioritization.

Not the “everything is urgent and I’m drowning” list.

Your daily categories should be:

1️⃣ Must-do today

2️⃣ Should-do this week

3️⃣ Could-do later

And between November and January — when energy dips and behaviors spike — give yourself margin.

Because THIS is the season teachers need the strongest systems.

If you want your routines, behavior expectations, and classroom energy back on track…

🌟 Grab the Ultimate Mid-Year Reset

Twenty years of tried-and-true strategies bundled into one simple toolkit for when you’ve hit the slump.

Transition tricks, behavior resets, community-building strategies — all ready to use tomorrow.

Your future self will thank you.

Tip #3: Self-Care Means Protecting Your Focus (and Your Peace)

Let’s say it gently-but-real:

Too much hallway chatter is costing you your weekends.

And we love our teacher friends — but we also know:

One “vent” can spiral into 20 minutes of negativity…

One “quick chat” becomes a planning period…

One distraction derails your whole afternoon.

Camaraderie = essential

Commiseration loops = draining

Your time = precious

Protect it fiercely.

Self-care means:

✔ Uplifting conversations

✔ Clear boundaries

✔ “Love you but I’ve gotta finish this”

✔ Efficiency equals energy

Your goal:

Finish at school… so you can live after school.

Think Self-Love, Not Perfection

You don’t need a full personality overhaul.

You just need micro-habits that work with your teacher life.

Start here:

✨ Plan ahead

✨ Make attainable lists

✨ Guard your focus

✨ Build systems that stabilize you

Do these consistently, and by December you’ll feel the shift — calmer days, smoother routines, and less of that “running on fumes” feeling.

You deserve that.

Want a Community That Helps You Stay Reset All Year Long?

There’s a reason teachers burn out — and it’s not because they don’t care.

It’s because they care too much, with too little support.

If you want a no-drama, solution-minded community where teachers actually help each other grow…

✨ Join the Teach Like a Top TEN™ Community

A supportive network built for teachers who want more clarity, more confidence, and zero negativity.

Final Word

You don’t need more hours.

You need better tools, stronger systems, and a community that lifts you up — not drains you.

Let’s make this the year you teach with confidence, energy, and impact.

You’ve got this — and I’ve got you. 💛

— Sarah