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 second half of the year.

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™ Evening Prep Checklist

(Because calm mornings are built the night before.)

✔ Lay out your clothes

This one move alone saves 15 minutes of decision fatigue in the morning. Fewer choices = more energy for teaching.

✔ Pack your lunch

You can’t pour from an empty cup. A balanced lunch keeps your energy steady and your patience intact.

✔ Prep your teacher bag with the perfect insert.

I've had this bad for over 10 years! Keys. Laptop. Planner. Materials. Ready to go.

This trims 5–10 minutes and prevents the “where did I put that?” spiral.

✔ Fill your water bottle

Pop it in the fridge so it’s ice-cold by morning. Add lemon, lime, orange, or fresh herbs if you want it to feel a little special — small upgrades matter.

✔ Do a 5-minute tidy

I keep my Dreame mop/vac charged and ready for a quick after-dinner sweep. Five focused minutes with this easy-flowing Dream Machine beats a weekend deep clean every time! 

✔ Preview tomorrow’s schedule and to-do list(read on!) 

Update your checklist, glance at your plan, and mentally close the loop. When it’s out of your head, you actually rest.

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.

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

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.

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 January and June — when energy levels dip, and behaviors spike — give yourself some 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 running list for when you’ve hit the slump.

Level up your teaching, reset behavior, and community-building strategies — that keep kids engaged; 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 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

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