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In this episode of the Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance Podcast, we’re diving deep into a topic every educator needs to hear: the warning signs that you need stronger, healthier boundaries.

If you’ve been feeling exhausted, resentful, or like teaching is bleeding into every corner of your life, this episode is your wake-up call. 🚨

Inside, I’ll share 17 red flags—10 from your personal life and 7 from your school life—that reveal when your boundaries are slipping. Plus, I’ll walk you through a mindset shift that will change how you see boundaries forever.

💡 Remember: boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re what allow you to protect your time, energy, and joy—so you can show up fully for yourself, your family, and your students.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 🔟 10 private-life warning signs you’re neglecting your needs (like constant fatigue, guilt when resting, or short tempers at home)
• 7️⃣ school-life symptoms of burnout (from always saying yes ➡️ to losing your joy in teaching)
• 🧠 The #1 mindset shift that makes setting boundaries feel less scary and more loving
• 📚 Which past podcast episodes to binge next if you want practical scripts and strategies
• 🛑 Why “pushing through” doesn’t make you a better teacher—it makes you a burned-out one

💬 Final Takeaway

Boundaries don’t mean you care less. They mean you’re building a teaching life you can actually sustain. 🌱 Start with one small change this week—like not checking email after dinner—and notice how much lighter you feel.

Need a proven roadmap to help you set healthier teacher boundaries? Check out the Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries course at www.gracestevens.com/lifeback

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

In This Episode: 🎧 Grace shares 8 powerful habits that can transform your teaching experience and help you become that "offensively cheerful" teacher who stays calm even when chaos strikes.

The 8 Happy Habits: 🌟

1. Set Healthy Boundaries 🚧
   • Protect your energy like it's $24,000 a day
   • It's okay to disappoint people sometimes
2. Prioritize Relationships Over Perfection 💝
   • Use the "2-10 Rule" (2 minutes for 10 days with struggling students)
   • Create student shoutout circles
   • Build inside jokes and laugh with your students
3. Practice Micro Moments of Calm 🧘‍♀️
   • Try "Starfish Breathing" (trace your hand while breathing)
   • Use hallway resets (pause at doors, one mindful breath)
   • Create calm classroom environments with soft music/lighting
4. Stay Organized with Simple Systems 📚
   • Remember: "You don't rise to your goals, you fall to your systems"
   • Delegate routines to students (they're more capable than you think!)
   • Have daily reset routines before leaving
5. Reframe Your Challenges 🔄
   • Apply growth mindset to yourself, not just students
   • See behavior issues as opportunities to reteach
   • Model mistakes and problem-solving
6. Celebrate the Small Wins 🎉
   • Write down 3 best parts of your day before leaving
   • Use a "joy jar" in your classroom
   • Tune your radar to good stuff, not annoyances
7. Separate Your Worth from Your Work 👤
   • Be a complete person beyond just "teacher"
   • Schedule non-negotiable time for YOUR interests
8. Run Your Own Race 🏃‍♀️
   • Stop comparing yourself to Pinterest perfection
   • Stay out of staff room drama that doesn't concern you
   • Protect your peace at all costs

Key Takeaway: 💡 Don't try all 8 habits at once! Pick one, make it routine, then add another. Happiness can be synthesized - it's a skill you can learn!

Resources Mentioned: 🔗

• Happy Classroom Habits Course

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Whether you're facing a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) or dealing with a challenging administrator, this episode provides practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you navigate these difficult situations with grace and professionalism. Grace shares her own story of working with a demanding administrator and how changing her perspective transformed the experience.

What You'll lEarn:

1. Mindset Shifts

• Other People's Experiences Don't Have to Be Yours - Don't let colleagues' negative stories shape your reality
• Focus on Facts, Not Feelings - Write down what has actually happened vs. what you've heard or assumed
• This is Temporary - A PIP is a chapter, not your whole story
• Assume Best Intentions - Approach the plan as a tool for improvement, not punishment

2. Practical Strategies

• Document Everything - Keep daily logs and confirm conversations via email
• Request Specific Feedback - Ask for concrete examples of what success looks like
• Find a Thought Partner - Get support from a trusted mentor or colleague (without gossiping)
• Focus One Thing at a Time - Don't try to overhaul everything at once
• Maintain Professionalism - Stay calm, neutral, and professional even when provoked

3. Setting Boundaries

• Time Boundaries - Don't let the PIP consume your entire life
• Emotional Boundaries - Respond, don't react; pause before responding to feedback
• Communication Boundaries - Don't overexplain, overjustify, or constantly seek reassurance

4. Growth Opportunities

• Use the experience to evaluate if this district is right for you
• Learn what you can, even if the situation isn't ideal
• Build resilience and professional skills
• Remember: most teachers outlive their administrators

Key Quotes

"Other people's experience doesn't need to be your experience.""This is not a personal indictment - it's often a reflection of a broken system or poor communication."

These aren't just for teachers on improvement plans.

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Welcome to Part 5 of our Back-to-School Series! 🎒 But let’s be real: this one isn’t just for teachers and it’s definitely not just for back-to-school season. If you’re a human navigating life, relationships, or tough workdays — this episode is for you. 🙌 Grace shares 4 powerful mindset shifts that can completely transform how you experience teaching, parenting, and life. These simple (but not always easy!) reframes will help you feel more empowered, less triggered, and more in control of your peace and purpose.

💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
🌟 Mindset Shift #1: Assume Best Intentions

🧠 Mindset Shift #2: "That Was Then, This Is Now"

⚠️ Mindset Shift #3: Question Your Absolutes

🤯 Mindset Shift #4: Don’t Catch Every Ball

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

If you've ever opened an email from a parent and instantly felt your stomach drop — this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Grace unpacks practical and empowering ways to improve your communication with families — without burning out, over-explaining, or bending over backwards.

You’ll walk away with mindset shifts and strategies to help you:

• De-escalate tough parent conversations
• Communicate clearly and proactively to avoid confusion
• Set healthy boundaries without guilt
• Build trust and goodwill from day one

Grace also shares real talk about what doesn’t work, how to recover when you’ve made a mistake, and why improving parent communication makes everything — yes, everything — easier.

Whether you’re dealing with a challenging parent, hoping to reset after a rocky start, or just want to feel more confident heading into a new school year — this episode will help you reclaim your calm and lead with connection.

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Hey teacher friend — you’re back in school, and guess what’s making its rounds again? Yep… the dreaded adjunct duty list 😬

In Part 2 of our Back-to-School 2025–2026 series, we’re tackling one of the most exhausting parts of a teacher’s year: having to sign up for extra duties you didn’t actually sign up for. From lunch supervision to leading yearbook, organizing graduation, or being “voluntold” to coach a sport, these adjunct duties can quickly turn your week upside down.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. 🙅‍♀️

In this episode, I’ll show you how to strategically approach the adjunct duty list so you can:

✅ Align duties with your passions
✅ Avoid energy-draining commitments
✅ Use your voice (and contracts!) to advocate for better boundaries
✅ Learn to say "yes" with limitations or confidently say "no" without guilt
✅ Shift your mindset from “I have to” ➡️ “I get to”

Plus, I’ll tell you the true story of how I unknowingly gave up YEARS of unpaid extra work… only for someone else to get a stipend and a sub when I finally stepped away. (Yep. That one stung.) 😅

🎯 This isn’t about being difficult — it’s about being intentional. You deserve to feel fulfilled, not frustrated.

🔥 You’ll Also Learn:

• Why saying no is actually saying yes to something better
• How to reframe the “martyr teacher” mindset
• The “Tale of Two Duties”: how one teacher’s dream duty is another’s nightmare (and vice versa)
• How to advocate for equitable duty distribution (especially if you're the newbie 🐣)
• What to do if you’ve always had the same duty and want OUT
• Scripts + mindset tips for negotiating your way to better balance 💬🧠

🎯 Binge These Related Episodes:

• 🎙️ Ep 2: How to Say No Without Sounding Like a Jerk (And Still Be Student-Focused)
• 🎙️ Ep 48: How to Say Yes With Limitations and Keep Your Sanity
• 🎙️ Ep 60: What to Do When Your Class List Feels Totally Unfair
• 🎙️ Ep 62: Why You Must Double Down on Classroom Management NOW

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

LIMITED TIME OFFER MENTIONED:

www.gracestevens.com/lifeback Use coupon code BBB27 at checkout

Welcome to part one of our five-episode Back to School Special for the 2025-26 school year! In this foundational episode, Grace breaks down her proven ECHO Framework for Educator Empowerment - four essential pillars that will help you crush this school year, create your own path, and bring your own sunshine no matter what challenges come your way.

The ECHO Framework Explained

Grace introduces her comprehensive framework that encompasses everything she's taught over 12 years of writing, speaking, and podcasting about teacher empowerment.

E - Energy Teaches More Than Your Lesson Plans

• How you show up matters more than perfect lesson plans or classroom decor
• The power of co-regulation in the classroom
• Creating a positive vibe that promotes learning and risk-taking
• Self-care as a professional responsibility, not selfishness

C - Control What You Can Control

• Stop wasting energy on things outside your influence
• The connection to Mel Robbins' "Let Them Theory" and Stephen Covey's timeless principles
• Focusing on your responsibilities rather than managing everyone else
• Creating empowerment through intentional focus

H - Happiness Can Be Synthesized

• Research-backed truth: Only 50% of happiness is genetic baseline
• Life circumstances contribute just 10% to your happiness quotient
• The powerful 40%: intentional habits you can cultivate and control
• Reference to Harvard research and happiness experts

O - Other People's Experience Doesn't Need to Be Your Experience

• Creating your own path despite difficult narratives in education
• Why teachers in the same building can have vastly different experiences
• Taking responsibility for your unique teaching journey

Key Takeaways

• You can change your "operating terms and conditions" anytime - don't wait for next year
• Personal development is YOUR responsibility (it won't come from admin PD)
• Y

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

In this power-packed episode of our Back to School 2025 series, Grace breaks down the ONE thing that can make or break your entire school year - and it's not your bulletin boards or seating charts. It's your boundary plan.

You're spending hours on classroom decorations while ignoring the foundation that will determine whether you thrive or barely survive this year. Grace reveals the 6 critical areas every teacher needs to address to create sustainable work-life balance and protect their energy.

💪 What You'll Learn:

The 6 Essential Areas of Your Teacher Boundary Plan:

1. Time Boundaries - Your Non-Negotiable Schedule ⏰

2. Physical & Emotional Space Boundaries 🏠

3. Toxic People Boundaries - Protecting Your Energy 🛡️

4. Coworker Boundaries - Professional Relationships 🤝

5. Parent Communication Boundaries 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

6. Student Boundaries - Professional Relationships 📚

✨ Key Takeaways:

💡 Boundaries are skills - not personality traits. They can be learned and improved.

💡 The boundary inventory - Most teachers don't realize where their boundary blind spots are hiding.

💡 "Classroom policy" magic - Remove the personal element by framing boundaries as policies.

💡 Consistency is everything - Your boundaries only work if you apply them fairly to everyone.

💡 Plan before you need them - Don't wait for boundary violations to figure out your response.

🎯 Action Steps:

1. Audit these 6 areas - Where are your biggest boundary gaps?
2. Write your boundary plan - Don't wing it, create intentional policies
3. Find an accountability partner - Share your plan for better success
4. Practice the scripts - Know what you'll say before you need to say it

🔥 Why This Matters:

Every day you operate without clear boundaries, you're conditioning others to expect unlimited access to your time, energy, and emotional labor. This isn't just about work-life balance - it's about creating a sustainable career that doesn't burn you out before you can make the impact you're meant to mak

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)