As we all are starting our first weeks back at school, whether online, in person or a combination of both, stress levels of teachers (and students) will undoubtedly rise as we adjust to whatever “new normal” we are currently dealt.   

During this time it is natural to shift into a defensive and individualistic mindset - when the world feels uncertain (like it certainly does at the moment), we tend to hunker down on the things we need to feel safer and more secure.

This can often mean focusing inward and doing what needs to be done to feel better in the short-term - focusing on our day-to-day work responsibilities, and often speaking predominantly about work-related topics with colleagues.

We can sometimes forget that at a time when our feelings are pushing us to make our world smaller, to provide that safety and security in the moment, creating genuine connection with others and opening ourselves back up to others might just be the thing that makes the difference.

Schools reopening: How communication can boost teacher wellbeing

After all, we are all hard-wired for connection. So, to help with wellbeing during this turbulent time, I would encourage those of us working within education right now to try using the three simple ideas below:

1. Give people the time of day

We’re all incredibly busy at the moment, dealing with living through a pandemic, coping with exam results chaos, and what with it being the start of term as well!

When interacting with other teachers, it can go a long way if we give people a few minutes out of our day to hear them out if they need a rant, or someone to talk to about students they’re struggling with.

This is not as easy as it sounds. As teachers, we can often feel like we’re lone wolves and have to fix a lot of problems ourselves, and during term time we don’t always have the time (or energy) to speak with friends or family about what’s going on in our day-to-day lives.

Giving five minutes out of our day to help someone else, even whilst worrying about all of the things that we’ve got to do ourselves that day, may go a long way to helping make someone else feel listened to.

2. Actively listen

How often when we’re in a conversation do we try to conjure up in our mind what we want to add to the conversation, or what experience we want to share?

Whilst I appreciate that conversation is a two-way street, letting go of thinking about how we want to add to a conversation (and constantly pre-empting what we’re going to share) can free us to be in the moment and just really hear what the other person has to say.

I often try and test myself when I’m in a conversation and see if I’m truly listening, or whether I’m thinking about what I want to say when a pause comes up - more often than not, I’m focused on the conversation that I’m having in my mind.

3. Ask ‘how are you?’ - and mean it

How many times do we ask people how they are without really being interested in a response?

Take an interest in other people without any attachment or expectation of getting anything back in response, but being completely genuine in your asking.

When I take an interest in other people, it has the knock-on effect of making me feel better, because it’s a kind thing to give people a space to share. When you stop seeing conversations as a like-for-like battle, you free yourself of the transactional nature of conversation, which often leads us to feeling that our needs have not been met.

Find ways to meet your social needs without demanding an automatic response from others.

Genuine connection doesn’t have to mean a lot of time and effort - a small shift in mindset and small gestures are what can make all the difference.

Sadie Hollins is head of sixth form at a British-curriculum school in Thailand and has been teaching internationally for two years. She tweets @_WISEducation