Journaling for Resilience: Building Wellbeing from Within

Take some time to reflect on the prompts below. There are no right or wrong answers; this is for your personal growth and understanding.

1. The Landscape of Your Leadership

What are the primary stressors or challenges you currently face, or anticipate facing, in your leadership role that impact your personal wellbeing?

2. Current Coping Strategies

How do you currently manage stress or maintain your wellbeing? What strategies are effective, and which ones fall short?

3. Your Internal Resources

Think about a time you successfully navigated a difficult situation. What personal strengths, qualities, or resources did you draw upon? How can you intentionally cultivate these more?

4. Envisioning Your Resilient Self

Imagine yourself as a leader who consistently prioritizes wellbeing and models resilience. What does that look like? What specific actions are you taking?

5. One Small Step

Based on your reflections, what is one small, actionable step you can commit to taking this week to enhance your personal wellbeing or resilience?

Building My Resilience Toolkit: An Action Plan for Leaders

Objective: To create a personalized and actionable toolkit of strategies to manage stress, enhance wellbeing, and build resilience as an aspiring school leader.

Instructions:

1. Reflect on Categories (5 minutes): Consider the different dimensions of wellbeing we discussed (physical, mental, emotional, social). What areas do you feel need the most attention in your current or future leadership role?

2. Brainstorm Strategies (15 minutes): For each category, brainstorm at least 2-3 specific, realistic strategies you can implement. Think about what truly rejuvenates you, helps you de-stress, or keeps you grounded. Be as concrete as possible.

   • Physical Wellbeing: (e.g., scheduling a 30-minute walk, getting 7-8 hours of sleep, meal prepping healthy lunches)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

   • Mental Wellbeing: (e.g., 5 minutes of mindful breathing, reading a non-work book, setting clear work-life boundaries)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

   • Emotional Wellbeing: (e.g., journaling gratitude, connecting with a trusted mentor, practicing positive self-talk)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

   • Social Wellbeing: (e.g., scheduling coffee with a colleague, attending a community event, saying "no" to non-essential social commitments if feeling overwhelmed)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Identify Your Top 3 (10 minutes): From your brainstormed list, select the TOP 3 strategies that you feel are most crucial and feasible for you to implement in the coming weeks. Write them down clearly.

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4. Create Your Visual Toolkit (15 minutes): On a blank piece of paper (or using a digital tool), create a visual representation of your toolkit. You can draw, list, create a mind map, or use words and symbols to represent your top 3 strategies and any other important reminders for your wellbeing. This is your personal visual reminder.

5. Accountability & Support (5 minutes): Think about how you will hold yourself accountable. Who can support you in maintaining these practices? (e.g., a trusted colleague, a family member, a mentor).

   
   
   
   

Share Out (Optional): If you feel comfortable, share one strategy from your toolkit with a small group or the whole class.