What questions should you be asking yourself to assess your wellbeing? Emma Gray has some advice
In early 2022, in this post pandemic world of change, I had an epiphany.
I am responsible for my own wellbeing.
This might seem like an odd declaration, especially since I’ve been writing about school business leaders and wellbeing for years now, but it really hit me hard. I’m not sure whether it was a result of my age, and time-of-life, or whether it was bought about by a change in personal circumstances, or whether emerging from the challenging COVID years just prompted me to rethink my whole life. I found myself asking the following questions:
What do I want to do with the rest of my life?
Who do I want to share that time with?
What makes me happy?
How can I make sure I stay healthy, both physically and mentally?
What do I need to do to keep a grasp on my positive mindset?
The current recruitment market would suggest that I’m not the only one asking these questions. I wonder if moving jobs is an easy way to demonstrate to oneself that life changes are being made? If a new job is something you’ve been thinking about for a while, is this the time to make the change? It’s left me with some significant vacancies in my teams, but it is an interesting indicator of the current desire for adjustment, and I think it is likely to result in some major changes to the way we all work in the future.
I’ve never been worried about change. I understand why others might want to move on, but I don’t want to move jobs; I’m still excited by the one I’m in. I still find it challenging, and I still take pleasure in supporting my work colleagues. However, I know I need to change within it. I need to find a new approach, a new balance to work and the rest of my life, and I realise that this can only come from me.
You just have to stop
When I first started as a school business manager, 20 years ago, my county trainer told me that I’d never last in the job if I couldn’t walk away at the end of the day. “You are just going to have to stop” was her advice, and I’ve stuck to it. Of course, this has always meant that my desk is never empty (or tidy!) because if I took the time to do that, I’d never get away. It does mean I work right up to the end of my day – my problem is that the day can get really long!
I know we all joke that we could spend 24/7 doing this job and there would still be something on the to-do list. In truth, working every hour available would not be productive and we would soon be drained of any love we had for the job. Instead, we must consider the resources we need to work efficiently. What teams and skills do we need around us to enable us to do this job within our hours? In my view, if you are consistently working more than five per cent above your working hours every week, you need more support. In the past we used to leave work until the holidays but now there is always so much going on during that time that it has become increasingly hard to get to the backlog – and, of course, you need to take your own holiday entitlement.
I’ve begun to see it as a failing on my part if I haven’t got the support I need around me. That’s my job role after all, and believe me, I’ve heard (and used) all the excuses, including the age old ‘there-isn’t-the-budget-to-get-me-an-assistant’, to which I now reply, ‘You write the budget, Emma!’ The accepted norm for teaching/support staff ratio is 60:40 of your staffing budget. Look at yours with a new world hat on and, as we know things can’t happen overnight, have a think how you might incrementally work towards a better balance in your staffing ratios if they are out of kilter.
Start each day with good intentions
So, we all know the basics of wellbeing. Eat sensibly, exercise regularly, sleep well, be mindful, do something every day which makes you happy. I know it’s not always easy to squeeze the basics into everyday life but, I figure, let’s start each day with good intentions. This year, I’ve resolved to start each day afresh and not beat myself up if I haven’t managed to get to an exercise class or a prepare a super-healthy dinner. Sometimes, after a long day of problem-solving, I just need chips!
Although I’ve never been a leap-out-of-bed type, I try to embrace and enjoy each day. There is no rush. I often say to my children that it’s not the destination (which, let’s face it, is the same for us all) it’s the journey. Having experienced an extremely low point in my own journey during 2022 I intend to keep asking myself the questions I think we’re all posing, and make small adjustments even after I think I’m where I want to be.
That way, not only can I be secure in my own wellbeing, but also start to support others in theirs more effectively.
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