Thursday, April 24, 2025
The Post-It Note Pep Talk: A Simple Mindset Hack for Teachers
One Sticky Note Could Change Your Entire Teaching Day—Here’s How
Welcome, teacher friend! If you're a regular listener of the Next Level Teacher Podcast, you know we’re all about practical tools to build teacher resilience and emotional wellness.
Today, I’m sharing one of my absolute favorite mindset strategies—a tool so simple, you might overlook it, but so powerful it can transform your day.
Let’s talk about the Post-It Note Pep Talk.
Read on to Learn:
- Why it's difficult for our brains to think positively.
- How to retrain your brain to see both sides of the story.
- A simple, but highly effective, tool to balance out your brain.
Why Your Thoughts Matter as a Teacher
As teachers, we’re constantly navigating stress, classroom challenges, and a never-ending to-do list. It’s easy, and in fact normal, for our brains to default to worst-case scenarios or self-doubt. But here's the truth: your thoughts create your feelings, and your feelings fuel every action you take in the classroom.
When your brain spins in negativity, your energy follows. But when you choose thoughts that are empowering, your confidence grows—and so does your impact.
Give Your Brain Equal Airtime
Most of us automatically spend time thinking about what might go wrong during the school day. But how often do we give the same attention to what might go right?
Giving your brain “equal airtime” means intentionally thinking thoughts that uplift you, support you, and prepare you to thrive—on purpose. You don’t have to ignore the hard stuff, but you do need to balance it with intentional encouragement.
How to Create a Post-It Note Pep Talk
Here’s the powerful teacher tool: Write a simple, supportive thought on a sticky note and place it where you’ll see it throughout the day—your desk, your mirror, your planner, your laptop.
This mini pep talk acts like a compass, gently redirecting your brain every time it starts to spiral.
Here are a few ideas to get your started:
- "Progress, not perfection."
- "Breathe. You've got this."
- "You're doing better than you think you are."
- "Their behavior is not about you."
- "I am not my job."
- "You make a difference every day."
Grab a sticky note, jot down the one that speaks to your heart, and place it somewhere you’ll see it—your desk, your mirror, your laptop. This little habit can help rewire your brain for more peace, more clarity, and more joy in your teaching day.
Free Printable for Teachers
Need some ideas of empowering thoughts for your Teacher Post-it Note Pep Talk? Click the link below to download a ready-make list!
Let's Coach Through It Together
Struggling to believe those positive thoughts? That’s where coaching comes in. In your free first coaching session, we’ll clear out those unhelpful thoughts and create believable ones that actually make a difference.
🎯 Book your free session now at: brennanelsoncoaching.com/free.
Teacher, it's not YOU.
It's your BRAIN!
You’re staring at a mountain of ungraded papers, "that" parent just emailed again, and your lunch is still sitting untouched.
You wonder, “Why can’t I handle this better? What’s wrong with me?”
The truth?
Nothing.
Your brain is doing exactly what it’s wired to do—protect you by scanning for danger, anticipating problems, and staying on high alert. In other words, it’s trying to help... but it’s efforts often work against you becoming the calm, confident teacher you want to be.
That’s where I come in. I help teachers understand their brain’s survival patterns—and train them to work with those patterns instead of fighting them.
Want to learn how to reset your mental autopilot and feel better?
Let’s talk. Grab a FREE 30-minute coaching session and take the first step toward a calmer, more in-control classroom (and life).
Hi, I'm Brenna Nelson, a long-time educator turned Certified Life Coach.
I help teachers, just like you, learn how to process emotions, regulate their hyperactivated nervous systems, manage their brains, and create a life they love!
Ready to feel better in the classroom? Click for more help!
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Brenna Nelson
Long-time Educator turned Certified Life Coach
Welcome to The Strength of Teachers Blog! Here we share real-life skills and practical applications that you can implement in your teacher life today!
Teachers Did Not Learn this in College!
Come learn what our college professors failed to teach us in college:
How to manage the emotional toll of life in the classroom!
