Thursday, April 17, 2025
Are You Stuck in the What-If Wasteland? A Mindset Shift for Teachers Facing Uncertainty
Your brain’s trying to plan for every possible future—no wonder you're exhausted, teacher. Let’s talk about how to stop the mental spin and reclaim your peace.
Do you ever worry about the future, teacher? Do you ever wonder what you will do if your life circumstances change unexpectedly?
Our brains want to prepare us for what may arise in the upcoming days by thinking about and predicting the future, but sometimes that protective mechanism goes too far.
Learn why this is ineffective (and exhausting) and how to bring your focus and energy back to the present moment.
Read on to Learn:
- How your brain's efforts to help you are actually hurting you.
- Why worrying is ineffective and not useful.
- How to train your brain to focus on what truly matters right now.
As the school year winds down and summer peeks just around the corner, many teachers find themselves not just wrapping up grades and cleaning out classrooms—but mentally spiraling through a long list of "what-ifs."
What if I get moved to a new grade? What if my contract isn’t renewed? What if next year is even harder than this one?
Sound familiar?
The Teacher What-if Wasteland
This mental space, what I call the "What-If Wasteland," is a common stop on the teacher mindset journey. It’s where our brains start spinning in hypothetical scenarios and future unknowns, desperately trying to prepare for every possibility. But here’s the problem: none of those problems are real yet.
And that spin? It's exhausting.
Why Teachers Spiral Into the What-If Wasteland
Our brains mean well. Truly. They’re trying to protect us by anticipating what might go wrong so we can be prepared. The issue is, when we try to solve for problems that don’t actually exist (yet, or maybe even ever), we waste energy, time, and emotional bandwidth.
Worrying feels useful. But it’s not. It doesn't help you plan smarter or feel more confident. It only leads to overwhelm, anxiety, and sometimes burnout.
And during the final stretch of the school year—when you're likely already running on fumes—the what-if cycle can drag you down fast.
Real Examples of Teacher What-Ifs
** What if I have to teach a grade I’ve never taught before?
** What if my admin changes again?
** What if next year’s class is even more behind?
** What if I don’t recover from my burnout before fall?
** What if I don’t even want to come back?
You’re not alone in wondering any of these. But letting your mind live in that space doesn't serve you.
The Way Out of Teacher What-If Wasteland
Here’s your tool: Answer your what-ifs with what is true right now.
What if I have to teach a new grade?
— Right now, I’m showing up and teaching 4th grade.
What if my contract isn’t renewed?
— Today, I’m fulfilling my current contract.
What if the new principal and I don’t get along?
— At this moment, I’m building strong relationships with the current staff.
When you answer with present truth, your brain stops spinning. It has an answer. The noise fades. You step out of the wasteland and back into the present.
You Don't Need to Solve the Future
The truth is: you likely already have enough real challenges to deal with today. Let’s solve those. Let’s stay grounded in what’s real.
If your brain is dragging you through imaginary disasters, that’s just your lower brain trying to keep you safe. Thank it, and then gently redirect.
You don’t have to figure it all out today. You just have to take care of today.
Want Help Stepping Out of the What-If Wasteland?
If you’re spinning in the what-ifs and not sure how to ground yourself again, let’s chat. I offer free 1:1 coaching calls where you can bring your list of what-ifs, and we can work together to shift your mindset back to peace. Click HERE to grab a spot.
Or, if you want to learn all the mindset tools I teach my clients, check out my course Calm in the Classroom. It’s self-paced, affordable, and packed with strategies to help you regulate your nervous system, manage your emotions, and actually enjoy teaching again. Learn more here.
Let’s stop spinning and start moving forward—calmly, clearly, and confidently.
Hi There, Teacher Friend!
Maybe you're like me and didn't learn how to allow and process an emotion! If so, I can help you! One of the skills we learn and practice in coaching sessions is allowing and processing an emotion.
Like any new skill, it takes time, practice, and a little outside help! For a limited time, I am offering free 1:1 coaching sessions for teachers!
Click the button below to schedule your complimentary session!
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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!
