Finding Your Zen in the School Workplace

Jfs Zen

In a school environment, the pace can be relentless. Bells ringing, students needing guidance, emails piling up, phones ringing, parents waiting, staff meetings running long—it’s no wonder many School Staff struggle to find moments of calm. 

So let’s ask a simple question: 

 What does Zen look like for you? 

Is it a walk in silence after work? A hot cup of tea on the back step? Ten minutes of breathing before bed? 

Or is your brain still buzzing at 10 PM, running through tomorrow’s to-do list while replaying today’s difficult conversations? 

 

Zen Isn’t Just Meditation—It’s a State of Mind 

According to Urban Dictionary, Zen is “a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind.” It’s about presence. Awareness. A quiet acceptance of what is, without letting your thoughts distort reality. 

For school staff, that could mean letting go of the unresolved student issue, the curt parent email, or the pile of work that didn’t quite get done. It’s not about ignoring responsibilities. It’s about mentally stepping away at the end of the day so your wellbeing doesn’t get lost in the mix. 

And if you’re thinking, “But how?”, you’re not alone. 

 

The Mind Chatter Is Real 

Having worked with hundreds of school staff through JFS training sessions, I’ve learned that most school staff have a constant dialogue running in our heads. I call it mind chatter, and it usually sounds like this: 

  • “I should’ve worded that email better.” 
  • “Why did they say it that way in the meeting?” 
  • “What if I forgot to upload the file?” 
  • “I’ll never get through the rest of my work on time.” 
  • “How am I going to manage next week?” 

These thoughts aren’t always dramatic, but they are persistent, and they drain your energy long after the workday ends. 

 

What Keeps You Awake at Night? 

When mind chatter becomes mind clutter, it shows up in all sorts of ways: 

  • Trouble falling (or staying) asleep 
  • Constant muscle tension 
  • Racing thoughts the minute you stop moving 
  • Feeling like your “off switch” is broken 

This isn’t just stress—it’s an overloaded system that’s struggling to recharge. 

 

How School Staff Find Their Zen 

Here are some practical ways school staff say they unwind and quiet the noise: 

🧘‍♀️ Breathing breaks: Not full meditation—just three deep breaths before a meeting, after work, or before bed. 

🎧 Listening to music: Something calming or even nostalgic to help shift gears. 

🚶‍♀️ Walking without a phone: Leaving the device at home and paying attention to surroundings instead. 

🛁 A short night-time ritual: Hot shower, herbal tea, journaling, light stretching—anything consistent. 

🧠 “Brain dump” journaling: Writing down every racing thought onto a page to clear your head. 

📺 Gentle distractions: Watching a favourite show, reading fiction, or doing a puzzle—activities that help shift mental gears. 

The key isn’t what you do, it’s that you give yourself permission to do it without guilt. 

 

Let Go to Recharge 

You cannot pour from an empty cup. And yet, school staff do it every day. 

Zen doesn’t require hours of silence or a meditation cushion (though both are lovely). Sometimes, it’s as simple as closing your eyes for one minute and reminding yourself: “Today is done. I did my best. And that is enough.” 

You are allowed to stop. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to be a whole person, not just someone solving everyone else’s problems. 

 

Want Support to Find Your Zen? 

At Just For Schools, our training sessions offer more than just professional development. We create space to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with your purpose. Whether it’s learning to manage overwhelm, communicating under pressure, or simply naming your strengths, we’re here to support you. 

 

Ready to support your team’s wellbeing? 

Contact us today to find the right JFS session for your school. We’re here to help you reconnect with your purpose, and peace of mind.