Self-Preservation & How To Honour Our Limits At Work | Episode 160
“Self-preservation is about intentional actions that protect ourselves.” - Bianca McLeish
What if working harder isn’t the answer?
In this powerful conversation, educator and school leader Bianca McLeish shares her personal journey from burnout to self-preservation, drawing on insights from her book, 'Teacher Wellbeing Transformed: Break Free From Survival Mode Before Burnout'.
Together, Meg and Bianca explore the difference between self-care and self-preservation, why understanding our nervous system changes everything, and the subtle signs that dedication may be tipping into depletion. Bianca offers practical, school-day strategies to regulate stress, protect our energy and work within our limits.
This episode reframes wellbeing as essential because learning to work within our limits allows us to stay in this profession longer and without losing ourselves in the process.
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Chapter Markers:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 04:18 Bianca’s burnout story
- 12:02 Self-care vs self-preservation
- 19:45 Understanding the nervous system
- 28:10 Subtle signs of depletion
- 36:40 Practical strategies for the school day
- 47:25 Working within our limits
- 55:10 Final reflections
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Deliberate Actions:
- List the three signs you're stretching beyond your capacity.
- Give one small nervous system regulation strategy a go.
- Say: "I would love to help, but I am at capacity" to the next request that exceeds your limits.
- Schedule a two-minute self check-in this week.
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Episode 160 Shownotes - Click here.
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Bianca McLeish Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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** The School of Wellbeing is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
