LeStallion

Journal For Teachers - How a Teacher-Specific Journal Can Transform Your Classroom Experience

LeStallion

https://lestallion.com/collections/journal-notebook-for-teachers

Ready to tame the classroom chaos? Teachers everywhere are discovering the power of a dedicated journal to transform their professional lives - and the Lestallion Journal is specifically designed to meet educators' unique needs.

Teaching demands constant gear-shifting between instruction, behavior management, parent communication, and administrative tasks. This relentless juggling act leads many educators to rely on scattered sticky notes, random paper scraps, and digital fragments that create more stress than solutions. Imagine instead having one central hub where every observation, lesson plan, and parent meeting note lives in perfect, accessible order.

The Lestallion Journal's thoughtful features make this organizational dream possible. Numbered pages paired with a comprehensive table of contents allow you to instantly locate student observations during conferences. Premium 120 GSM acid-free paper transforms writing from a chore into a pleasurable experience, while the durable construction and convenient back pocket accommodate the physical realities of classroom life.

Beyond mere organization, this journaling practice offers profound emotional benefits. Teaching continuously drains your emotional reserves - processing these experiences through regular reflection helps prevent burnout while creating space to celebrate small victories that might otherwise go unnoticed. Teachers who maintain consistent journaling habits report reduced stress levels, improved work-life balance, and a greater sense of professional fulfillment.

Successful teacher-journalists recommend focusing on specific areas each day rather than attempting exhaustive documentation. Even five minutes of targeted reflection using prompts like "What went well today?" or "What would I do differently?" yields significant results when practiced consistently. The journal becomes not just another task but a trusted companion on your teaching journey.

Ready to transform your classroom experience? Consider how a dedicated journal might support your organization, emotional wellbeing, and professional growth. Your future self - and your students - will thank you.

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LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.

For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
https://lestallion.com/

Speaker 1:

All right. So you're here with us again for the deep dive, and today we're going to be tackling something that a lot of you have been asking about, yeah, and that is specifically journaling for teachers.

Speaker 2:

Right, and we've seen a bunch of you sharing stuff about this journal notebook for teachers from Lestallion.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it looks really interesting.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it does seem very targeted.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so we're going to kind of do a deep dive into that today and see what we can pull out of it.

Speaker 2:

I like it.

Speaker 1:

In terms of making the most of it for, you know, organization and productivity and well-being and all the things that matter when you're in the, you know, very challenging but rewarding field of education.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, it's such a multifaceted job being a teacher, right?

Speaker 1:

Like so many different hats you have to wear oh my gosh yeah so anything that can bring a little more calm and organization, and I think that's really what we're gonna be looking at with this list, alley and journal yeah, and I think that's what's so interesting about the way that they present it is that it's not just like oh you know, journaling is good for you, or like you know, teachers should keep a journal. It's like they've really thought about, like what are the specific things that teachers need to keep track of?

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

You know, and how can we design something that will actually support that?

Speaker 2:

I think that's kind of the underlying, you know theme here is that it's not just a random notebook, it's like a tool that's been specifically designed for this very challenging role.

Speaker 1:

Right, that's great. So let's talk a little bit about I mean, because you know, anybody listening to the show is a teacher probably so they know.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we don't have to explain what it's like.

Speaker 1:

What it's like. But let's just kind of lay the groundwork of like why is this so overwhelming? Why is this such a challenging thing to manage?

Speaker 2:

I mean, I feel like every day there there's meetings with parents, colleagues, administrators, Like it's just this constant, you know flow of demands on your time.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and you're constantly having to shift gears, right? Like one minute, you're, you know, explaining fractions. The next minute, you're, you know, dealing with a student who's having a meltdown.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, exactly dealing with a student who's having a meltdown. Exactly.

Speaker 1:

Exactly. And so I think what they're really trying to get at with this journal idea is to create that central point, the hub, A hub right when you can go to kind of see everything laid out. Yeah, have a bird's eye view of like, okay, what am I actually working with here? Yes, exactly, and to really just you know, I think it helps reduce that feeling of overwhelm.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of times it's just that feeling of like where do I even start? Right, you've got papers and sticky notes and things in your head and you know you try to get it all down on the computer but even that can get really cluttered. So just having that one dedicated space that's tactile, that you can open up, that has a structure to it, I think is really appealing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and what I thought was so interesting in looking at the Listallion stuff is they tell you a lot about the quality of the materials, right? So they talk about using like smooth, acid-free paper, you know, and you might think like, oh, that doesn't really matter.

Speaker 2:

But if you're a teacher, I was going to say it'd be especially for teachers who are writing so much.

Speaker 1:

All the time yeah.

Speaker 2:

Having a pen that glides smoothly over a nice thick paper.

Speaker 1:

It makes a difference.

Speaker 2:

It makes a difference, yeah, and you know, just, it feels more. You're more inclined to actually use it if it's a pleasurable experience.

Speaker 1:

I think so too.

Speaker 2:

As opposed to, like you know, some scratchy cheap notebook.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, no totally and and it you know it also helps with just like being able to actually read what you wrote right, because if you're scribbling things down quickly and you know, then later on you're like wait, what did I even write here?

Speaker 2:

yeah, what is this chicken scratch? Right, exactly, yeah.

Speaker 1:

So legibility is definitely important yeah, and so they really seem to have thought about those kind of like practical aspects of it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it feels very intentional yeah which I think is a good sign.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so. So let's get into some of the specifics then. I mean, you know you're a teacher, you're in the classroom, you've got a million things going on Like, yeah, how does this, how does this actually translate into like managing the day to day?

Speaker 2:

I mean, I think the biggest thing is just having that, that one place to put all the information that's constantly coming at you.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So, whether it's lesson plan ideas, notes about student progress, observations about behavior patterns, anything like that, Dates, deadlines. Dates yeah, parent teacher conferences, all that stuff.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Instead of having it scattered all over the place Scratches and scraps of paper. Exactly yeah, or different notebooks for different things.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah.

Speaker 2:

Just having that one central hub where you can keep it all organized.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

And easily accessible.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and so, Lestallion, you know they have a few features that I thought were really smart, Like they have numbered pages and dashed lines.

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's so helpful, Right, Just like I mean even just for like visual clarity.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

You know, having that structure on the page makes it so much easier to keep your thoughts organized.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and to like differentiate between different things.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 1:

Right, like, if you're like OK, this section is about this student, this section is about this lesson plan. Yeah, and then they also have that table of contents. Oh yeah, that's brilliant. Which, again it's?

Speaker 2:

like such a simple thing, yeah, and then they also have that table of contents.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, that's brilliant.

Speaker 2:

Which, again, it's like such a simple thing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

But it can be so helpful when you're, you know, trying to find something quickly.

Speaker 1:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

You know you don't have to flip through a million pages.

Speaker 1:

Right, and especially if you're using it to you know, if you are using it for student observations and things like that.

Speaker 2:

Right, you can be like OK, Johnny, page 37. And then you just flip right to it.

Speaker 1:

Reminds me of a friend of mine. She. She's a teacher and she was always. Like I said, you know sticky notes everywhere.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

She had. Like you know, her planner was covered in sticky notes, Her desk was covered in sticky notes Classic teacher's desk. Exactly. Yeah, and she'd always be like oh my gosh, where is that note about you know-and-so's, you know reading progress and especially for parent teacher conferences, yeah, oh those were a nightmare for her.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I can only imagine, because she would be like scrambling to find all this information yeah, you're trying to have like a productive conversation with the parents, but you're also like digging through this pile of papers, exactly.

Speaker 1:

Good luck not a good look. And so she, she finally got one of these listallion journals and and she's like it has changed my life. Oh nice, yeah, because now she's like it has changed my life, oh nice. Yeah, because now she, just like you know, jots down her little note, puts the page number in the table of contents and she's like I can find anything in seconds.

Speaker 2:

That's amazing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and she's like, it's just like reduced my stress level so much.

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's fantastic, Just knowing that she can find what she needs when she needs it. Yeah, that sense of control is so important, I think, in a job that can feel so out of control sometimes. Yes, definitely Right.

Speaker 1:

And the other thing I thought was interesting is you know the size of it Like. It's not like a tiny little notebook, it's like it's substantial, right.

Speaker 2:

It's like A5, I think. 211 pages yeah, plenty of space to really write detailed notes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and thick paper too. Oh yeah, 120.

Speaker 2:

GSM, so it's not going to bleed through.

Speaker 1:

Which is important when you're writing a lot.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, very important.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so it feels like they really thought about okay, this is something that a teacher is going to be using every day, right?

Speaker 2:

it needs to be durable. It needs to be durable.

Speaker 1:

It needs to be durable, yeah.

Speaker 2:

That's great.

Speaker 1:

And she was also very excited about the fact that it has a pocket in the back. Oh yeah, that's so handy Right, because then she can put like permission slips or like you know, yeah, all the little handouts.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, all the random stuff that you get that would otherwise get lost in the black hole of your bag, exactly yeah. So it's like it's thinking about the teacher's life holistically. Yeah, so it's like it's thinking about the teacher's life holistically.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, not just the journaling aspect but, like, the practicalities of the job as well.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's great. So we've talked about kind of the organizational side of it, but let's let's talk a little bit about the, the emotional, well-being side of it.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, because that's huge too, right, I mean, teaching is such an emotionally demanding job. It's so emotionally draining it is yeah, you're constantly, you know, giving out your energy to your students.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

You're dealing with their emotions, you're dealing with your own emotions and it can be really taxing.

Speaker 1:

And I think it's easy to forget to like take care of yourself.

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you're so focused on taking care of everyone else that your own needs kind of get pushed to the back burner, and then you end up feeling resentful and burnt out Exactly, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So having that space to just like process your own emotions and reflect on your experiences, I think is incredibly valuable.

Speaker 1:

And that's where, I think, journaling comes in.

Speaker 2:

Right, it's like that dedicated time just for you To like unpack everything that's happened during the day, to like celebrate the wins, to process the.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think Lestallion even kind of alludes to this in their materials like the fact that they are using high quality materials suggests that they understand the importance of yeah, of like making it an enjoyable experience. Right.

Speaker 2:

It's not just like a utilitarian. You know, chore, it's like this is a time for you to nurture yourself.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think it's also about, like you know, acknowledging your growth as a teacher. Right you know it's so easy to get caught up in like, oh, I didn't do this right or this lesson didn't go well. But if you're journaling you can kind of look back and be like, oh, actually, you know, I've come a long way.

Speaker 2:

Right, you can see the progress you've made, both personally and professionally.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And I think that's really motivating.

Speaker 1:

I think so too, and it's also just about like recognizing the little things that go right.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, the little wins are so important because it's easy to focus on the negative right, especially when you're feeling stressed and overwhelmed. But if you make a conscious effort to like write down those little moments of joy or connection or success, it can really shift your perspective. It can really make a difference. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I remember I had a friend who was going through a really tough time a few years ago and she was just feeling really down on herself.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And I was like you know you should try just like writing down one good thing that happened each day.

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's a great.

Speaker 1:

It's like one little thing you know, and and she's like, OK, I'll try it, and she did it for a week yeah and at the end of the week she was like I can't believe how much it helped wow, she's like I realized that even though things were really tough, there were still good things happening, yeah, and it just kind of like lifted her spirits a little bit that's amazing yeah, so I think it's really easy to to overlook those, those little moments, but they're so important yeah, and the act of writing them down, I think think, makes them more real somehow.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's like you're giving them more weight and you're more likely to remember them.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it's like you're creating a record of like oh yeah, good things do happen.

Speaker 2:

Right, you know. Yeah, it's like a gratitude journal in a way.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly yeah. So I think that's a really important aspect of it too.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 1:

So we've talked about organization, we've talked about emotional well-being.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

Let's talk a little bit about some of the other challenges that teachers face Right, because I mean there's time management, there's workload.

Speaker 2:

There's work-life balance. Work-life balance all that stuff. Yeah, I mean, it's a job that kind of bleeds into every aspect of your life, right? It, does it's hard to like shut it off.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so how can a journal help with that?

Speaker 2:

Well, I think again it goes back to that idea of having a central organized space.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Right. So instead of having your to-do list on a scrap of paper, your lesson plans in a binder and your thoughts about work-life balance just swirling around in your head, yeah. You can actually put it all down in one place and start to see the connections Right, and that can help you to manage your time more effectively, to set realistic goals and to just generally feel more in control of your workload.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think the Lestallion Journal specifically with its features like the numbered pages and the table of contents really supports that. It kind of encourages you to be more organized. Yeah, it provides a framework for organization, which I think is really helpful, really supports that, like it kind of encourages you to be more organized. Yeah, it provides a framework for organization, yeah, which I think is really helpful.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and also just the fact that it's a durable notebook with, you know, plenty of pages. It means that you can really like use it for everything, Right? It's not like oh, I'm only going to use this for lesson plans or only going to use this for student observations? Yeah, it can be all of those things.

Speaker 1:

It can be your whole teaching life.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And I think that's really powerful.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think that's what they're trying to get at with this idea of like a teacher's companion.

Speaker 2:

Right yeah, it's like your trusted sidekick.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly Through the trenches of the school year Through the trenches of the school year. So, and we have seen some stories from teachers who have actually used this journal and found it to be really helpful. Yeah, there's one story in particular about a woman named Sophia.

Speaker 2:

Right, sophia, she's a middle school teacher. I think she's been teaching for over a decade.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, she's been teaching for a while.

Speaker 2:

She was feeling really burnt out.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, she was feeling really overwhelmed. She was like I'm at the end of my rope.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the classic teacher burnout.

Speaker 1:

Classic teacher burnout. Yeah, and she was kind of skeptical about, like you know, is this really going to make a difference?

Speaker 2:

Right, Because it's like oh, one more thing to add to my to do list.

Speaker 1:

Exactly. But she decided to give it a try and she got herself a listallion journal.

Speaker 2:

And she started using it to track her daily successes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Which I think is a really smart approach.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Because it's so easy to focus on the negative. But if you make a conscious effort to like notice those little moments of, you know, positive interaction with a student or a successful lesson.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

And write them down, it can really shift your perspective.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and she was also using it to reflect on her lessons.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

You know, like what could I do differently next time?

Speaker 2:

Right, kind of like a debrief after each day.

Speaker 1:

Exactly, and she said that she really appreciated the quality of the materials. Yeah, like she said that the paper was so smooth and the journal felt really substantial in her hands.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And it kind of made the act of writing feel more intentional and meaningful.

Speaker 2:

Like it was a ritual in a way.

Speaker 1:

Yes, exactly yeah, and the results were pretty amazing.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, she said she felt more organized.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

More in control of her workload.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Her stress levels went down.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And she was actually able to achieve a better work-life balance, which is huge, yeah, and she was actually able to achieve a better work-life balance. Which is huge. Yeah, that's a big one.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so she was really happy with it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and she called it her trusted companion.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, which I thought was so sweet.

Speaker 2:

I love that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's like it became this, like you know, source of support for her.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a place where she could go to just kind of like, decompress and process everything everything, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing, and she also loved the pocket in the back.

Speaker 2:

Of course, yeah, who doesn't love a good pocket?

Speaker 1:

Right, you got to have a pocket.

Speaker 2:

You got to have a pocket. Yeah, so I think you know Sophia's story is a really great example of how this can actually work in practice. Yeah, it's not just a theoretical idea. It's like a real, tangible tool that can make a difference in teachers' lives.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So for our listeners who are like, OK, this sounds great, but how do I actually do this? Right, you know how do I actually make this a part of my routine?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, because that's the challenge, right? It's like okay, I'm already so busy, how am I going to fit one more thing in?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so what are some like actionable tips that people can take away from this?

Speaker 2:

Well, I think the first thing is to choose a time that works for you, yeah, and be consistent with it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So, whether it's like five minutes in the morning before school starts, yeah. Or 10 minutes in the evening to kind of wind down.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Just find a time that you can stick to and make it a habit.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it doesn't have to be a long time.

Speaker 2:

No, not at all.

Speaker 1:

Right. Even just a few minutes can make a difference.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 1:

And the other thing is to use prompts.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, Prompts are great.

Speaker 1:

Right, Because sometimes you sit down and you're like I don't even know what to write about.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you just stare at the blank page.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so having some prompts can really help to get you started.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, like what went well today. Yeah, what was one thing I learned? What am I grateful for what I'm grateful?

Speaker 1:

for yeah, yeah, those are good ones.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, or what's one thing I want to do differently tomorrow.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, that's a good one.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so just having a few prompts that you can kind of like cycle through can be really helpful.

Speaker 1:

And I think it's also important to to track your goals you know both your professional goals and your personal goals.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Because I think when you see your progress written down, it can be really motivating.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's like a visual representation of your growth.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, exactly, and I think it's also about you know, making it personal.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

Like this is your journal.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

This is not just a work journal.

Speaker 2:

It's not a lesson plan book.

Speaker 1:

Right. It's a place where you can write about your thoughts and your feelings and your experiences.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and your hopes and your experiences.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and your hopes and dreams, yeah, all that stuff. So don't be afraid to make it your own.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and the other thing is to review your entries.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, that's so important.

Speaker 1:

Right, because it's not enough to just write things down. You have to actually go back and read them.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and reflect on them.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And see what patterns you notice yeah, and you what patterns you notice yeah, and you know how you've changed over time.

Speaker 1:

And that's where the features of the Lestallion Journal really come in handy. Right With the numbered pages and the table of contents, it's really easy to go back and find things.

Speaker 2:

Exactly yeah, it makes it much less daunting to actually review your entries.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Which I think is a big barrier for a lot of people, totally.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so that's really helpful.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

So let's talk about some of the pitfalls that people might fall into. Yeah, because I think it's easy to start journaling and then be like, oh, this is too hard or this is taking too much time.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, or I don't know what to write.

Speaker 1:

Right. So what are some of the common mistakes that people make?

Speaker 2:

I think one of the biggest mistakes is yeah. Like trying to make every entry this like super detailed account of everything that happened during the day.

Speaker 1:

Like a novel.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, exactly, and that's just not sustainable.

Speaker 1:

It's exhausting.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so I think the key is to keep it focused.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Like maybe choose one or two key areas to focus on each day.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

So like maybe it's your progress on a specific lesson plan.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Or maybe it's your observations about a particular student, yeah. Or maybe it's your observations about a particular student, yeah, or maybe it's just like your general reflections on the day Right, but don't try to do everything at once.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, keep it manageable.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

What else?

Speaker 2:

Another mistake is writing too generally.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So, instead of just saying like oh, planning went well today, right, be more specific. Yeah, like say, I completed the outline for next week's unit on the Civil War.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And I focused on incorporating primary source documents Right Like, give yourself those details, because that's what's going to be helpful when you go back and review your entries.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you're not going to remember what you meant by planning. Went well three months from now.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so the more specific you can be, the better.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think another mistake is forgetting to review your entries.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah, that's a big one.

Speaker 1:

Right, because what's the point of writing it all down if you're never going to look at it again?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's like you're just talking into the void.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so I think it's important to schedule time for review, whether it's like once a week or once a month.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Just block out some time in your calendar to actually sit down and read through your journal.

Speaker 2:

And again, the listalian journal makes that really easy. The numbered pages and the table of contents. Yeah, there's no excuse.

Speaker 1:

No excuse.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And then finally, I think a lot of people struggle with just making it feel like a chore.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1:

Right, Like they're like. Oh, I have to write in my journal it's one more thing in my to-do list. So how do we make it feel less like a chore and more like something that we actually enjoy doing?

Speaker 2:

Well, I think part of it is just remembering the benefits, like why are you doing this in the first place, what are you hoping to get out of it? And then also just like making it a pleasurable experience. Like using a journal that you actually like, using a pen that feels good in your hand.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Finding a comfortable spot to write.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And just like giving yourself permission to, just like relax and be yourself.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It doesn't have to be perfect.

Speaker 1:

Right.

Speaker 2:

It doesn't have to be profound.

Speaker 1:

It's just for you.

Speaker 2:

It's just for you, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So just have fun with it, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so we've talked about all these different aspects of journaling for teachers. Right, let's talk a little bit about the long-term benefits, because I think it's easy to see this as like oh, this is just going to help me get through the day.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

But I think it can actually have a much bigger impact than that.

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, I think long-term journaling can lead to some really significant improvements in your overall well-being.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And your teaching practice.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so like what are some of the specific things that we might see?

Speaker 2:

Well, I think one of the biggest things is just improved organization. Yeah, because when you're more organized, you're more efficient. Right, you're less stressed.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And you have more time and energy to focus on the things that really matter.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think it also helps with self-awareness. Oh yeah, right, because when you're journaling you're forced to, kind of like, look inward and reflect on your thoughts and your feelings and your behaviors.

Speaker 2:

And that can be really insightful. Yeah, you know, you might start to notice patterns that you weren't aware of before and that can help you to make changes in your life.

Speaker 1:

And I think it also helps with stress management.

Speaker 2:

Oh, absolutely yeah.

Speaker 1:

Right, because when you're journaling, you're basically like processing your emotions and getting them out of your head.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's a form of therapy in a way?

Speaker 1:

Exactly, yeah, and I think it also helps with just like overall professional growth, right? You know like when you're journaling, you're basically creating a record of your teaching journey and you can look back and see how you've evolved over time. And what you've learned and what you've learned, yeah, and I think that's really valuable.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 1:

So yeah, I think the long-term benefits are really quite significant.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's an investment in yourself. Really it is.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's an investment in yourself. Really, it is yeah, yeah. So for our listeners who are thinking about trying this out, what would you say are the key takeaways?

Speaker 2:

I think the key takeaway is that journaling can be a really powerful tool for teachers.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It can help you to be more organized, more productive, less stressed and more fulfilled in your career.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And it's not just about, like you know, writing down your to-do list. It's about creating a space for reflection and gross.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And really like nurturing your own well-being.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think the Lestallion Journal specifically is a really great option because it's been designed with teachers in mind.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it has all the features that you need to make it a successful and enjoyable experience.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

So, yeah, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Speaker 1:

So for you, our listener, we encourage you to think about how you might incorporate a dedicated journal into your routine and to consider how it might support you in your teaching journey.

Speaker 2:

And here's a final thought to leave you with.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

How might the act of reflecting on your teaching experiences shape your long-term impact on your students and your own sense of purpose and fulfillment in your career?

Speaker 1:

It's a great question.

Speaker 2:

It is. Yeah, it's something to think about.