Where Do I Put My Energy? Navigating End-of-the-Year Exhaustion and Resetting for Summer

Description

Where Do I Put My Energy?
Navigating End-of-the-Year Exhaustion and Resetting for Summer

These last weeks of the spring semester are a particularly rough time for educators. Feeling exhausted and over-extended, everyone—students, faculty, and staff—are worn thin and on edge. Typically, sugar and caffeine become the way to pull through, as the countdown to summer begins.

This webinar and weekly emails are designed to support you at this pivotal time of year.

The cost is $30 and includes:

• 1-hour interactive webinar (capped at 10 people), which will open and close with contemplative practices, include small-group discussion, and provide tips and resources for managing exhaustion.
• Weekly motivational emails on Sundays in May (May 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, and 26^th): each will suggest a short contemplative practice, acknowledge end-of-the-year exhaustion, offer encouragement, and provide support for completing this academic year and resetting for the summer months.

Rather than adding yet-another thing to do (when not another thing can possibly fit into the semester), this structure takes minimal time investment: only an hour for the webinar. Emails can be used as motivational breaks from grading final projects, attending academic celebrations, writing final reports, and completing other institutional responsibilities.

Why this webinar?

In the past weeks, conversations with academic friends and colleagues have ALL revolved around end-of-the-year exhaustion, frustrations, disappointments, and due dates.

Though I left higher ed almost a year ago (transitioning from a faculty position into starting a small business), I’ve so deeply internalized semester rhythms that I associate spring with embodied stress. Instead of noticing April showers and blooming flowers, I feel in my body the sensations of tense shoulders, tired head, and racing heartbeat: my body remembers that this season is about having too much to do, while wanting nothing more than to rest.

Though conditions stack up to make this time of year particularly rough, especially for academics facing microaggressions and “conditionally accepted” in higher ed, there are ways to get grounded, to realign with commitments, and to recognize the conditions that make this time rough.

In response, this webinar and weekly emails attempt to hold space and provide support: from exploring exhaustion and energy loss to valuing embodied knowledge that disrupts the mind-body split.

When will the webinars be offered?

When registering, choose from one of these 3 times:

• Friday, April 26th at lunchtime (1pm EST, 12pm CST, 11am MST, 10am PST)
• Wednesday, May 1st in the afternoon (4pm EST, 3pm CST, 2pm MST, 1pm PST)
• Thursday, May 2nd in the evening (8pm EST, 7pm CST, 6pm MST, 5pm PST)

What’s involved in registering and attending?

• When registering, choose the webinar (one of 3 options) that best fits your schedule, and provide the email address where you’d like to receive weekly motivational messages.
• After registering, you’ll receive information for joining the webinar—to be hosted in a private meeting room in Zoom. Participants are encouraged to join with video, but may choose the audio-only option as well.
• Each webinar is capped at 10 people so that everyone will have the chance to share experiences, ask questions, and make suggestions within the hour-long session.
• This program is offered by Beth Godbee, Ph.D., a fellow academic with deep commitments to racial and social justice and with almost two decades working in higher education.

How do I “gift” this offering to someone else?

If you’d like to register a friend or colleague, be sure they’re interested and able to attend one of the scheduled webinars. If so, feel free to complete registration, and provide their email address when checking out. Thanks for inviting friends and colleagues.

How do I schedule a webinar for my group?

I’m happy to host additional webinars and to tailor sessions for groups of educators, including K-12 teachers, departmental colleagues, writing program faculty, and friends working across institutions. Feel free to reach out with inquiries.

How can I learn more?

Contact Beth with any questions, concerns, or accessibility considerations.
Thanks!