This fortnight and all month long, as part of staff wellbeing support, we are inviting you to join us for NO-vember – a dedicated time for school communities to practice setting health boundaries to support our collective mental health and wellbeing.
It’s one of the busiest times of the year in schools with mock exams, parents’ evenings, festive planning and everyday classroom demands leading to both staff and students potentially feeling overwhelmed.
Setting boundaries isn’t about being unhelpful; it’s about protecting our energy so we can thrive. The HeadStart Service uses resilience therapy in all of our approaches; the Boingboing Resilience Framework (Resilience Framework for Children and Young People – Boingboing) is an evidence-based toolkit that focuses on making small, practical ‘resilient moves’ to look after ourselves and each other.
Here are some ideas on how to use the Framework’s core pillars to navigate NO-vember:
- Protect the Basics
The Basics pillar reminds us that we cannot build resilience without meeting our own fundamental needs. When school life gets hectic the first things we sacrifice are often sleep, exercise and downtime.
Say “No” to: Late-night emailing or working through your lunch break.
Resilient Move: Protect your time for a healthy diet, fresh air and enough sleep. Setting a boundary around your evening routine ensures you have the fuel to face the next day.
- Strengthen true Belonging
Belonging is about putting good, supportive relationships at the heart of what we do. Sometimes we say “yes” to social demands or extra favours purely out of a desire to please others which can leave us feeling drained and resentful.
Say “No” to: Toxic friendships, peer pressure or over-committing to extra tasks just to please people.
Resilient Move: Focus on healthy relationships. Say “yes” to the people who truly support you and firmly but kindly say “no” to situations or dynamics that pull you down.
- Lean into Coping
The Coping column of the Framework focuses on the skills we need when times get tough. A massive part of coping is recognising when our plates are full and knowing how to press the pause button.
Say “No” to: Taking on more than you can realistically manage.
Resilient Move: Practice calming down and self-soothing. When someone asks you to take on an extra seasonal project or committee role, give yourself permission to say: “I would love to help, but I don’t have the capacity to give that my full attention right now.”
- Honour your Core self
Your Core Self is all about understanding your inner world, your character and knowing who you are. It involves recognising your limits and taking responsibility for your own wellbeing.
Say “No” to: The pressure to be perfect.
Resilient Move: Notice your achievements and show yourself some unconditional love. Acknowledging that you are doing your best—and that your best is enough—helps build a stronger sense of self-worth that isn’t dependent on constantly doing things for others.
Turning “No” into a Resilient Move
Saying “no” can feel uncomfortable at first but every time you say “no” to an overwhelming demand, you are saying “yes” to your own mental health. Let’s work together this NO-vember to respect our own boundaries and support the boundaries of those around us. By making these small resilient moves today, we can support our school communities to be a safe, healthy and happy place to learn and work.
Published: October 30