Well-being of skilled workers

Day-to-day work in daycare centers and schools can put a lot of strain on educational professionals. Stress at work, without the opportunity to recover from it, can lead to a reduction in professional and personal performance and even serious health problems over a longer period of time. Which stressors are responsible for this and how they can be countered is part of the content of our workshops.

Cem Alexander Sünter, SchlaU-Werkstatt für Migrationspädagogik

However, experiencing and coping with work-related stress is a very individual matter and depends on internal and external resources. However, these are not strictly separated from each other, but influence each other. If educational professionals regularly receive appreciative feedback, this can, for example, improve their Increase self-efficacy expectations. 

Personal (inner) resources

  • Expectation of self-efficacy,
  • Perception of meaningfulness of work,
  • Optimism,
  • Self-esteem and
  • Coping strategies in crisis situations

Organization-related (external) resources

  • collegial consultation opportunities,
  • positive working atmosphere,
  • Feedback and complaints culture,
  • Degree of personal responsibility and
  • Organizational framework conditions such as the childcare ratio

Signs of stress

The examples of stress reactions listed below vary from person to person and are perceived differently by each individual. The increased occurrence of stress signals over a longer period of time can be an indication that a person needs rest and relief. These signals can be localized in four different areas:

Area 1: Emotions

What do I feel? How do I feel?

Warning signs are, for example, nervousness, anxiety, hopelessness or the feeling of being burnt out.

Area 2: Body

What do I feel physically?

Warning signs are, for example, difficulty falling asleep, high blood pressure, headaches or chronic fatigue.

Area 3: Behavior

What do I do? How do I behave?

Warning signs are, for example, neglecting leisure activities and social contacts, lack of drive, quick-tempered behavior or gnashing of teeth.

Area 4: Thoughts

What do I think? How do I think?

Warning signs include negative thought spirals, self-reproach, pronounced pessimism or increased brooding.

Dealing with stress and strain

You can find exercises on how to deal with your own stress and on the subject of professional well-being in our material pool.

You can find further materials on the well-being of skilled workers here

Here are some examples of current project implementations

Transition
Daycare elementary school

to the program

Safe
Learning environment

to the program

If you would like to find out more about our project work, please take a look at the website of International Rescue Committee Germany um.

Take a moment and think about which child from your work context would benefit from practicing affirmations. Then take a look at the Affirmation card set of the Vor-Sprung project and select a card that suits this child. Think about how you can use this card to work together with the child. Again, use the pen and paper you have provided

 

The child I'm thinking of always tries very hard not to make mistakes. If he does make a mistake, the reaction is very strong. The child often reacts with great anger, which it directs at itself and sometimes also at others.

Please take a moment and have a look at the Affirmation card set of the Vor-Sprung project.

Then select a card that suits this child. Think about how you can use this card to work together with the child. Again, use the pen and paper you have provided.

Take a moment to answer the following questions about the affirmation you have chosen. You are welcome to use the pen and paper provided.

➡️ Which affirmation have you chosen?

➡️ How does the selected affirmation make you feel?

➡️ What negative belief could be behind this affirmation? Or how could you reformulate the selected affirmation into a negative one?

➡️ Can you remember where this negative belief came from? From your parents? From school?

➡️ Where does this negative belief limit you? Where does it make your life difficult or prevent you from doing something?