This is the point in the year where listening matters most.  Early insight prevents frustration from turning into disengagement later.  If you would like to hear more about how to do this effectively, send me a message.

I am the staff wellbeing expert! www.nourishtheworkplace.com

Winter is hard. Understand that and be careful you don't overwhelm people.

Something to make you smile. A badger playing in our garden.

Supporting staff wellbeing doesn’t require big programmes.  Often the most helpful thing leaders can do is cancel what isn’t essential.  What can you cancel next week?

Send the link to this to all staff and create a staff league table.

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This term isn’t about pushing harder.  It’s about holding steady so people can keep going without burning out.

www.nourishtheworkplace.com or send me a message to get started.

Don't be scared to start. It doesn't need to be big and flashy. Just start.  www.nourishtheworkplace.com

Anonymous listening gives leaders a clearer picture - before small issues become bigger ones. 

Swim 3, air temperature 1°, water temp 4°. It was so beautifully calm this morning - until the squeals of us all getting it!! We don't get to break ice in the water as it's a free flowing river, but the seaweed was frozen!

I am the staff wellbeing expert.  www.nourishtheworkplace.com

Next eduDrinks on 30th January from 7:30pm! DM me or @mattdechaine.bsky.social for zoom link! Hope to see you there!

Working with me empowers you be braver.  Send me a message to find out more.

Reducing unnecessary meetings, emails, and requests shows staff their time and energy are respected.   Be bold enough to cancel!

I've got one slot free in the three that I opened up for January. Grab yours now.  Comment below or send me a message.  Not sure about what I do? Head to www.nourishtheworkplace.com

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Head to  www.nourishtheworkplace.com for help with this.

In winter, people need stability more than innovation.  Fewer changes, clearer priorities, and realistic expectations make a bigger difference than new initiatives.

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What a lovely weekend! Partying with Leeds Castle colleagues on Friday, finished one book, started another, did a puzzle with Holly, went on a couple of walks and crocheting some mittens. I hope you've had a lovely weekend too.

Feeling unheard or unsafe to speak can damage confidence far more than workload alone. School culture matters more than we often realise.

Staff wellbeing improves fastest when leaders stop guessing and start listening. Your staff have the answers you need.

Staff wellbeing work should make leadership feel lighter, not heavier. Insight helps leaders stop guessing, stop firefighting, and start prioritising with confidence.  Don't think of it as extra work, think of it as easing your work in the future.

First try at making mittens

Anonymous feedback gives staff a safe way to be honest - especially about workload and pressure.   Handled well, it doesn’t create problems. It brings clarity, direction, and relief. But I understand that can hard, so I've created a free resource to help. Would you like it?

Most leaders already care deeply about staff wellbeing. What they often lack is clarity about what’s really going on beneath the surface. Listening well removes guesswork and helps leaders focus on what truly matters.

If staff have lost some of their usual pizzazz this month, remember that January is tough - it's dark, it's cold, pay day is far away and the spring term doesn't really have any joy in it! Think about what could be stripped back this month to make it easier for them.

It seems the only thing that stops my nose from running or it stinging the back of my eyes is eating. Yep, weird but true. So I'm in bed, watching Emily in Paris eating lots of Sticky Toffee Pudding.

January in schools isn’t about motivation. It’s about steadiness and care. There is so much talk about change everywhere else, what people really need is something that is constant. Be that. Show up, and show you care.

This is awful! I thought the main thing we had managed to achieve with staff wellbeing over the past few years was at least see it as whole school wellbeing rather than teacher wellbeing.

Yes to this!!

🥶🥰🥶 but lots of fun.

If this is you, if you are someone who is aching to.change the status quo and break away from the norm then send me a message. Together we can make a huge difference to the working conditions in your school to ensure staff flourish and pupils then thrive.

It was a cold start to wild swimming in 2026. The water was actually 'warmer' at 4° than the air temperature of 3°. I'm not doing in water photos when it's this cold as it takes ages to get my phone out with gloves on and it's dangerous to stay in for too long.

Today's terrible news is that The Big Bang Theory has disappeared off all UK streaming services (as far as I can tell) and I was only half way through the 12 series! I knew they were taking Friends away, but not this too! Am I going to have to go old school and get a DVD player?

Instead of resolutions, I made plans for 2025. I didn't meet all of them, but having them there (right by my desk so I see them every day) kept me focused. I've got blank ones for 2026 if you would like one (8 or 16 squares). I'll definitely be doing this again.

Yes to this! Be the change you want to see and what you came here for.

Here are my #5GoodThings2025 1 - Exploring the world (2 new countries this year) 2 -Exploring the UK ( 4 new places this year) 3 - Starting wild swimming 4 - Lots of gardening 5 - Our club winning Swim England club of the year!

I may not have been a headteacher and won't ever pretend to know how it feels to be one. But I do make sure I put myself in similar positions to what I'm asking you to do with Nourish the Workplace. Here's a little story about how I do that. 1/3

What are you all up to today? I'm reading a book whilst hubby is watching the darts. I'm trying really hard not to do any proper work but it's hard! Hence me posting on here 😉 that's my compromise.

Yes to this!!!

Don't do this, follow my daughter's business account instead and she'll help you instead! www.instagram.com/where.nextad... www.facebook.com/share/1GaCPZ...

I got lots of lovely presents, including these to help me keep swimming in the colder months. The big question is should the turtle be called Squirt or Crush?

A great tip I learnt from a VA friend last year was to make a list now of things you need to remember for next Christmas. Here's how.

If you don't think you are making an impact here's a great story. During a quiz today, by 4yr old nephew disputed an answer because "There aren't diagraphs in the alphabet!"

Happy Christmas Eve Eve. I've finally sat down after the most manic of days amidst the most manic of months. But I'm now almost ready and looking forward to a brilliant time over the next week with family and friends.