We’ve all experienced moments of frustration, which is perfectly normal when things don’t turn out the way that we’d like them to. However, is it good to deal with this frustration by venting to your coworkers? What may feel cathartic to some educators may be perceived as gossip to others. Here, we’ll look at the pros and cons of venting to your colleagues and give you some mindful tips to help tackle your frustration when it arises.
Pros and Cons of Venting at Work
When done thoughtfully, venting to your colleagues at work can feel therapeutic. However, airing your frustrations can also have some downsides.
Benefits of Venting
Releases Tension
Airing your grievances to a trusted teacher can often feel therapeutic, providing a sense of catharsis. By getting things off your chest, you’re lightening your emotional burden, releasing pent-up emotions that can feel good in the moment. This release of tension may help teacher burnout.
Helps You Feel Validated
Sharing your concerns with your fellow colleagues who can empathize with your experiences can help validate your emotions. Knowing that others may share similar classroom challenges may reduce your feelings of isolation.
Builds a Stronger Bond Among Educators
By sharing your thoughts and experiences with your coworkers you are building a sense of camaraderie. However, it’s important that this bond isn’t based on complaining or it won’t last very long. These connections can lead to solutions to your frustration contributing to a more positive work environment.
Downsides of Venting
It’s Not Professional
Complaining excessively or sharing too much information with a coworker may damage your reputation. Your feelings may be misinterpreted, leading to a misunderstanding and ultimately a strained relationship with someone you must work with daily.
Could Create Tension at Work
If you’re venting to a coworker about a specific student or school policy and they don’t agree with you on the issue, then it can create tension in your relationship. This tension at work can lead to anxiety making it uncomfortable to be in the same work environment as your colleague.
Doesn’t Lead to a Resolution
While venting may feel good in the moment, if it doesn’t solve the problem, the issue will still be there. Your colleagues may provide emotional support and help to validate your feelings, but if they’re not helping you find a solution, then you may keep dwelling on the issue.
Mindful Tips to Tackle Frustration
When you feel those pesky feelings of frustration build up, consider these mindful strategies instead of discharging your feelings onto your coworkers.
Gain a Sense of Clarity
Having a sense of clarity can help you identify the root cause of your frustration. When you’re irritated it can cloud your judgment making you regret your actions. However, having a clear mind will make for better decision-making, preventing your frustrations from overwhelming you. Take a moment to think about what you’re upset about.
Ask yourself:
- “Is this something I can control?”
- “Is this something that will still bother me tomorrow or next week?”
Try doing something that redirects your negative emotions like reading a book, doing something artistic, or exercising. You may just need to clear your head for a while to help release some tension before you dive back into what is getting you so upset.
Consider a Fresh Perspective
How many times have you judged a book by its cover? In other words, how many times have you pre-judged something or someone to find out that it’s not what you first thought? Try looking at what’s frustrating you through a different lens. The student who just aggravated you by yelling in class may be going through something they can’t control at home. While looking at the situation through a different lens may not solve the problem, it can make you feel less frustrated with the current situation.
Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness can be a powerful tool to help reduce feelings of frustration. When you’re in the moment and feeling frustrated it can feel very overwhelming. Being mindful can help you stay calm and prevent you from being reactionary. The next time a student gets under your skin, pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, and try and be aware of what is triggering you. This awareness, along with taking a few deep breaths can prevent you from reacting or having the situation escalate.
Step Away from the Situation
Experiencing frustration in the classroom is common. However, to prevent these emotions from escalating, you need to take a moment and step away. The first thing you need to do is to take a deep breath to help calm your nerves. If this doesn’t work, then try counting to ten. If it’s a student causing the frustration, try a non-verbal cue like making eye contact to signal you are not happy with the behavior. If it’s a coworker or parent who is making you feel frustrated, then just excuse yourself from the situation for a minute to gather your thoughts. Once you feel calm, then take time to reflect on why you were so irritated so that next time you can handle the situation better.
The question of whether educators should vent to coworkers is complex. On the one hand, sharing your frustrations can help you feel better in the moment and may even offer you a sense of validation and camaraderie from your colleagues. On the other hand, it can lead to misinterpretations, tension with coworkers, and unresolved issues. Ultimately, finding mindful ways to manage your frustrations at work can help maintain a positive work atmosphere while also helping your emotional well-being.
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