When Colleagues Drain You: Emotional Boundaries for Educators Who Care

Have a question for the show? Text us here!

In this episode of Unlock Your Teaching Potential, we dive into a powerful and often overlooked topic in education: how to extend compassion to adult colleagues while maintaining healthy boundaries and protecting your own emotional energy.

Educators are natural nurturers, but many of us find ourselves overextending—especially when dealing with emotionally dysregulated adults. This episode unpacks how you can stay grounded, uphold your values, and practice true compassion without slipping into self-abandonment.

What You’ll Learn:

• How adult dysregulation impacts school culture, student outcomes, and educator morale
• Why we offer more grace to students than to fellow adults—and how to shift that perspective
• The connection between emotional regulation, unprocessed trauma, and adult behavior in schools
• Why grace without boundaries isn’t compassion—it’s self-sacrifice
• How to set boundaries over expectations and release the need to control others
• Tips for practicing neutral observation and reducing emotional reactivity
• The balance between compassion and accountability—how to hold space without enabling
• Tools to protect your energy and focus on what’s within your control
• Why educator self-care is one of the most generous things you can do for your students

If you’re an educator looking to create a healthier, more emotionally sustainable professional life, this episode will leave you feeling seen, empowered, and reconnected to your purpose.

✨ Remember: You are a gift to this world. Treat yourself accordingly. ✨

Stay empowered,
Jen

Let’s keep the conversation going! Find me at:

empowerededucator.com/resources

Instagram: @jenrafferty_

Facebook: Empowered Educator Faculty Room