The Teacher Down the Hall: Finding Glimmers—the Micro-Moments That Restore Educators

Over the past five years, educators have faced unprecedented stressors due to a lack of school funding, stagnant compensation, increasingly disengaged students, and more challenging behaviors. The landscape has left many within public education feeling depleted and stretched far beyond their job description as “other duties assigned” becomes a vastly longer list.

Yet, within this climate of chronic stress, emerging neuroscience offers a hopeful strategy known as “glimmers.” This idea, expanded by therapist Deb Dana through her application of Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, defines glimmers as micro-moments of safety, connection, or joy. Unlike triggers, which activate our fight-or-flight response, glimmers restore calm, creativity, and connection. These aren’t grand gestures but rather small powerful cues that tell your nervous system that you’re OK.

These fleeting moments can be overshadowed by larger stressors if we aren’t intentional in pausing to acknowledge them. For educators, throughout the course of the day this may look like a spontaneous laugh with a student or colleague, the sunrise in the parking lot as the day begins, the smell of a fresh cup of coffee, or the “light bulb” moment for a student.

Research suggests that noticing and anchoring to these glimmers builds resilience. Just as repeated exposure to stress wires the brain for hypervigilance, repeated recognition of glimmers helps rewire it for calm and regulation, even in chaos. According to Dana, the ability to recognize glimmers gives educators a concrete way to reclaim control over their nervous systems. While some glimmers may occur naturally, you can also create conditions that invite them. Give yourself permission to pause and appreciate.

Cultivating Glimmers in Your Day:

• Keep a Glimmer Journal: Spend a minute at the end of each day jotting down or sketching your glimmers.
• Morning Rituals: Start the day with a calming affirmation, playlist, or moment of reflection.
• Mindful Transitions: Pause for 10 seconds between classes or transitions to breathe deeply and acknowledge something positive in your space.
• Photo Gallery: Use your phone to take one photo each day of something that makes you smile or brings you joy! Review these photos at the end of the week, month, and year.

Glimmers for Campus Leaders:

• Create a Glimmer Board in a shared space or office and invite everyone on your campus to post sticky notes of joy they experience. Take a moment to appreciate the joys posted!
• Begin a team meeting with a “glimmer check-in.”
• Recognize not only big achievements but also micro-moments of impact.
• Build flexible spaces in the day for community or calm.
• Offer mental health PD and name glimmers.
• Offer opportunities for staff to connect or share hobbies or interests with others.

By helping each other name and notice these moments, we can foster resilient cultures even in systems that feel strained. Glimmers won’t erase the real, systemic challenges educators face, but they can be a step toward preventing burnout. They serve as reminders that even in the midst of exhaustion and uncertainty, moments of goodness still exist.

As many of you prepare to begin a new year, let’s carry with us a new kind of resolution: to celebrate the glimmers. By recognizing these moments, we can fuel our well-being and continue advocating for change in our schools and communities. Visit the ATPE Online Community and let us know the glimmers you discover!