Have you ever walked out of a lecture thinking, “I’ve taught this exact same class… the exact same way… for years”? Maybe you felt like you were on autopilot, just going through the motions.
If you’ve been there, you’re not alone. Every passionate educator I know has hit that point at least once in their career. And here’s the truth: it’s not a sign that you’re a bad instructor. It’s a sign that it’s time to reflect, recalibrate, and re-engage.
That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in today’s post and video: how reflective practice can break you out of a teaching rut and reignite the joy that first drew you into this profession.
Watch the full video here and then share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to know: What’s one area of your teaching that’s starting to feel stale, and how might reflection help you refresh it?
The Quiet Signs of a Stale Teaching Routine
Sometimes the rut creeps in so gradually you don’t even notice it. Maybe you’ve been using the same slides and lectures for years. Maybe your assignments haven’t been updated in ages. Or maybe classroom discussions have become so predictable that you can already anticipate every answer before your students speak.
And here’s the thing — students feel it.
Your energy mirrors in their engagement: lower participation, fewer questions, and a noticeable decline in those magical “aha” moments.
One of my favorite prompts from The Professor’s Week in Review journal is, “What did you learn about your students this week?” It’s a subtle but powerful way to notice changes in the room — sometimes their behavior signals the rut before we realize it ourselves.
Why Routine Isn’t the Enemy
Don’t get me wrong — routines aren’t bad. They provide us with stability, efficiency, and predictability in a profession where unexpected events occur daily.
The problem comes when routine quietly hardens into rigidity.
That’s where reflection changes the game.
How Reflective Practice Breaks the Rut
Reflective practice is the intentional habit of looking at what we do, how we do it, and why, and then making changes based on what we learn.
I use a simple 3-step loop, supported by the journal’s weekly prompts:
- Pause and Notice
- Dig Deeper
- Take Action
I remember how discussion boards drained me during my first three years of teaching online. I abhorred that weekly assignment that I included in all four of my courses every semester, and the two I taught in summer school. I got tired of the “discussion board” cosplaying as a discussion, if you get my drift. The assignment sucked all the enthusiasm for teaching out of me, and I could tell it was doing the same for my students. Watch the video to find out what I did instead.
A Practical Activity: Student Visioning
If you’re ready to shake things up, here’s a simple activity from my video: grab a blank sheet of paper and divide it into four columns. On the far left, list the name of each course you are teaching one under the other. Label the columns as such:
- Column 1: Who Am I Teaching?
- Column 2: What can they do?
- Column 3: What do they need?
- Column 4: What do they desire?
Now, create a huge text box underneath the columns or on a separate sheet of paper and label it, HOW? In that text box, map out how you will find the answers to these questions. Watch the video for suggestions and to learn more.
Why I Created The Mindful Academic Challenge
The challenge is a 16-week guided experience using my journal, The Professor’s Week in Review. Together, we make reflective practice:
- Simple – Just 30 minutes a week using focused prompts.
- Doable – No complicated systems, just a pen and your thoughts (or a keyboard if you use the PDF).
- Consistent – Weekly email reminders sprinkled with inspiration and Saturday co-writing/co-reflecting sessions with colleagues who are taking the journey with you.
We reflect together, learn from each other, and leave each week with renewed energy and fresh ideas, or you can make it a solo journey (the Saturday sessions are optional).
Choose the version of the journal that works best for you:
- Paperback + Pen – Great if you love writing by hand.
- Fillable PDF – Perfect if you want to type and save digitally.
- Hardcover Edition – A beautiful keepsake you’ll want on your shelf.
Join us now at bit.ly/mindfulsemester and start reclaiming your joy in teaching.
Let’s Talk About It
Before you go, remember to watch the full video. I think these 13 minutes and some change will be worthwhile. I would love for you to share your response to the question below here on the blog or in the comments on YouTube:
What’s one area of your teaching that’s starting to feel stale, and how did this video help you envision breathing life into it?
Your insight might inspire another educator to try something new. And if you know a colleague who might enjoy this journey, share the challenge with them, because reflection is even more powerful when it’s shared.
Now, there is nothing else left to do but “Make it a mindful semester.”