Work-Life Balance Tips for Teachers

Based on a survey by the National Education Union (opens in a new tab), 62% of teachers report being stressed more than half the time. An overwhelming 75% find it difficult to disconnect from work, with 41% unable to ever switch off. This heavy workload leads to an alarming amount of unpaid overtime.

The stress is causing teachers to leave the profession in droves, and fewer new graduates are entering the field. This teacher exodus, combined with a lack of new recruits, has left many positions vacant. The resulting teacher shortages put even more pressure on those who remain.

So, never has maintaining a healthy work life balance been more important.

Key Takeaways

• Workload is a major source of stress. Most teachers are stressed and find it difficult to switch off from work due to endless cycles of marking, planning and administrative tasks.

• Work smarter, not harder. Using smart strategies like the Eisenhower Matrix, time-blocking, and batching tasks to save time and reduce mental effort.

• Set firm boundaries and learn to say no. Protecting your personal time by setting clear boundaries at home and at work, and politely declining non-essential extra tasks, is crucial to avoiding burnout.

• Leverage technology and collaborate. Using AI tools and working collaboratively with colleagues can significantly reduce the time spent on mundane tasks, freeing you up to focus on teaching and your own well-being.

Why Work Life Balance Is So Difficult for Teachers

Every teacher's workload is immense and multifaceted. It's not just the hours spent in the classroom; it’s the relentless cycle of marking, planning, data entry and administrative tasks. These pressures are compounded by the spectre of Ofsted inspections, the demands of national exam cycles, and the pressure of meeting performance targets.

Moreover, the student-first nature of the profession often means that your own wellbeing becomes an afterthought. So is it possible to maintain a healthy work life balance in this most relentless of professions? The key isn't to work harder, but to work smarter. Of course, this is easier said than done, but there are some strategies you can put in place to ease your workload. 

Work Life Balance Tips 

Here are ten evidence-based, pragmatic strategies designed to help you balance your professional and personal life, without compromising the quality of your teaching.

1. Set Clear Work Boundaries at Home

If you have space, try to create a designated workspace at home. When you are in that space, you are working. When you leave it, you are finished. If you don’t have the luxury of space at home, you can create a temporary workspace, say on the kitchen table. Another option is working in a nearby coffee shop or library.

Decide on a specific time each evening when you will stop working, for example 7pm, and make this a non-negotiable rule. Communicate your boundaries, too, with your family and work colleagues.

2. Use Time-Blocking for Your Week

Structure Your Week: Block out specific, uninterrupted chunks of time in your diary for specific tasks. For example, Monday 4-6pm is for marking; Tuesday 4-5pm is for lesson planning. 

Sometimes, you may need to “hide” to carve out uninterrupted time. That may mean turning off your phone and sitting away from other staff.

But allow for the unknown unknowns – there are many moving parts in a school, and you have to allocate time for the unexpected.

Try to avoid multitasking, too. According to Multicosts of Multitasking, Madore K.P., Wagner A.D., 2019 (opens in a new tab), we tend to work slower and less efficiently when we multitask. By all means, have a “to do” list, but only focus on one task at a time.

3. Prioritise Tasks Using the Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix helps workers prioritise tasks into four categories: "Do," "Decide," "Delegate," or "Delete." 

"Do" tasks are immediate and essential, like planning lessons and handling safeguarding issues.

"Decide" tasks involve long-term planning, such as creating a curriculum or an assessment schedule. "Delegate" tasks are those better suited for a colleague, which also helps them develop professionally.

Finally, "Delete" tasks are any activities that don't directly improve student outcomes. An example would be spending excessive time on classroom displays.

4. Batch Your Planning and Marking

Batching similar tasks together saves time and reduces mental effort. Instead of planning individual lessons, you can plan a whole unit at once, which ensures continuity and efficiency. Similarly, marking in batches, such as marking one question across all students, is more efficient and offers student anonymity.

You can also use physical or digital generic feedback sheets to save time from writing the same comments repeatedly. A further time-saving tip is to use self-marking quizzes and student self-marking, which can take time to set up initially but saves a lot of time in the long run.

5. Say No to Unnecessary Extras

In the immortal words of Maya Angelou: "Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence – neither speed up nor slow down, add to, nor diminish – it is an imponderably valuable gift."

This is particularly relevant for teachers, as excessive workloads are a major cause of stress. Before agreeing to extra responsibilities, consider if the benefit outweighs the cost.

6. Use Technology to Save Time

An AI-first approach to lesson planning, creating differentiated resources and quiz questions, could save hours of planning time. Moreover, if you are landed with tasks such as contributing to the parent newsletter or rewriting the school’s data protection policy, AI can be used to do all the heavy lifting.

Consider using digital tools for marking too. For example, platforms like SmartMark from Save use AI to analyse and mark pupil work, offering instant feedback and freeing you from the bulk of traditional marking.

7. Protect Your Weekends

Try to commit to taking at least one full day off school work per weekend. Turn off your work phone. Don’t check your emails. Don’t even think about school. Use this time to do things you love.

8. Collaborative planning

Collaborative planning is key to reducing teacher workload. A well-run department will be one where there’s clear division of labour, a collegiate approach to working, and one where all resources are labelled appropriately and shared.

9. Use PPA Time Effectively

Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time is a contractual right. Don’t let your PPA time get eaten up by emails or ad hoc tasks. Instead, plan this time in advance and set yourself a clear list of achievable goals. 

10. Don’t Aim for Perfection

Perfection is the enemy of very good. It’s better to teach a highly-effective lesson when you’re well rested, than a near-perfect lesson that took you until midnight to plan. Few students (if any) will notice the difference between the two lesson resources.

Warning Signs of Teacher Burnout

Recognising the signs of burnout is the first step in addressing it. Symptoms such as persistent fatigue, headaches and disrupted sleep patterns are red flags. As are increased irritability, anxiety, withdrawing from social activities, increased reliance on unhealthy coping mechanisms, and a sense of dread about going to work. If you are experiencing these signs, it's vital to act. 

Most schools have dedicated wellbeing leads or champions – speak to them. They can offer confidential support and direct you to useful resources. Moreover, teacher unions (e.g. NEU, NASUWT) offer advice and support.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, free and confidential advice is available by calling the Education Support Helpline – 08000 562 561. When you call, you will talk to a qualified counsellor, who will offer you immediate, confidential emotional support. 

The Education Support Helpline’s website (opens in a new tab) is also excellent. If you are seriously worried about your mental and/or physical health, you should seek medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop taking work home every night?

Start by setting a firm daily cut-off time and committing to it. Use time-blocking at school to get as much done as possible during the workday. Prioritise tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix to focus only on what's essential.

What is a realistic way to manage marking?

Adopt a "mark less, mark better" approach. Use AI tools to save time and streamline the process. Employ batch marking and self-marking quizzes. The goal is to provide targeted, actionable feedback that students will actually use.

Can I have work-life balance as a full-time teacher?

Yes, but it requires a proactive approach. Work-life balance is something you have to create. You have to spend time to save time. By setting boundaries, using time-management strategies, and protecting your personal time, you can make it a reality.

What should I do if I feel like quitting teaching?

Before making a final decision, speak to a trusted colleague, a family member or friend, or a professional from an organisation like the Education Support Helpline. Hopefully, they will be able to help you explore strategies to manage your workload and to improve your well-being.

Final Thoughts 

A teacher's wellbeing is directly linked to their effectiveness in the classroom. When teachers are stressed and exhausted, their cognitive performance suffers. This can negatively impact their ability to be creative, enthusiastic and effectively communicate with students. So, if you want to be a great teacher, please be kind to yourself too.

Reference

• NEU - State of education: teacher stress and wellbeing: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/state-education-teacher-stress-and-wellbeing (opens in a new tab) 

• Multicosts of Multitasking: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32206165/ (opens in a new tab) 

• Education Support - Getting the right work-life balance: https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/resources/for-individuals/guides/getting-the-right-work-life-balance/ (opens in a new tab)