Teaching is an increasingly stressful occupation in which the working day goes far beyond the hours in the classroom for many teachers.
Maintaining the right work-life balance is essential for teachers who want to give their best to their students but also enjoy time away from the blackboard. Here are 5 handy tips for teachers who find themselves stressed by their workload and swamped by a never-ending to-do list.
1. Simplify lesson planning: Lesson planning is an essential part of the job but many teachers get too bogged down in making lesson plans that are individual to them. Take advantage of the many resources available to supplement the material you already have and discuss and share plans with colleagues to make the most of all the good lesson plans and resources that are out there.
2. Don’t mark everything: Instead of sitting up until the wee small hours reading and marking every single assignment, use a mix of classroom feedback and thorough assessment to give your students the best possible feedback that keeps them on the right track for achieving exam success. Once you establish the right pattern for marking and oral assessments, everyone benefits.
3. Reduce your commitments: The old truism states that if you want something done, give it to a busy person. And the more successfully you appear to be juggling commitments at work, the more likely it is you will be asked to do more and more. Know your limits and be firm about what you can possibly do and achieve with your existing workload. It’s better to say no rather than say yes and then let someone down.
4. Ensure you set time aside for reports: These are often the bane of a teacher’s life, especially because the digital age allows you to do your reports at any time and upload them electronically. While that adds to the convenience for the school, it means you’re more likely to use your evenings or weekends to catch up on essential reports. Again, plan ahead when you know report time is looming so you set time aside during working hours to do what you can.
5. Remember your own family: Teachers are often parents, too, with all the commitments that entails. You will have your own parents’ nights to attend, parent-teacher conferences, sports days and school shows. You need to be firm about asking for time off for events that you consider essential – usually you will know well in advance and can make alternative arrangements, perhaps asking a colleague to cover your classes. Put your needs first when it matters most because you may regret it later.
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