Work-Life Balance for Teachers
Discover practical strategies to achieve a healthy work-life balance in teaching, manage workload, and protect well-being in the education sector.
The Importance of Work-Life Balance for Educators
As a certified burnout coach, I often work with individuals who are experiencing burnout or, at the very least, feeling drained, flat, and near exhaustion. Many of these individuals come from the field of education. If you ask AI which fields of employment experience burnout the most, education is consistently at the top.
I recently worked with an Early Career Teacher (ECT) in their first year of teaching who expressed doubts about staying in education. They found the hours overwhelming and the workload excessive. This is disheartening for many reasons. First, education is an incredibly rewarding profession. Observing the progress and development of students is inspiring, and being even a small part of that journey can be energizing. Secondly, the education system needs good teachers.
So, how do we ensure that education remains sustainable over the long term? The phrase work-life balance comes to mind, but perhaps it should be reframed as life-work balance or even setting boundaries.
Common Challenges Faced by Educators
The school day is rigidly structured—lessons begin and end at precise times, and contact time is non-negotiable. This rigidity can feel restrictive, leaving educators with little breathing room between tasks.
Once the contact day ends, the responsibilities continue—planning, marking, assessing, and meetings fill the remaining hours. But when is there time to simply think and reflect? The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) refers to this as intellectual preparation—moving beyond constant doing and allowing space for thinking.
The demands of education can lead to:
- Reduced job satisfaction
- Increased cynicism
- Mental and physical exhaustion
Teaching is more than delivering lessons; it requires emotional labour—supporting students, managing behaviours, and engaging with parents. While this commitment is admirable, it comes at a personal cost if boundaries are not set.
Additionally, empathetic individuals are more susceptible to burnout. Absorbing the worries and stresses of others over time is exhausting and must be managed effectively.
Strategies for Achieving Work-Life (Life-Work) Harmony
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial in the education sector, where the demands of lesson planning, marking, and classroom management often extend beyond school hours. Without clear boundaries, the negative impact on mental health can be profound, leading to stress, exhaustion, and even burnout. Teachers, like professionals in other fields, need to establish a sense of balance between their professional responsibilities and personal life to sustain long-term well-being.
For head teachers and classroom educators alike, managing teacher workload effectively requires both strategic planning and self-awareness. The ability to protect time for rest, hobbies, and a social life not only enhances job satisfaction but also contributes to overall resilience. While some educators prefer a structured separation between work and personal commitments, others integrate both fluidly, shaping a routine that aligns with their unique needs.
Regardless of approach, achieving life balance is about autonomy—knowing when to set firm boundaries and when to allow flexibility. The following strategies provide practical steps for educators to safeguard their time, protect their mental well-being, and establish a sustainable approach to workload management.
Be Intentional with Your Time
- Plan your workload strategically and prioritise tasks.
- Avoid the "grey zone"—moments when you're neither fully working nor fully resting.
For example, if you arrive at school early and decide to have breakfast before starting work, this is your time—your working day has not begun. The way you frame your work time matters.
Avoid Distractions and Time-Wasters
Have you ever sat at your laptop with multiple tabs open, switching between them endlessly? Hours can disappear without meaningful work being done. When you find yourself unfocused, step away.
Instead:
- Take a walk outside—nature has a calming effect on the nervous system.
- Build in reflection time—thinking strategically reduces stress and increases productivity.
Set Boundaries
Be realistic about what you can achieve within your available time. Create boundaries to protect your well-being.
For example:
- If you’re a football fan, leave school earlier on match nights as a personal reward.
- If you know you have an evening event, plan less marking-intensive lessons that day.
Many of my coaching clients have removed work emails from their phones—this prevents constant checking and improves mental separation from work. If there’s a true emergency, someone will call.
Simon Sinek discusses two approaches to work-life balance:
- Set strict boundaries—work specific hours, avoid excessive workload at home, and separate personal and professional life.
- Blend work and life—work when it suits you, allowing flexibility to prioritise family and personal activities.
Both approaches are valid. The key is choosing what works for you and maintaining autonomy over your time.
Clutter Circles: Reclaiming Mental and Physical Space
"Clutter isn’t just the stuff on the floor. It’s anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living." — Peter Walsh
One often overlooked contributor to burnout and mental fatigue is the accumulation of clutter—both physical and mental. This concept, introduced in Jayne Morris' book Burnout to Brilliance, encourages individuals to assess their clutter circles:
1. Physical Clutter
Look around your workspace, home, or classroom—what objects are you holding onto that you no longer need?
- A cluttered environment leads to cognitive overload and reduces mental clarity.
- Start small—decluttering just one drawer or desk space can make a big difference.
- Research from the University of Utah shows that decluttering reduces stress and increases focus.
2. Time Clutter
Are you filling your schedule with unnecessary commitments?
- Build in gaps between meetings or lessons—even five minutes of stillness can reset your focus.
- Practicing mindful breaks—even staring out of a window for a moment—helps your brain recharge.
3. Relationship Clutter
Who do you surround yourself with?
- Relationships should be positive, uplifting, and energising.
- If certain interactions consistently drain you, consider limiting or restructuring them.
- According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), optimism is linked to longer and healthier lives.
4. Thought Clutter
What thoughts are occupying your mind?
- Are you holding onto negative self-talk or misinterpretations of others' intentions?
- Challenge your thoughts with Katie Byron’s "Four Questions":
- Is this true?
- Can you absolutely know it is true?
- How do you react when you believe this thought?
- Who would you be without this thought?
By addressing clutter in these areas, you create mental and emotional space to refocus on what truly matters.
Practical Steps for Schools to Support Teachers
Create a Culture of Well-Being
Schools should develop workload policies that prioritise staff well-being. This includes:
- Clear guidelines on marking and assessment to prevent excessive work.
- Respect for staff’s personal time—not scheduling unnecessary meetings.
- An environment of support and positivity, rather than fear and pressure.
Encourage Peer Support
Many schools create peer mentoring groups, team coaching, and networking opportunities to strengthen professional relationships. These:
- Promote collaboration among educators.
- Provide emotional support and reduce stress.
- Offer valuable professional development opportunities.
Conclusion: The Path Forward for Educators
Sustaining a healthy work-life balance (or life-work balance) is crucial for long-term success in education.
- There is no one-size-fits-all solution—each educator must find what works for them.
- Establishing healthy habits takes time—James Clear’s Atomic Habits suggests lasting change requires at least six months.
- Be kind to yourself—developing boundaries and work-life balance is a process, not an instant fix.
By understanding your needs, implementing strategies, and committing to long-term habits, you can protect your well-being without sacrificing your passion for teaching.
Further Reading on Teacher Work-Life Balance
Maintaining a healthy teacher work-life balance is essential for teacher wellbeing, job satisfaction, and overall effectiveness in education. The following studies explore strategies for reducing workload, managing stress, and fostering a balanced approach to work and life, including insights from longitudinal studies, school management policies, and education support programs.
1. Work-Life Balance and Job Satisfaction Among School Teachers: A Study
Padma, S., & Reddy, M. (2014).
This study examines the positive impact of work-life balance on teacher job satisfaction, highlighting how school management can create better working conditions. Results show that work-life balance strategies significantly improve teacher wellbeing, especially when institutions prioritize flexibility and education support for staff.
2. Study on Life Satisfaction, Work-Life Balance, and Work Motivation Among Teachers
Kelkar, S. (2019).
Analyzing the habits of teachers, this research explores how teacher work-life balance correlates with work motivation and life satisfaction. Findings suggest that a healthy balance between personal and professional responsibilities leads to higher job satisfaction and reduces burnout, improving long-term teacher wellbeing.
3. Impact of Work-Life Balance on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment Among University Teachers
Arif, B., & Farooqi, Y. (2014).
A longitudinal study on university teachers in Pakistan reveals that teacher job satisfaction is closely tied to work-life balance. The study recommends a balanced approach that considers school management strategies, flexible policies, and education support systems to improve commitment and performance.
4. Work-Life Balance and Its Impact on Job Satisfaction With Special Reference to School Teachers of Vijayawada
Pavani, K. D., & Prasad, J. D. (2023).
Examining the impact on teachers, this study identifies how heavy workload and stress negatively affect teacher wellbeing. The research underscores the importance of education support programs that promote healthy teacher work-life balance, suggesting that better institutional policies can help exhausted teachers manage their responsibilities effectively.
5. Striking the Right Balance: Exploring the Influence of Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction on Teachers' Work-Life Balance
Mahto, M. K., Kumar, C., & Lad, J. (2024).
This study investigates how teacher job satisfaction and school management practices influence work-life balance. Results suggest that institutions prioritizing education support and flexible schedules create a positive impact on teacher wellbeing, helping to retain staff and enhance productivity.
References
- Bryon Katie: The Four Questions
- James Clear: Atomic Habits
- Jayne Morris: Burnout to Brilliance
- Amy Cuddy: The Power Pose (TED Talk)
- University of Utah: Research on Decluttering and Stress Reduction
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS): Optimism and Longevity