How to cope with stress as a teacher
Like in any job, teachers face their fair share of challenges and as a result of this, 67% of teachers experience stress at work. However, while stress amongst teachers is commonplace, there are things you can be doing to mitigate pressure and strain in this profession.
No matter the cause of your stress at school, the following management techniques can help to get you back on track and ensure you’re providing high standards of support and education to pupils.
Manage your workload
Teaching workloads can be extremely heavy, especially when you look beyond the day job of teaching in the classroom. Factor in lesson planning, marking, assessments and running extra-curricular activities and the average teaching week is actually 54.5 hours per week. Ofsted and the government recognise that teachers’ workloads need to be reduced, with the Department for Education releasing a workload reduction toolkit, publishing an advice document and offering advice on marking, planning and data management.
While governing bodies are working towards reducing workloads and therefore stress in the industry, there are also things you can do to help yourself as a teacher. Prioritisation sounds easy but is often complicated as a teacher, where urgent problems, unexpected changes and high-touch issues push less critical - but still important - long-term projects and tasks down the list. Keep a working document of urgent and quick-win tasks as well as those which may take longer, crossing off and re-prioritising activities as you work through them. This TeacherToolkit guide can help teachers to self-evaluate tasks and maximise their teaching and non-contact time.
Researcher Brené Brown found that many people who feel stressed or unhappy also constantly believe they are not achieving enough. If you identify with this, it could be adding to your stress —remind yourself that you are only one human and that you are performing your duties to the best of your abilities. Teachers who struggle with perfectionism may magnify small mistakes that other people don’t even notice, which is more likely to lead to a burnout.
Behavioural management
Students can mirror behaviour and standards that you set in the classroom. If you set a standard of positivity and respect, students are likely to respond positively to this.
If you are finding it hard to manage and teach disruptive students, there are many useful behavioural management techniques you can use to manage this. It’s been reported that establishing routines, using a calm but assertive voice and reinforcing positive behaviour are very effective in managing children’s behaviours. Taking advantage of this will, in turn, lower your stress at work.
Work-life balance
It’s great to love your job and want to do your best for your pupils, but taking too much of your work home can have a detrimental impact on your overall wellbeing. In order to look after others, you must look after yourself first — this will increase your happiness in all areas of life as well as your ability to perform your job. Practising mindfulness meditations daily can be a great stress-reliever after a hectic day, just as yoga, sports and art are also great stress-relieving hobbies to consider.
Ask for help
Just as you would advise your pupils to ask for help in solving a problem, so should you seek support when it comes to managing your stress levels. If you have a senior authority you can go to for help managing your workload, utilise this option and discuss what work is reasonable to undertake and what is unreasonable. Similarly, there will be co-workers who can help to ease your workload or discuss strategies for managing your workload. Simply having someone to talk to about your stresses can do wonders to boost your wellbeing and mental attitude.
Find a job you love with Teaching Personnel
Teaching can be a busy and demanding profession, but one that is ultimately rewarding.
Teaching Personnel offer interesting and rewarding teaching jobs around the UK. If you’re looking for choice and variety, you can contact us for expert advice or apply for a range of teaching jobs with us today.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£120 - 160 per day
Location free text
Sheffield
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Primary
Location
Sheffield
Description
Exciting Opportunity for KS1 Teacher in Sheffield! Position: KS1 TeacherLocation: SheffieldAbout Us: Our schools in Sheffield are dedicated to providing a nurturing and inspiring learning environment
Reference
sc3434
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Sheffield NorthAuthor
Sheffield NorthSalary
£30,000 - 46,525 per year
Location free text
Chorlton
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
Science
Location
Cheshire
Description
Position: Science Teacher Location: Chorlton Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time (with potential for permanent) Start Date: April 15th (Summer term) Salary: £30,000 – £46,252 (dep
Reference
JM9090900
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester South SecondaryAuthor
Manchester South SecondarySalary
£12.90 - 15.50 per hour
Location free text
Chorlton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Cover Supervisor
Location
Cheshire
Description
Job Title: Cover Supervisor Location: North West England, Cheshire, ChorltonJob Type: Temporary, expected to work Full-Time hoursPrimary Industry: Education and TrainingCompany Branding: Teaching
Reference
JM647
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester South SecondaryAuthor
Manchester South SecondarySalary
£12.90 - 15.50 per hour
Location free text
Manchester City Centre
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Manchester
Description
Position: Sixth Form Teaching Assistant Location: Greater Manchester, Manchester City Centre Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time Salary: £12.90 - £15.50 Per hour Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Educat
Reference
JM457
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Manchester South SecondaryAuthor
Manchester South SecondarySalary
£12.90 - 13.55 per hour
Location free text
Nelson
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Primary SEN Support
Location
Nelson
Description
Y4 SEN Teaching AssistantLocation: Nelson Primary School (BB9) Job Type: Temporary position, expected to work full-time hoursPrimary Industry: Education Salary: £12.90 - £13.55 per hourStart date: Sep
Reference
Y4 SEN TA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire East PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire East PrimarySalary
£12.90 - 13.50 per hour + Free CPD
Location free text
Kirkby
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Merseyside
Description
Job Title: KS2 SEN Teaching AssistantLocation: Kirkby, L32Contract Type: Full-time, June start dateSalary: £12.90 - £13.50 per hourSchool: GOOD PrimaryAre you passionate about supporting children with
Reference
KIRKSEN39475
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire SecondaryAuthor
Lancashire SecondarySalary
£90 - 130 per day
Location free text
Northampton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
Cover Supervisor
Location
Northampton
Description
Teaching Personnel are working alongside a number of schools within Northamptonshire who require Unqualified Teachers to join the school when planned and unplanned absences arise.This role involves co
Reference
28739291
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£12.90 - 14.66 per hour + Free CPD
Location free text
Kirkby
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Merseyside
Description
General Teaching Assistant role required at an Ofsted graded ‘GOOD’ Primary school in Kirkby.Are you passionate about education and eager to make a positive impact on young minds? Look no further! – a
Reference
GTAKIR667
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire SecondaryAuthor
Lancashire SecondarySalary
£13 - 15 per hour
Location free text
Blackburn
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
SEND Support
Location
Blackburn
Description
Behaviour Mentor Hours: 8.30am – 3:30pm SEMH Provision in Blackburn ASAP Start date.£13.00 - £15.00 p/hFull-time – temporary contract An SEN provision in Blackburn is seeking a passionate support as
Reference
KA 03/05 BEHM
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire SENAuthor
Lancashire SENSalary
£12.90 - 13.55 per hour
Location free text
Colne
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Lancashire
Description
EYFS TA required in a Two-Form Primary School (Colne) - September 2024 start!Level 2 qualified TA required – supporting a child with SEN in the morning, general TA PM.Work at Level 2, supporting the
Reference
Early Years TA
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire East PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire East PrimaryRelated posts
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
The teacher recruitment crisis is a priority for school leaders across the country. In the 2021–22 academic year, 4000 teachers retired, and 9% of the teaching workforce resigned, marking the highes
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD03YY
Summary
Planning for the Easter break? The Teaching Personnel payroll team wants to make sure you get paid on time. This table outlines the Easter 2024 payroll date, along with the corresponding deadline
by
Adam Davies
Teaser
Supply TeachingContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
Table of Contents 1. Why do people become supply teachers? 2. What does it take to become a supply teacher? 3. How can I find work as a supply teacher? <!-- b--> 4. How shou
by
Alex Schulte
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD01YY
Summary
Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision in schools is a critical aspect of education that demands attention in 2024. According to the Department for Education, over 1.5 million pupils in England
Teaser
Multi-Academy TrustsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Laura Williams is an education leadership coach with fifteen years of leadership experience in education across business, operations, HR, finance and governance. She is a former Business Manager, CO
by
Scott Owen
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Creating a safe and nurturing environment for pupils is paramount in the age of evolving social dynamics. One issue that has gained significant attention in recent years is the distinction between
by
Adam Davies
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD11YY
Summary
Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson addressed the Labour Party conference in October, where she announced plans to reform primary maths. Currently, one in four children leave primary school
Teaser
Tips and AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD10YY
Summary
Mock exams are a crucial milestone in a pupil's academic journey, serving as a practice run for the real deal. As educators, you play a pivotal role in helping pupils navigate through these trial ex
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
In the fast-moving world of education, headteachers and schools face the challenge of ensuring a continuous and reliable supply of qualified teachers. Unforeseen teacher absences due to staff sickness
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Embarking on the journey to become an educator is both exhilarating and demanding. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is crucial to achieving your teaching ambitions. The road ahead
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job