
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
£89.83 - 100.00 per day
Location free text
Sheffield
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Primary
Location
Sheffield
Description
Level 3 Teaching Assistant – Primary Schools-| Sheffield We are looking for enthusiastic and experienced Level 3 Teaching Assistants to join supportive primary schools across Sheffield. This is a f
Reference
s38975
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Sheffield NorthAuthor
Sheffield NorthSalary
£25 - 32 per hour
Location free text
Chorley
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
Tutor/Intervention
Location
Lancashire
Description
Specialist A Level Tutors Required in the Chorley Area.Here at TP Tutors (Part of Teaching Personnel) we believe in every child’s right to a quality education. As such, we are looking for specialist A
Reference
RVPR7ALVL16/09
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
North TuitionAuthor
North TuitionSalary
£25 - 32 per hour
Location free text
Blackburn
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
Tutor/Intervention
Location
Blackburn
Description
Specialist A Level Tutors Required in the Blackburn Area.Here at TP Tutors (Part of Teaching Personnel) we believe in every child’s right to a quality education. As such, we are looking for specialist
Reference
RVBB2ALVL16/09
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
North TuitionAuthor
North TuitionSalary
£120 - 160 per day
Location free text
Lancaster
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Teacher
Location
Lancashire
Description
Full-Time Teacher Opportunity – Lancaster Start Date: After October Half TermPPA COVER Teaching Personnel are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic full-time Teacher to join a welcoming school in the L
Reference
OLLANCASTTCHER456GT
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire North PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire North PrimarySalary
£25 - 30 per hour
Location free text
Leicester
Job Type
Part Time
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
Teacher
Location
Leicester
Description
Become a Tutor with TPTUTORS – Inspire, Support, and Transform LivesTPTUTORS is on the lookout for passionate, skilled tutors to join our expanding team. As student referrals increase, we’re working h
Reference
EM169TUTOR
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Central TuitionAuthor
Central TuitionSalary
£20 - 30 per hour
Location free text
Wokingham
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
£30 per hour and above
Sector
Teacher
Location
Wokingham
Description
✨ Teach. Empower. Transform Lives. Some students need more than a classroom. They need you—your patience, your expertise, and your belief in their potential.At TPTUTORS, we’re on a mission to match i
Reference
LM16/09/253
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£20 - 30 per hour
Location free text
Slough
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
£30 per hour and above
Sector
Teacher
Location
Slough
Description
✨ Teach. Empower. Transform Lives. Some students need more than a classroom. They need you—your patience, your expertise, and your belief in their potential.At TPTUTORS, we’re on a mission to match i
Reference
LM16/09/252
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£90 - 160 per day
Location free text
Twickenham
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Cover Supervisor
Location
Twickenham
Description
Join Teaching Personnel as a Cover Supervisor – Secondary Schools in Twickenham and Surrounding AreasLocation: Twickenham and surrounding boroughs (Richmond, Hounslow, Kingston, etc.) Job Type: Flexi
Reference
cvsx
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Wimbledon BranchAuthor
Wimbledon BranchSalary
£20 - 30 per hour
Location free text
Bracknell
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£20 - £29 per hour
£30 per hour and above
Sector
Teacher
Location
Bracknell
Description
✨ Teach. Empower. Transform Lives. Some students need more than a classroom. They need you—your patience, your expertise, and your belief in their potential.At TPTUTORS, we’re on a mission to match i
Reference
LM16/09/251
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Salary
£90 per day
Location free text
Caerphilly
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Caerphilly
Description
Behaviour Support Needed Bargoed, Caerphilly | Term-Time, Full-Time Monday – Friday | 08:30 – 15:00 | £90 per dayAre you passionate about making a real difference in education? We’re proud to be partn
Reference
16/9 behaviour ta
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Related posts
.jpg)
Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Walking into a teaching interview can be nerve-wracking, even for experienced teachers. The secret? Preparation. Knowing what to expect, understanding the school, and thinking through your answer

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
Pay is always a big topic for teachers and school leaders, and with good reason. It affects career choices, retention, and how schools plan. With a 4% rise confirmed for the next academic term, 20

Teaser
Education NewsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD09YY
Summary
The start of a new academic year brings a mix of excitement and challenge. New timetables and faces are balanced with the realities of staffing, planning, and ensuring the school settles quickly i

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD07YY
Summary
Schools are under pressure. Behaviour issues are rising, pupil needs are more complex, and staff are stretched. In 2024, 18.4% of children in England were reported to have some form of special edu

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD07YY
Summary
Today’s classroom is a busy, complex, and emotionally charged environment. Educators need to teach, support, manage behaviour, and connect with learners who may be carrying far more than their sch

Teaser
Education NewsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD07YY
Summary
The future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support in the UK is undergoing significant focus and reform. It’s a complicated landscape as the government considers tightening th

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD07YY
Summary
In December 2024, the government announced new specialist places in mainstream schools to better support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Yet, staff shortages limit s

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
Recent statistics highlight gaps in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) training and support for educators. The government wants more SEND pupils in mainstream schools. At the same t

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
In 2024, the National Audit Office (NAO) highlighted the crisis in the SEND system, noting limited progress in making mainstream schools more inclusive. Without further investment and changes, t

Teaser
Tips & AdviceContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD06YY
Summary
How to navigate SEND funding for 2025-26 As government funding for special education needs and disabilities (SEND) evolves, schools face critical challenges securing essential resources. Sch
Register with us
for a choice of classroom roles
Register today
Recent job