Your School’s Wellbeing Partner, Every Step of the Way

For over 25 years, SAS has worked with schools across the UK to build market-leading staff absence protection solutions that fit the needs of schools

SAS policies provide a complete absence management solution. Our robust and comprehensive policies protect your budget, coupled with a complementary wellbeing service which helps you proactively prevent and reduce absence in school.

Managing mental health as a teacher or school leader can be challenging, but setting boundaries and adopting practical strategies can make all the difference. The key to thriving in this demanding profession is to prioritise your wellbeing and create a sustainable balance between work and personal life. Here are five strategies from our director of wellbeing, Andy Mellor, that can help you manage mental health effectively:

Know When to Say Stop

I work with many teachers and school leaders, who want to manage mental health, and those who thrive are the ones who set clear boundaries for their wellbeing. They say, “My personal time is my own, and I won’t compromise it.” For some, this means going to the gym twice a week or prioritising family time, but whatever it looks like, it becomes a non-negotiable part of their routine.

Keep the Job in Perspective

Teaching is a wonderful and rewarding profession, but it can take over your life. I’ve worked with teachers who begin resenting family members for wanting some of their time—a sure sign the job has taken over. Teaching is a job that’s never ‘finished’, so punishing yourself for not completing everything will only lead to burnout and feelings of inadequacy, such as imposter syndrome.

Prioritise Your Workload

Since the work will never be truly ‘done’, it’s crucial to prioritise tasks that have the greatest impact on your students. One strategy is to use a four-column system. In landscape orientation, create a sheet with the leftmost column representing tasks with the greatest impact on the children and the rightmost column representing those with the least. Then, categorise your tasks accordingly to focus on what matters most.

Prioritise Your Wellbeing

Doing something for your own wellbeing every day is essential to manage mental health. Even if it’s just half an hour with a book, it’s important to help you switch off from school and refresh your mind. It’s concerning how many teachers and school leaders do nothing for their wellbeing during the working week.

Exercise, walking, resting, or finding some relaxation time each day isn’t just a luxury—it’s an essential part of creating a healthy lifestyle that will benefit you in the long run. Think of it as putting credits into a ‘wellbeing pension’.

Connect with Others

Teaching can be isolating, both professionally and personally. Invest in professional communities to keep perspective and save time by learning from others. A problem shared is a problem halved.

Likewise, don’t neglect your social life. Connecting with people helps remind us that, while our jobs are important, they are still just jobs. Social connections allow us to refresh our minds and are vital for our overall wellbeing.

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish—it’s about giving the children the best of you, not what’s left of you. To read the full blog, visit our website: https://schooladvice.co.uk/managing-mental-health-a-guide-for-teachers-and-school-leaders-in-a-high-pressure-job

This is a sponsored article, brought to you by Schools Advisory Services

Speak to SAS today about how to implement a whole school approach and their products that support this. Call 01773 814400 or visit schooladvice.co.uk.