10 Practical Teacher Wellbeing Tips That Still Work After 30 Years

I Wrote These Teacher Wellbeing Tips in 2013. I Still Believe Every One of Them.

Recently, while tidying up some old files after moving my blog from Edublogs to WordPress, I came across a list I wrote back in 2013: ten simple self-care tips for teachers.

A lot has changed since then. We experienced the most unpredictables in our lives. We’ve lived through a global pandemic, remote teaching, AI, endless new initiatives, and more conversations about mindfulness and teacher burnout than ever before. I’m not an expert on these things but I’m just an ordinary teacher with ordinary teacher problems and after all we have gone through, when I looked at the list again, I realised something surprising: I wouldn’t change that list much. Maybe I’ll add a handful of ideas to each bullet point.

In the last couple of years, the language around wellbeing has evolved. We now recognise that burnout isn’t simply an individual problem to solve with better time management or a scented candle. Schools, leaders, policies, and working conditions all play a role.

But I also know this: teaching is demanding, and the small choices we make every day can help us protect our energy, maintain perspective, and enjoy the profession for longer.

So here they are again.

Teacher Wellbeing Tips and Why They Work:

1. Have “me” time

Not planning time. Not marking time. Not professional development time.

Time that belongs entirely to you.

Whether it’s a walk, a coffee, a yoga class, or simply sitting quietly with a book, make space for activities that have nothing to do with teaching. Teaching is not what defines you. Who you are shapes the kind of teacher you become. So keep finding yourself, again and again.

2. Spend time with the people you love

People often assume teachers have it easy — short days, long holidays. We know the truth is different. And we can’t always convince them otherwise.

Protect time for family and friends. Leave school at the door occasionally. The marking can wait. The planning can wait. That beautiful creative idea can wait.

The people in your life deserve your attention, and so do you.

3. Treat yourself occasionally

Back in 2013, I called this “retail therapy.”

Today, I’d probably call it an act of kindness towards yourself.

Buy the notebook. Visit the museum. Order the dessert. Pick up that book you’ve been eyeing for weeks. Buy that dress you’ve seen in the shop window.

Simply because you’re worth it.

4. Stay organised

Organisation doesn’t solve everything, but it reduces unnecessary stress.

Find a system that works for you and keep it simple. Don’t leave tidying up for a later moment. I learned it from my mother-in-law, a single mum and a teacher for 45 years who was always tidy and organised. She never let clutter ruin her peace of mind. She never left today’s work for tomorrow but if something could wait, she never rushed for it.

5. Do the most important thing first

There will always be more tasks than time.

Identify the one thing that matters most and tackle it before the smaller jobs start competing for your attention.

6. Accept help when it’s offered

Teachers are often brilliant at helping others and terrible at accepting help themselves.

You don’t have to do everything alone. Accepting help is one of the most overlooked aspects of teacher wellbeing

7. Build your network

Some of the best ideas, opportunities, and friendships in my career have come from connecting with other educators.

Find your people.

Join conversations. Attend events. Share ideas. Ask questions. Start blogging or sending newsletters.

Teaching becomes much lighter when you realise you’re not carrying it all by yourself.

8. Cook, eat, read, explore

Do things that remind you there is a world beyond your classroom walls.

Become a tourist in your own city if it is hard for you to travel. Explore the narrow streets where tourists get lost. Try a new recipe. Visit a local exhibition. Read a novel that has nothing to do with education.

A rich life outside teaching makes us better teachers inside the classroom.

9. Sleep well

It’s the least exciting tip on the list and probably the most important.

Everything feels harder when we’re exhausted. Find a way to sleep better.

10. Take up a hobby

Create something.

Write, paint, knit, garden, dance, play music, take photographs, learn a language.

A hobby reminds us that our identity is bigger than our job title.

And One More for 2026…

11. Protect your attention

Our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions: emails, notifications, social media, news, and endless online advice about how to become a better new version of ourselves.

Not every message deserves an immediate response.

Not every post deserves your attention.

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is close the laptop and go for a walk.

When I first shared these teacher wellbeing tips in 2013, I was thinking about avoiding burnout.

Today, I think more about sustainability.

Teaching is not a sprint. It’s a long and rewarding journey.

The goal isn’t to be productive every minute of every day.

The goal is to build a professional life that leaves enough energy for the rest of your life too.

What are your tips for teacher wellbeing? And what would you add to the list in 2026?

If you’d like to explore teacher wellbeing further, TES has a dedicated wellbeing hub with research, articles, and practical resources: tes.com/advice-hub/wellbeing

You can also check Edutopia.