Starting Out Guide For Newly Qualified and Trainee Teachers

Looking after yourself

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Take care of yourself

As a teacher, school will often occupy your thoughts even when you are away from work. It is important to be organised and leave time for interests and hobbies. Achieving a good work-life balance will help minimise stress levels and will benefit your overall professional effectiveness as a teacher.

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It is worth considering what areas of your life are important to you and help contribute to your personal wellbeing. For example, spending time with your family and friends or just having time to yourself. Try to make sure you still do these things and continue to reflect on whether or not you are still happy with these areas of your life.

If you find that your work commitments are beginning to infringe on them try to think of some easy steps to get back on track. For example booking a baby sitter so that you can spend some quality time with your partner or calling a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Sometimes the smallest changes can make a real difference.

For more tips on relaxing and your wellbeing why not read the following factsheets:

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What would you add to this section of our Starting Out Guide to help newly qualified teachers? Maybe you have an experience, annectdote, resource or idea you'd like to share. Read what other teachers have added and make your additions here.

6 teachers have added to this guide



  1. Jan 6th, 2009

    clare said:

    I talk things through with a trusted colleague. As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved. My head feels much lighter afterwards.



  2. Jan 6th, 2009

    daffyd said:

    My pressure point is always report writing. As a PE teacher I see more children than many of my colleagues and often have to write hundreds of reports. I left it so late to start one year, that I nearly went mad trying to finish them all. Now I set myself 10 per day in the weeks leading up to the deadline, which doesn’t feel so arduous.



  3. Jan 6th, 2009

    dalveer said:

    During my interview, the head kept making a fuss about the fact I played the trumpet, which I mentioned on my application form.

    He asked me if I’d be interested in running the school orchestra, as the head of music was very busy. I said I might be. But when I was offered the job, I decided I’d needed to concentrate on my teaching for the first year.

    The head kept trying to persuade me, but I stood my ground, saying I’d be happy to do it the following year – which I did. I really enjoy running the orchestra, but it’s quite a big commitment and I still think it would have been too much in my first year.



  4. Jan 6th, 2009

    ewan said:

    In busy times, like report writing or during the SATS preparation, I try to think of ways to ease my marking load. I build some opportunities into my lessons for students to mark their own work, peer mark or set tasks that can be assessed with verbal feedback. The children benefit too, as they love getting instant feedback!



  5. Jan 6th, 2009

    james said:

    Invest in a paper shredder, then write it all down. Get everything that’s bothering you about colleagues, senior staff or even pupils down on paper, then shred it. This has the effect of shredding the bad day – very cathartic.



  6. Jan 6th, 2009

    keira said:

    I order a grande latte at my favourite café! At least twice a week, a group of us go out for coffee together after school. It’s a great opportunity to get things off your chest. It’s reassuring to know other people are having problems and we usually end up laughing about them, which helps get things into perspective.

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