Teaching requires constant energy, patience, and dedication, but it is easy to feel stretched thin when our schedules are packed and the demands are endless. For many educators, balancing work responsibilities with personal well-being can seem impossible. However, prioritizing self-care is not just achievable—it is essential. Small acts of self-care, boundary-setting, and community support can make all the difference in maintaining our energy, positivity, and passion for teaching. Here are five practical strategies to help you start this new year feeling more balanced and resilient.
Claim “Me Time”: Sounds impossible? It is not. When I first started claiming “me time” as an act of self-care, I would go to my room for ten minutes and sit in silence. I can still remember how I felt my whole body relax and my mind grow calm. It was glorious! I quickly realized my day was filled with small opportunities for short breaks. Try driving in silence on your commute, playing nature sounds, or listening to your favourite tunes. Outside on duty? Take five deep breaths, exhaling slowly, or close your eyes and soak in the sunshine. These small moments reset your nervous system and help you keep a positive mindset.
Schedule Screen Time: This is a big one! We could easily spend hours replying to emails from parents, colleagues, and administrators. To avoid the endless inbox cycle, I read work emails only once a day during my planning time. (If there is an emergency, parents will call the office; everything else can wait 24 hours!) I suggest scheduling personal and social media time and setting a timer so it’s enjoyable but not endless. Once your time is up, it is up. Set Boundaries: As both a mother and a teacher, I know the weight of mom guilt and teacher guilt. By my fifteenth year of teaching, I decided I was done feeling drained by my to-do lists. I started prioritizing my well-being by setting boundaries. I limited the grading I brought home, saved my lunch breaks for walks, and enjoyed uninterrupted meals. With this shift, I returned to the classroom with more patience, positivity, and energy to teach. Consider where you could set boundaries this new year and try it.
Plan and Organize: Keep it simple. I try not to plan too far ahead to meet students where they are. My daybook has a basic weekly outline, and at the end of each day, I jot down the specific activities for the next day and post the agenda on the board. Some colleagues plan their week over the weekend, which works for them. Co-planning and co-creating can also help reduce your workload. Find an approach that suits you so planning feels manageable, not stressful.
Seek Support: Teaching is a profession not everyone understands, and few people truly know what it means to be “teacher exhausted.” That is why finding a supportive community is essential. Try connecting with a colleague at your school or finding a “work bestie.” I love attending union workshops that address real needs like wellness, school safety, and curriculum updates. Belonging to a supportive community makes a world of difference.
Prioritizing well-being as an educator is possible and necessary for maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling career. By taking small steps like claiming “me time,” managing screen time, setting healthy boundaries, planning intentionally, and seeking support, we can create a more balanced approach to teaching. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury but a necessity that benefits you, your family, and your students. So, give yourself permission to embrace self-care, one small step at a time, and see its positive impact on your teaching and overall well-being. Try it!.
Lyne Frank
Lyne Frank, MEd, OCT, is an educator, workplace wellness expert, and women’s empowerment speaker with over 20 years of experience. As a certified life coach and women’s circle facilitator, Lyne has dedicated her career to supporting educators and women in their personal and professional growth. She is the founder of Ignite in Community, a private group in which over 1,300 women gather to share, learn, and grow in sisterhood, and Ignite in Circle, a group coaching program for women. Lyne travels across Ontario leading workplace wellness workshops, Get Unstuck curated for educators, Lost & Found, rooted in women empowerment and Balancing Act for most organizations. Her work has been recognized in Niagara News and on the Global Sisterhood platform.
This article is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2025 issue.