Teaching is one of the most rewarding — and most stressful — jobs there is, with a relentless pace, emotional labor and a workload that follows you home. Managing that stress isn’t optional; it’s how you last. The teacher guide: the stress reality, how to manage it and how to protect yourself.

The Teacher-Stress Reality

The reality of teacher stress: the relentless-pace-and-workload (the teaching’s relentless-pace and workload from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-pace; the relentless), the the-emotional-labor (the teaching’s emotional-labor from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-emotional-labor; the emotional-toll), the the-work-follows-you-home (the work following-you-home from the teacher-work-life-boundaries chapter — the the-work-home; the follows-you-home), the managing-it-is-how-you-last (the stress-management being essential-to-last from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-lasting; the manage-to-last), and the reframe (the teacher-stress as a relentless, emotional, home-following reality that stress-management makes sustainable).

The Manage-It Method

How to manage teacher stress: the the-boundaries (the work-life boundaries from the teacher-work-life-boundaries chapter — the the-boundaries; the set-boundaries), the the-micro-breaks-and-movement (the movement-and-micro-breaks in the day from the teacher-desk-movement chapter — the the-movement; the move-and-break), the the-manage-the-workload (the managing-and-prioritizing the workload from the teacher-work-life-boundaries chapter — the the-workload; the prioritize), the the-protect-your-voice-and-body (the protecting your voice-and-body (standing all-day) from the classroom-voice-care and teacher-standing-all-day chapters — the the-body; the protect-body), the the-stress-relief-practices (the stress-relief (breathing, movement) from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-relief; the destress), the the-support-and-community (the colleague-support from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-support; the lean-on-colleagues), the the-self-care (the teacher self-care from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-self-care; the care-for-yourself), and the the-summer-recovery (the summer-break recovery from the summer-break-recovery-teachers chapter — the the-summer; the recover-in-summer).

The Protect-Yourself Notes

Protecting yourself through the year: the the-boundaries-that-stick (the firm work-life boundaries from the teacher-work-life-boundaries chapter — the the-boundaries; the hold-boundaries), the the-daily-self-care (the daily self-care from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-self-care; the daily-care), the the-movement-and-health (the movement-and-physical-health from the teacher-desk-movement chapter — the the-movement; the stay-active), the the-protect-your-body (the voice-and-body protection from the classroom-voice-care and teacher-standing-all-day chapters — the the-body; the protect-body), the the-pace-yourself (the pacing through the-year from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-pacing; the pace-yourself), the the-summer-and-breaks-recovery (the using breaks to recover from the summer-break-recovery-teachers chapter — the the-recovery; the recover-on-breaks), the the-seek-support (the seeking support for burnout from the teacher-wellness chapter — the the-support; the get-help), and the frame (teacher-stress as managed-via boundaries-movement-and-self-care, protecting-yourself-through-the-year — protect your wellbeing. Manage teacher stress — set work-life boundaries, take movement-and-micro-breaks, manage-and-prioritize the workload, protect your voice-and-body, use stress-relief practices, lean on colleague support, and practice self-care — protecting yourself through the year and recovering on breaks: how to protect your wellbeing through the school year.

Teaching is one of the most rewarding — and most stressful — jobs, with a relentless pace, emotional labor and a workload that follows you home. Manage the stress — set work-life boundaries, take movement-and-micro-breaks, manage-and-prioritize the workload, protect your voice-and-body (standing all day), use stress-relief practices, lean on colleague support, and practice self-care (recovering on summer breaks). Protect yourself — hold firm boundaries, do daily self-care, stay active, pace yourself through the year, and seek support for burnout. How to protect your wellbeing through the school year.