For many educators, leaving work at work can feel like an impossible task. Workload pressures, emotional investment, and performance expectations—from both families and leadership—can make it difficult to disconnect. Even when you physically leave the building, your mind may still be racing with lesson plans, marking, or emails to reply to. But while these challenges are real, small, intentional changes can help you reclaim more balance and leave work behind when the school day ends.
Here are practical strategies that can help you switch off and protect your wellbeing.
Set Clear Email Boundaries
It’s tempting to keep checking work emails in the evening, especially with today’s 24/7 accessibility expectations. However, constantly being “on call” can erode your mental health. Set a clear boundary around when you’ll check emails—for example, no emails after 6pm—and stick to it. Consider setting an out-of-office reply during evenings and weekends that politely informs senders you’ll get back to them during working hours.
If leadership pressures make this difficult, suggest a team-wide agreement on email norms. Leaders can model good practice by avoiding sending non-urgent emails outside of work hours.
Create an End-of-Day Ritual
Develop a simple routine to signal the end of your workday. This might be tidying your desk, making a to-do list for the next day, or taking a few deep breaths as you walk to your car. The goal is to create a clear transition that tells your brain it’s time to switch gears. Over time, this ritual can help you mentally leave work at the door.
Use Live Marking to Reduce Take-Home Work
Marking can be one of the biggest contributors to after-hours workload. One effective strategy is live marking—giving feedback during lessons rather than taking stacks of books home. Research suggests that timely, in-the-moment feedback is not only more manageable for teachers but also more impactful for students. Try dedicating part of the lesson to circulating and providing feedback directly to students as they work.
If live marking isn’t always feasible, prioritise which assignments truly require detailed feedback and which can be assessed with quicker methods, such as peer review or self-assessment.
Time Block Your Tasks
Time blocking is a powerful technique to help you stay on top of tasks without letting work spill into personal time. Assign specific blocks of time during your workday to focus on key tasks like lesson planning, emails, or marking. Be strict about ending tasks when your time block is up, even if you’re not completely finished. Knowing there’s a set time to revisit the task later can reduce the urge to keep working beyond school hours.
Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself
Perfectionism is common in education, but striving for flawless lessons, perfect resources, and exhaustive feedback is neither sustainable nor necessary. Ask yourself: What would “good enough” look like for this task? Often, your standards may be higher than what’s actually needed. By aiming for good enough instead of perfect, you can free up time and mental energy for other priorities.
Remember, teaching is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout helps no one—least of all your students.
Leave Work Physically and Mentally
Physically leaving the school doesn’t always mean you’ve left work behind. To help with the mental shift, try “brain dumping.” At the end of the day, write down all the loose ends or worries swirling in your mind. Once it’s on paper, you can stop carrying it around mentally. Pair this with a post-work activity that helps you reset—like going for a walk, listening to a podcast, or spending time on a hobby.
Communicate Your Boundaries
Letting others know your boundaries can help them respect your time. If parents, colleagues, or leadership expect immediate responses outside of work hours, communicate your availability clearly and professionally. For example, you might say, “I aim to respond to emails within 24 hours during the workweek.” Reassure them that you’re committed to supporting students but also need downtime to be at your best.
If you’re in a leadership role, modelling healthy boundaries for your team can empower others to follow suit.
Use Quick Wind-Down Activities
It’s hard to switch off when you’re going full speed all day. Try incorporating a short wind-down activity when you get home, such as stretching, journaling, or spending five minutes in mindful breathing. These small resets help calm your nervous system, making it easier to relax and enjoy your evening.
Limit School Talk at Home
If you live with someone who’s also in education, it’s easy for work conversations to dominate your evenings. Set boundaries around when and how much you talk about school at home. For example, agree to a 10-minute “school debrief” and then shift to non-work topics. This creates space to focus on other parts of your life.
Celebrate What You’ve Achieved
It’s easy to focus on what’s still on your to-do list, but this mindset keeps you stuck in work mode. At the end of each day, take a moment to acknowledge what you accomplished. It might be as simple as thinking, “I helped that student understand fractions today” or “I finished planning tomorrow’s lesson.” Celebrating small wins helps shift your perspective and makes it easier to leave work behind.
Leaving work at work is a challenge, but it’s not impossible. By implementing small changes—like setting boundaries, using time-saving strategies, and creating mental transitions—you can protect your wellbeing and feel more present in your personal life.
Create an Environment Where Staff Can Thrive
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