ABSTRACT
Teaching is a job; it’s a career. Remembering that isn’t always easy. If you let it, being a teacher can easily become a lifestyle. There is always something more that could be done; whether it comes from the Government, local authority, senior leaders, middle leaders or ourselves. We want the best for our students; we want them to learn, progress and achieve. But being able to know when to stop, rest and be you isn’t easy. This chapter explores how we, teachers and school leaders, need to stand up for our profession, our mental health and our wellbeing. This must be done by us, both as individuals and as a professional body. By exploring the impact of workload on teacher wellbeing, mental health and burnout, this chapter aims to support new teachers in developing the all-important work-life balance. With tips on how to take charge of your wellbeing, an introduction to Teacher5day and snippets of insight from the likes of Sam Collins, Founder of Schoolwell and Adrian Bethune, author of ‘Wellbeing in the Primary Classroom: A Practical Guide to Teaching Happiness’, it’s hard not to be inspired to take charge of your wellbeing.
