Stress management tips for teachers

Stress awareness week

International Stress Awareness Week runs from the 2nd to the 6th of November 2026, with National Stress Awareness Day falling on 4 November. The campaign is designed to combat mental health stigma and highlight effective stress management strategies across workplaces and communities, and for teachers, the timing could not be more relevant.

As a teacher, some degree of stress is inevitable given the demands of the role. But it is how you manage and recover from that stress that makes the difference. The vast majority of teachers enter the profession because they want to make a positive impact on young people’s lives, and holding onto that purpose can be a powerful anchor when things feel overwhelming. Alongside that, there are practical strategies that genuinely help. 

Make a timetable

Managing your time well is one of the most effective ways to reduce the low-level anxiety that builds when tasks feel uncontrollable. If you can plan around your existing timetable, designating specific slots for marking, planning, or admin, you take those tasks out of your head and put them on paper. That alone can relieve a significant amount of background stress, because you stop spending energy wondering when things will get done.

Set boundaries

Although making timetables is an effective way to deal with stress, we understand not all teachers will have time slots to designate individual tasks, and on top of that, we know that some teachers will be teaching every single period of the school day. If this is the case, then it’s important that you set boundaries, for example; saying no to taking on more workload if someone offers. Although it may be difficult to say no, it’s important to value your well-being first. 

It’s also crucial to set time boundaries so that you are not constantly working. Take necessary breaks and have a set time that you leave the school in the evening. Having these boundaries ensures that you split up your social life and work life, this is important as social tasks can help you to de-stress.

Set time aside for exercise

After a long day, the sofa is understandably appealing. But building even an hour of physical activity into your routine can make a real difference to how you feel. Exercise prompts the release of endorphins, which help counteract the physical effects of stress, and the benefits carry over into the following day. The activity itself does not matter much, whether it is a sport, a gym session, or simply a walk after school. Getting outside and moving is one of the most accessible and effective stress management tools available, and it costs nothing.

Mental health management tips for teachers

Physical activity is a strong starting point, but it is not the only tool available. Journaling is a useful habit for many teachers, giving you a space to process what has happened in the day, track what you have achieved, and offload any frustration or worry that might otherwise linger. Other approaches that work well for different people include meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and reading, all of which help create some mental distance from the pressures of the classroom.

If none of those feel like the right fit, or if stress has reached a point where self-management is not enough, it is important to speak up. Tell a colleague or line manager how you are feeling. Accessing support from a mental health professional is not a last resort, it is a sensible step, and one that many teachers find transformative.

At Engage, we want every teacher we work with to feel supported. That is why we provide 24/7 access to Education Support through our partnership with them, giving you confidential help whenever you need it.