Burnout and Stress

3 in 10 teachers report consistent burnout according to data collected by Teacher Tapp. Teacher Tapp defines burnout as “A state of physical and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when you experience long-term stress, for example, working a stressful job. Common signs of burnout include feeling tired or drained most of the time, feeling helpless, trapped and/or defeated.”

Teaching can be an incredibly rewarding profession. Seeing that lightbulb moment across your pupil’s face is such a high. Just as there’s no denying that seeing real progression and understanding in a cohort is magic. Sadly, the other side of teaching can bring pressure, burnout, and ultimately stress. Click here to read how our very own co-founder and CEO Michael fell out of love with teaching, due to stress.

Sometimes it can be difficult to know how to cope with stress. Here are some techniques to help empower you in effectively minimising your stress levels, so you can focus on things that are important to you: 

Preparing for your role 

Preparation is key to a stress-free start to a new school placement. Your educator partner will be with you every step of the way so make sure to get in touch and talk through any questions or concerns. Otherwise, check out our guide to setting yourself up for classroom success.

Wellbeing Apps

Meditation is great for stress management, it enables you to focus on the here and now, with emphasis on the physical feelings within your body. Installing meditation apps can be helpful in encouraging focus. Most apps have guided meditation classes for beginners, so you can feel confident no matter your level. Teachers who work with SupplyWell have exclusive access to the Every Mind app which has lots of helpful content and insights including tailored tools and resources. The app incorporates mindfulness throughout and encourages proactive management of your own mental health. Another great app we recommend is the Calm app which has an array of fantastic resources including sleep stories to help you get a better nights sleep.  

Socializing

After a long period of time being told not to socialize, it is evident that loneliness and lack of social interaction is a component in increases in stress levels. To combat this you can spend time with friends, family, and loved ones. Even cuddling pets can make you feel less stressed and weighted blankets have also proven to decrease stress as they can simulate the sensation of a hug, resulting in a person feeling less anxious and stressed.

Looking after your body

Pump up those endorphins by adding some exercise into your day. The release of happy hormones is scientifically proven to help reduce stress.

Doing exercise reduces stress hormones, including cortisol and instead encourages your body to release endorphins which are natural mood-lifting chemicals in the brain. Movement is also proven to improve sleep quality, which is often negatively impacted by stress.  

A quick 10-minute walk or a short yoga flow in the morning can be enough to get the heart rate lifted if you’re short on time. We’ve put together 5-morning routines for teachers that you can try.

Nutrition is just as important as movement when it comes to stress management. Although there’s no denying that instant pick-me-up feeling, reducing your caffeine intake can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Consider your vitamin intake too, keeping topped up on vitamins B and D can help maintain good physical as well as mental health.

Resources

• The Samitarans
• Chalk
• Just Teachers

We hope this blog post has given you some ideas of techniques to help you manage stress. SupplyWell wants to remind you that you are never alone and we are here to support you. What techniques do you use to combat stress? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

This post was featured by Twinkl in their Sleep Blog

1. Get prepared

Before you leave on work on Friday, get yourself prepared to be able to hit Monday morning running. It is so tempting to try and get out of the door as soon as your working hours are over (because, after all it’s your weekend now!) However, if you frequently find yourself spending hours of your weekend suffering from Sunday night anxiety it might be worth spending some extra time (an hour or two) preparing for Monday morning before you leave on Friday.

SupplyWell’s Co-Founder, CEO and ex-teacher Michael Heverin said “On a Thursday and Friday before I would leave school I would spend 20-30 mins making sure all my resources were prepped and ready for Monday to beat the photocopier queue!”

Utilising the time at the end of the day before you leave school will help you feel less anxious on Sunday. Allowing you to fully enjoy your time away from school, with the knowledge that you have boxed off some tasks already. Here are some suggestions: you could make sure that the classroom is tidy and organised in the way that suits you best. If you’re trying out new software, give it a go before you leave. Does the computer need updating? Update it while there’s less time pressure. You could also organise your Monday in a planner, so you feel less frantic in the post-weekend AM.

2. Read something motivating 

Reading poetry has been known to boost mood during periods of stress, grief, and anxiety. Here is a poem by author Donna Ashworth called ‘Too many Sundays’

“Too many Sundays have been darkened by the dreaded presence of Monday, looming in like a storm cloud of fear, anxiety and gut-wrenching stress. Sunday is your gift, your day to recharge, your freedom. Be protective of that time. Monday has its space enough; do not let it overstep its mark. Make your plans, prepare, then push Monday back into its box and let Sunday shine forth like the jewel it is. You deserve this day of soul rest. Life is not a chore to be dealt with; it’s to be lived, my friend.

You’re here to live. And Sunday is a day, gifted to us, for doing whatever your little heart desires.”

3. Time for work and time for you

Now this is easier said than done, and paired with a heavy marking load this is difficult. While dedicating some of your Friday afternoon/evenings to preparing and organising, it is important to try to reduce the time you will devote to work over your weekend. It is healthy for you to consciously have ‘you time’ and attempt to restrict the amount of time you spend focusing on work. By focusing on school while you’re still at school, it can make it easier to keep your home space as your relaxation place and separate the two. SupplyWell’s Co-Founder and CEO Michael Heverin shared a tip from his teaching days “I created a ‘marking timetable’ to go with my teaching timetable. As much as I could, I tried to stick to this to create clearer boundaries.”

4. Do something that you enjoy 

You can give attention to yourself by doing something that you enjoy and this will take your mind off the week ahead and allow you to wind down. You could read a book, watch your favourite show, take a relaxing bath, spend time with a loved one, or Facetime a friend. This will take your mind away from anxious work thoughts and allow you to switch off.

5. Listen to nice ambient music to fall asleep more easily 

Many teachers claim to have difficulty falling asleep on Sunday nights because they have feelings of anxiety. If you find that you are having trouble falling asleep because your mind is filled with thoughts about the day ahead, try listening to relaxing music. Studies have shown that listening to music before bed can help you fall asleep quicker and more deeply, allowing you to properly switch off. If you prefer ambient music such as the sound of rain or forest sounds, (some people even fall asleep to the sound of washing machines and oscillating fans!) Nature Sound Retreat has an excellent blog that explores the calming and focusing benefits of music, which you can read here.

There are apps that provide soundscapes, including our partner app Evermind at work. SupplyWell has partnered with mental health advocates Everymind at Work to give members of the SupplyWell community free access to the app.  Whatever noises you like to listen to, this could be a great technique to help calm your mind and beat the Sunday blues.

6. Practice Meditation and Mindfulness

Mental wellbeing is very important for teachers to teach happy. Many people incorporate meditation techniques into their daily lives. Taking as little as 10 minutes to clear the mind and focusing on the present moment is massively beneficial in stress management. You can train yourself to take a moment to focus on the present while you are at school. For example, when you hear the bell go for lunch that can be your signal to concentrate on your breathing and ground yourself into the current moment. This helps to reduce anxieties about the future and the past by focusing on the now. Here is a meditation article to help you get started.

7. Think about something you’re excited about for Monday 

While you’re practicing positive thoughts on Sunday night, try to mentally list some things that you are looking forward to on Monday. Are you teaching a topic you particularly enjoy? Do you enjoy socialising in the staffroom? Are they serving something tasty on the lunch menu? There are plenty of things you might be excited for that you haven’t thought about, focusing on the good can help you feel less worried about the week ahead.

8. Positive thinking 

The power of positive thinking is key in beating Sunday blues. There is no denying that the teaching profession can be overwhelming at times and sometimes teachers can even have feelings of guilt if they allow themselves to switch off and stop thinking about school. Well, it’s time to put a stop to that negative self-talk and turn it around! Focus on what can go well rather than what can fail. Have faith in your abilities. You have made it through every difficult day that you have ever had and you will cope with whatever this week has in store!

Do you have any tips for beating the Sunday blues? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter! We’re always keen to hear from you.

This post was featured by Twinkl in their Mental Health in Schools Blog

What is the problem?

So how do we identify the retention issue? The reasons for this high turnover rate can vary, but common factors include workload and stress, lack of support from senior leaders, and low pay. With an ageing population of teachers and difficulties in recruiting new teachers, it is vita that steps are taken to retain current teachers in the profession.

What are the solutions?

One solution being implemented is the introduction of better support systems for newly qualified teachers. Mentoring programs and ongoing professional development can help new teachers feel more confident and supported in their roles, reducing the likelihood of them leaving the profession.

Another potential solution is to address the issue of workload and stress. By providing teachers with more manageable workloads and resources for managing stress, they are more likely to stay in the profession long-term.

Retention is critical for educational success

Ultimately, the retention of teachers is crucial for the success of the education system in the UK. By addressing the factors causing high turnover rates, we can ensure that teachers are able to thrive in their roles. This will provide the best possible education for our children.

SupplyWell can help!

SupplyWell provides a more flexible and supportive approach to teaching. This allows teachers to work on a temporary or part-time basis while receiving teaching and wellbeing support and CPD opportunities.

Significantly, SupplyWell’s unique approach helps schools and teachers use technology to match each other’s needs. This provides a streamlined process for booking and paying for supply work.

Therefore, stress and uncertainty often associated with supply teaching is alleviated with this straightforward process. This ease of use makes it a more attractive option for teachers looking for a more flexible work schedule.

Accessible to sustainable workforce

In effect, by providing a more accessible and manageable way for teachers to work in the education system, SupplyWell can help to incentivise teachers to stay in the profession. This, in turn, can lead to a more stable and sustainable workforce, benefiting both teachers and students alike.

Teacher retention is an issue that requires a multifaceted approach. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, it is clear that a combination of support for new teachers, addressing workload and stress, and the use of supply teaching solutions can all play a role in helping to ensure a stable and successful education system in the UK.

Join SupplyWell today and start your journey to a more positive teaching experience:

• Sign up here
• Find out more
• Give us a call 0333 305 0601
• Email us hello@supplywell.co.uk

It’s so important to SupplyWell that Teachers, TAs and Cover Supervisors are teaching happy in schools. So along with our 8 Mindful reminders, we would like to remind you of our fantastic partnership with Everymind.

SupplyWell has partnered with mental health advocates Everymind at work to give members of the SupplyWell community free access to the app.

This is why members of the SupplyWell community have exclusive access to a wellbeing app. We have partnered with Everymind at Work, giving you FREE access to the Everymind app.

8 Mindful reminders

1. Make time for yourself – even if some days that seems impossible. For example use your commute to practise some calming breathing techniques to prepare for the day ahead or unwind from a busy work day. 
2. Incorporate mindfulness into your daily routines – from how you wake up in the morning to your approach to your daily routines, mindfulness can be used in all stages of our day to bring a greater sense of calm to your life.
3. Journaling – Writing and journaling has become a very popular form of mindfulness activity. From bullet journals to scrapbooking; there’s a way of journaling to suit everyone.
4. Research – take some time to see what you can do to help yourself on the path to mindfulness, from the suggestions here to a wealth of information across the internet.
5. Go for a swim – Swimming is a great way to combine exercise and mindfulness as it can create a great environment for meditative thought whilst moving your body as gently or vigorously as you choose!
6. Make use of technology – All our SupplyWell members have access to the EveryMind app. There are also fantastic apps such as Calm and Headspace which offer guided meditations and much more.
7. Mindful hobbies – there are an abundance of enjoyable hobbies that promote mindfulness such as knitting, crochet and embroidery that not only promote calmness and relaxation but also creativity!
8.  Get outdoors – mindfulness exercises can be done anywhere, but research indicates that engaging your senses outdoors is especially beneficial.

Join team SupplyWell today to gain access to the Everymind at Work App for free! You can access the Everymind app from the usual places you find your apps including the App Store and Google Play

We’ve compiled a selection of home-grown teacher recipe favourites along with some great quick and easy online recipes.

Our teacher’s favourite recipes

Team SupplyWell and our wonderful teaching friends and supporters have shared their favourite recipes that always go down a treat.

Dylan’s Chilli con carne with nachos, rocket and sour cream

Ingredients:

500g less than 5% Minced Beef
250g Minced lamb
Garlic paste
Chilli paste
Tomato puree
350ml Chicken stock
Large jar of passata
Tsp Cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, hot chilli powder.
4 Green chillies
Sliced mushrooms
Chopped onion
Red and green pepper

Method:

1. Fry onion then fry mince until brown, add garlic paste, chilli paste, tomato puree, green chillies, Tsp cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, hot chilli powder, sliced mushrooms and red and green pepper.
2. Transfer to a casserole dish, add Chicken Stock and Passata.
3. Cook on a low heat 130 F degrees for 150 minutes.
4. Serve topped with nachos, sour cream and a handful of rocket leaves.

Patrick Otterley O’Connor’s backpacker rice

My go to quick & easy meal affectionately known as American rice on South East Asian backpacker route

1. Boil rice
2. Fry onion, ginger & garlic (lemongrass if you have it)
3. Fry veg of choice
4. Fry chicken, prawn etc
5. Mix all into the rice & add soy sauce
6. Top with egg

@Supply101’s Chicken noodles

1. Chicken noodles for me I go with rice noodles (which cook sat in a bowl of warm water). Fry up the chicken and then lots of veggies, mushrooms, peppers, edamame’s, baby corn, mangetout etc.
2. Add in the noodles and then top with sauce of choice! Could be homemade or packet.

@BeverleyTaylo’s chicken fried rice
My chicken fried rice it’s so easy!

Cook rice add to fried onions and peppers add chicken if you like add an egg stir it loads add peas soya sauce.. plus I love adding pineapple and viola!

Online recipe inspiration

We’ve taken a look through the virtual recipe pages across the internet for some fresh inspiration – delicious recipes that take 30 mins or under.

Forget take-aways – these tasty yet healthy meals won’t take an age but will make you happy!

BBC GoodFood

Prawn harissa spaghetti

Chicken skewers with tzatziki

Sesame & spring onion stir-fried udon with crispy tofu

Spicy chicken and avocado wraps

Jamie Oliver

Aubergine parmigiana burger

Smoked salmon pasta

Sticky hoisin chicken

Potato & chorizo breakfast hash

Tesco

Dan dan style noodles

Turkey meatball laksa

Quick sausage & mushroom stroganoff

Sweet potato spaghetti

We know it can be tricky managing a work-life balance and preparing meals can sometimes be one of the first things to go when prioritising time. Check out our blog on finding an effective work-life balance here.

What teacher recipe would you like to see featured on this blog? Let us know!

It’s the biggest battle in our modern working lives – finding the balance between earning a living, enjoying and doing well in our chosen careers while having enough breathing space to care for ourselves and our families. 

SupplyWell was created with this fight for wellbeing and fairness at the heart of its ethos. We want teachers and TAs to have the choice and value given to their work.

350,000 teaching days are lost every year due to poor mental health and stress related illness amongst teaching staff. Teacher wellbeing has to be the starting point for everyone in a school to be at their best.

Actions to help you achieve a great work-life balance

The power of ‘no’

Teachers and those who work in education are known for supporting others and going to lengths to help. But learning how to say no can also be extremely beneficial. Know your limits and don’t accept any additional work or responsibility outside of these limits.

Take breaks at work 

Although break times are usually very structured in a school day, it’s so important that they are used. If you can, take time to leave the school grounds, take a walk and breathe.   

Prioritise your personal life 

It may sound obvious but ensuring you create time in your life to see family and friends and do the things you are passionate about is key. Socialising, exercising and straight up resting should never be neglected in favour of work. 

Prioritise your health

Looking after your health and wellbeing is essential. If you are ill, ensure you rest and don’t force yourself to work. If you find that you fall ill regularly, consider talking to your doctor or think about any changes you can make that will help you stay healthier.

Further information

Check out these teacher wellbeing resources from SupplyWell

This post was featured by Twinkl in their Teacher Wellbeing Blog

Teacher Stress

Teaching can be an incredibly rewarding vocation. Seeing that lightbulb moment across your pupils face is such a high. Just as there’s no denying that seeing real progression and understanding in a cohort is magic. Sadly the other side of teaching can bring frustration, pressure and ultimately stress.

Teachers and educators face daily challenges and ongoing pressures that can build and at times, feel overwhelming. 

Resource Links

We’ve compiled a selection of resources written to help and support educators deal with stress from different perspectives across the education field.  

Education Support 

How to handle stress: Teachers & education staff

Our partners at Education Support have been helping support teachers and education support staff for 145 years and are the UK’s only mental health charity dedicated to helping teachers and education staff in schools, colleges and universities. 

They have fantastic resources which offer guidance and support for those struggling with stress and how to manage and take back control. 

Hey Teach!

7 Strategies for Reducing and Managing Teaching Stress

Advice from an American perspective – take a look at these approaches and strategies focusing on how you respond to stress.

National Education Union

Tackling Stress

Excessive workload and working hours are continually cited by teachers as one of the main causes of their workplace stress. This advice explains how to tackle stress at a local level in your workplace.

Just Teachers

7 Strategies for Reducing and Managing Teaching Stress

How you respond to stress can spell the difference between a long and rewarding career, and one cut short due to burn-out. Take a look at these strategies to help manage and combat stress on those difficult days.

Chalk

Prioritising Teacher Mental Health: 10 Strategies for Teacher Stress Management

Chalk asks what schools can do at an organisational level to help manage teacher stress and offer advice and management strategies to help you navigate stress effectively.

Pupil focus

Samaritans

DEAL: Managing stress, making choices

Children also have a lot to cope with. This resource from the Samaritans offers a complete workshop to support children cope with stress. 

Further information and support

SupplyWell are dedicated to supporting educators’ wellbeing. We offer all educators wellbeing support including free access to EveryMind at Work app.

Background

As a recently retired teacher of 33 years, 15 of which served on Senior Leadership, I am now employed as a Business Development Manager at SupplyWell. In my role, I ensure excellent teachers and educators are placed in schools with the knowledge that they are being paid a fair wage and the schools are given clear, budget friendly invoicing.

For the majority of my teaching career I was a School Leader and spent my last years at a large Secondary School in North Liverpool with over 1600 students. I was responsible for Pastoral Care and “The School Diary” ensuring that there were enough supply teachers deployed to cover staff absence. During 2020/21 this aspect of my tenure became increasingly demanding due to the steep increase in staff absence due to the impact of COVID 19.

Reality of agency use

I had the opportunity to work closely with a number of supply agencies, with an average day having at least 10 cover teachers deployed. This gave me a significant insight into how they were treated by their agency with regard to both wellbeing and pay.

I quickly began to realise how low-paid and demoralised some teachers became. The sad reality was, supply teachers were often not being treated well by these traditional agencies, affecting their morale which quite often lead to demotivation and poorer student outcomes. 

Over that time, I spoke with several teachers about their pay and wellbeing support. Most of them had not had any support from their agency, merely a phone call telling them which placement to attend. After discussing pay I realised just how much the agencies were taking in commission, in some instances half of the invoice went directly to the agency leaving the teacher with less than £100 for a day’s work in increasingly trying and testing conditions.

Ethical solution

The reason I chose to join SupplyWell was their ethical and supportive nature, with the welfare of both teacher and student at the forefront of all they stand for. Teachers are paid well, with a transparent fee deducted from each invoice. Wellbeing calls, CPD and support is given to all of its candidates and they all certainly feel they belong to a “school within a school”.

Only the other day whilst speaking to a new candidate and I was appalled by their treatment. They were being paid £70 per day for teaching (!) and were told that if they worked for another agency they would probably not get other work as they would “go down their pecking order.” 

Challenges

I understand that schools have a budget to adhere to, but they also have a moral duty of care for all those who work with them, regardless if they are long term staff or supply. In reality, I don’t think schools know the extent to which traditional agencies take their cut. 

Educators need to be respected and feel valued, which will directly impact on their performance and the outcomes of students. Schools have the opportunity to put this right and need to be empowered to do the right thing. The welfare and support of students, as well as their educational development will only improve if teachers, including supply teachers, feel valued and respected.

Make a positive change

I encourage all Cover Managers to do their research and support the ignored and neglected supply teachers by working with agencies and services that put the welfare of their staff first.

Further information

Schools: Find out more here

Teachers: Join the SupplyWell team

This is why members of the SupplyWell community have exclusive access to a wellbeing app. We have partnered with Everymind at Work, giving you FREE access to the Everymind app.

The EveryMind at Work app offers you tailored tools and resources to help you from the  convenience of your own device. The Everymind app incorporates mindfulness throughout and encourages proactive management of your own mental health through engaging content and insights. 

Join team SupplyWell today to gain access to the Everymind at Work App for free! You can access the Everymind app from the usual places you find your apps including the App Store and Google Play

As a thank you to our teacher community, we are rewarding teachers, TAs and cover supervisors with a reward word £150 when they refer a friend.

We are building a fairer future for teachers, schools and students, and we want to help as many teachers and teaching assistants as possible enjoy a better way of doing supply. We know that the best way to spread the word is by teachers helping teachers!

Here’s what you have to do:

• You need to be SupplyWell registered 
• Fill in our form to refer your friend
• When your friend has worked 20 days for us we will send you a reward worth £150