Work to Live, Don’t Live to Work: Work-Life Balance for Teachers

The summer before my first year teaching, I worked Extended School Year. I was a fresh college graduate put in charge of a middle school Life Skills classroom for six weeks, and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was completely overwhelmed by the workload. For the first three weeks, I barely slept. I spent hours and hours prepping lessons, making data sheets, and panicking.

Then week four started, and one of the incredible paraprofessionals I was working with, Mr. Juan, pulled me aside. He told me, “Jess, you need to work to live, not live to work.”

Those words have stuck with me ever since, and they completely changed the way I approach teaching. I’m proud to say that, despite spending seven years teaching in a demanding alternative education environment and balancing IEP case management with teaching upwards of four different courses per year, I have maintained a pretty amazing sense of work-life balance.

The world of education needs effective, experienced teachers. We owe it to ourselves to have a level of work-life balance that protects us from burnout. As a fierce protector of my own work-life balance (and as the coworker who will peer pressure you into improving your own...just ask Kasi), I’m here to share some of my best advice.

I do want to give the caveat that I have always worked in states with strong unions. I know that, for those of you without iron-clad contracts and union support, some of these strategies will be harder to implement. Please take what you can and leave what isn’t realistic!

Keep Work Email Off Your Personal Devices

My number one tip? Never, ever put your work email on your personal phone...or even on your personal laptop.

You do not need to be accessible to everyone all the time. Reading an email from a parent at 8:00 p.m. is not going to do anything but ruin your sleep routine. Even if you don’t respond, the email is now in your brain. You’re thinking about what happened, what you need to say, and how you’re going to handle it the next day.

In today’s world, there is a lot of pressure to respond to every email, message, or call within minutes. You’re allowed to reject that pressure. Create a digital divide and protect your peace.

Work Your Contract Hours

On a related note, my next tip is to work your contract hours. At my most recent job, my contract hours were 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I gave every day my absolute best between those hours, and then I closed my work laptop and did not open it again until I was in the building the next morning.

Be confident and unapologetic about it. If someone asks you, “Did you see the email from so-and-so?” as you’re walking in from the parking lot, you’re allowed to respond, “No. I’ll look at it once I get to my desk.” You don’t have to be rude, but you might have to be firm.

As teachers, there’s an unspoken (though sometimes spoken) culture that we should sacrifice everything, including our time at home, for this job. It can be hard to push back against that culture, but it’s worth it. You might be the example someone else needs to finally set their own boundaries.

Prioritize What Actually Needs to Get Done

You might be wondering how I get everything done within my contract hours. The short answer? I don’t. At least, I don’t get everything done every single day, but I get the vital things done.

Part of that comes down to strong time-management strategies. Every day, I write down what must get done, and underneath that, I write the rest of my to-dos. The visual reminder of my priorities helps me manage my prep time effectively and keeps me from spending too much time on something that can wait.

I also make the most of independent work time. If students are working and I’ve circulated to ensure everyone understands the assignment and is staying on task, I’m working, too. Depending on what my students need that day, I might grade, answer emails, enter data, or prep materials while they work.

Task batching is another great strategy. Our brains don’t like to constantly switch tasks. If I’m grading, I’m just grading. I’m not checking emails, making phone calls, planning a lesson, and grading all at once. Focusing on one type of task at a time helps me work more efficiently and actually finish what I start.

Advocate for the Time You Need

Another piece of working your contract hours is self-advocating. If you don’t have the time to get something done, speak to your supervisor about making time. It can be scary the first time, because so many of us aren’t used to asking for what we need, but it’s worth it. There were multiple occasions when I requested substitute coverage so I could focus on IEP writing, and it paid off every time.

People don’t know what you need unless you ask. Don’t be a silent martyr. Be a vocal (but respectful) self-advocate.

Ask for Help (& Give It Freely)

Lean on your colleagues. We don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. If you’re struggling to piece together a unit plan, ask the teacher down the hall if they have lessons to share. Ask a coworker for the template they use, the strategy that works in their classroom, or the resource that saves them time.

Be a helper to others, too. Proactively offer support that will help others save time and teach more effectively. Share the lesson, send the template, or explain the system that worked for you. We are each other’s best resources, and you have the power to help shift your school’s culture toward collaboration and camaraderie.

Build a Life Outside of Teaching

Most importantly, build a life outside teaching and prioritize it. Embrace hobbies and schedule time for them.

I take a dance class every Tuesday night, and it is absolutely sacred to me. It helps me feel like Jess the Person, rather than Jess the Teacher. I love to bake, and I do an annual challenge where I make a new recipe every week. I schedule outings with friends and have date nights with my husband. We go on weekend trips during the school year and truly enjoy our time without thinking about work...and we’re both teachers!

We need strong identities outside of the classroom so that we don’t get consumed by work. There will always be another lesson to plan, assignment to grade, or email to answer. The work will take every hour you give it, so you have to protect time for the things and people that matter to you.

Final Thoughts

You can have boundaries and still be a good teacher. In fact, I’d say that boundaries make you a better teacher. When you’re working to live instead of living to work, you can show up energized and present at school AND at home.

More than seven years later, I still carry Mr. Juan’s advice with me. It shaped the way I approached my career, and I am incredibly grateful that he cared enough to pull an overwhelmed first-year teacher aside and say what I needed to hear.

You deserve a balanced life, and I’m rooting for you as you build it!