Work Life BalanceHow newly qualified teachers can achieve a work-life balance

A new teacher has much to learn andconsider when they arrive in a schoolsetting for the first time as a qualifiedteacher. Taking on a professional role,becoming part of the school communityand taking responsibility for a class can be ademanding process. Fortunately, we have astrong culture of support in Irish primaryschools and it is important that as an NQTyou take advantage of this support.

Your initial year/s in the profession willbe demanding on your time as you get togrips with the demands of a busy career.It is important to maintain a good work/life balance for your personal andprofessional wellbeing.

Planning day to day

l Time is a limited commodity so it willbe necessary to prioritise, plan andmanage your time.

l Prioritise your ‘to do’ list in relation towork on a high to moderate to lowscale.

l When planning lessons look for topicswhich span three or four lessons.

l Make a grid of your use of time for aweek and see where your time is beingspent. If you feel that you need to makechanges then make one small changeat a time.

Seek help around you

l Get as much help as possible. It is reallyimportant that you seek advice andsupport. All teachers were once in yourshoes as an NQT and will empathisewith you on what that first year is like.

l If you feel overwhelmed by thedemands of the job talk with someoneyou trust at school level.

l Try not to fall into the trap ofcomparing what you have covered inyour class-range with a fellow NQT inanother school. All schools aredifferent, all classes are different, allchildren are different and all teachersare different.

l Work to your own pace, particularly inyour first year out.

l Stay clear of rumours about probationetc. Check out the facts and work fromthere.

l Have a notebook and when you get apositive comment from a pupil, parent,colleague, principal or inspector write itdown. On days when you are feelingoverwhelmed it is good to look at thisnotebook and see the positive!

l Before you go home in the evening itmay be good to talk with your mentoror another teacher, for a few minutes,about your day. Many teachers have,what has been described as a thirdspace – a day in the week where theymeet for a coffee/tea – so this might bean opportunity for you to meet withother teachers.

It all begins at home

It is important to eat well, exercise andget adequate sleep as it can be difficult tobe effective in the classroom when youare tired.

Make time for recreation and socialactivities and maintain relationships withfamily and friends. If you find yourselfmaking excuses for not meeting up withfriends or not going home at weekendsbecause of workload, then reflect on howmuch time you are spending on work-related tasks.

Take care of yourself

It is important that you find a sense ofachievement in all you do. There will bedays when you will ask yourself “Why did Ibecome a teacher?” This feeling will pass –every teacher has days like this. Try not toover-analyse, just ask yourself what smallstep could I take to enable me get back inthere again and make tomorrow moresatisfying.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Teachingis a really demanding and challengingjob, very often there are no easy answers.You will have to work through problemsand try different approaches but that iswhat makes teaching interesting andchallenging.

Maintain a positive attitude towardsyour work. Avoid negative talk or peoplewho talk down the job.

As an NQT do take care of yourself andremember ‘it is a sign of strength to askfor support’.

Remember: The optimum work/lifebalance is different for every teacher andwill vary from day to day, week to weekand year to year, depending on personaland professional circumstances.

Further reading Holmes, E. 2009. The Newly QualifiedTeacher’s Handbook (2nd edition). Ch 7.London: Routledge.

Useful contactswww.teacherinduction.iewww.education.iewww.teachingcouncil.iewww.ncca.iewww.carecallwellbeing.ie

INTOUCH 34 DECEMBER 2015

INTO advice