The Calm Teacher: A Strategy Guide for Wellbeing

Supporting Business Teachers Through Balance, Boundaries, and Realistic Self-Care

💼 Why Well-being Matters in Business Classrooms

Business teachers often carry high workloads: assessment-heavy courses, rapidly changing specifications, and pressure to deliver top results. Not to mention that many of us also engage with Economics - a completely new set of challenges! When you layer in SEND support, behaviour challenges, and exam stress—it’s a recipe for burnout.

This guide offers calm, actionable strategies tailored to your context. It’s not fluff. It’s not yoga. It’s boundary-setting and support that actually works.

🧠 Strategy 1: Define Your Non-Negotiables

Examples:

• No emails after 6pm (not always achievable but you can at least try)

• Dedicated marking time during frees (not always lunch or home)

• One "quiet" evening a week with zero school work

These aren’t luxuries. They’re the oxygen mask you put on before helping others.

📋 Strategy 2: Streamline with Systems

Try:

• Create a single template for feedback (copy/paste into student docs)

• Use colour-coded seating plans with SEND notations

• Mark in short bursts (Pomodoro: 25 mins on, 5 mins off)

Find your own way of creating your calm space

Every system you build now is stress you prevent later.

👥 Strategy 3: Lean on Others (Without Guilt)

• Share your resources (and use others!)

• Create a "What Works" folder for tricky classes

• Speak to your SENDCo regularly—not just when things go wrong

You’re not supposed to do it all alone. Teaching is teamwork.

💬 Strategy 4: Talk to Yourself Kindly

Notice your inner script:

• "I’m behind" → "I’m pacing this for sustainability"

• "I didn’t manage behaviour today" → "I’m learning this class, and that’s okay"

• "I didn’t finish the lesson" → "The best bits take time."

Replace blame with compassion. You deserve it too.

🔁 Strategy 5: Build a Repeatable End-of-Day Routine

Give your brain closure:

1. Tidy desk or clear your digital workspace

2. Make a short list for tomorrow

3. Do a quick breathing reset before heading home

Ending the day with intention prevents mental spill-over into your personal time.

🧘 Bonus: A Calm Classroom Helps the Teacher Too

The routines you build for SEND pupils benefit you too:

• Calm Corners reduce disruptive behaviour

• Cue Cards reduce verbal overload

• Reflection sheets reduce repeated conflict

The calmer your room, the easier it is to protect your own energy.

👣 Small Steps to Start Today

Pick one of the strategies above. Just one. Try it for a week. Adjust it. Keep what works.

That’s how balance builds.

Created by TeachingBusiness.org.uk — Supporting real teachers in real classrooms.