How can new teachers manage stress in their first year of teaching?

In my opinion, One common source of stress for teachers, especially in their first year of teaching, is the evaluation they receive from students through different assessment systems. Teachers may not experience stress for the same reasons as everyone, while their path to becoming a teacher varies. Some may have worked as assistants for various professors before realizing they wanted to become teachers. So they aren't unfamiliar with the workload and deadlines.

Learn smart ways to plan, mark and be more productive with directed time spent in school. Also leverage new tools like #chatgpt to speed up lesson planning and the report writing process. This is something I ran free linkedin training on last month. The best hack is to use the last 15-20 minutes of the lesson marking student work or doing prep whilst the class are busy finishing off their work. Set priorities for your workload, Not everything is urgent or needs to be done to a high standard. My motto from my book 'Time Smart teaching ' is always 'done is better than perfect'. Teachers must make this their mantra.

Many first-year teachers overlook the opportunities available for collaboration outside their existing network due to their new position, and they limit themselves to teaching lessons. However, if they prioritize and implement different approaches for different results, such as outcomes of their work in the industry, creating collaborative programs for students with industry experts, and establishing long-term research, it could be highly beneficial for them.

You are still a Human! Becoming a teacher may make you prioritize delivering knowledge to others, sometimes causing you to forget about your personal growth and development. A life or business coach can help you balance your work life and maintain a fresh mindset while expanding your professional network.

Using affirmations in journalling or in a place you look at regularly ( like a calendar) is ideal. Repeat often to talk kindly to yourself and remind you to prioritise YOUR wellbeing. Teacher can easily become an unsustainable job and take over all your personal time unless you establish firm boundaries. check out a couple of affirmations from my 2024 teacher wellbeing calendar to get started; "I recognize that self-care is not selfish; it's a necessary part of being an effective teacher." "I give myself permission to rest and recharge, knowing it's essential for my well-being and teaching success"

Have a back up plan. If it’s not for you don’t feel there are no options or you have failed. Work can replace you, family and friends can’t.