How Can English Teachers Practise Better Self-Care? Wellbeing, Workload & Boundaries - S01E28

Happy International Self-Care Day, followers! Teaching can be incredibly rewarding — but what happens when your timetable, screen time, lesson planning and constant interaction with students start taking over your day?In this episode of How to English TEFL Podcast, Gav and Em talk honestly about self-care and wellbeing for English teachers. They compare their different approaches to timetabling, discuss the importance of proper breaks and switching off after work, and explore how teachers can create healthier boundaries between their professional and personal lives.They also look at the realities of teaching back-to-back lessons, working evenings and weekends, managing screen time, organising your workspace, staying comfortable while teaching online, dealing with social media and student contact outside lessons, and knowing when you simply need some time away from work.Gav and Em also discuss teacher training, taking time off when you are unwell, recycling successful lesson plans instead of constantly creating new material, and why fellow teachers and supportive colleagues can make such a difference.This isn't medical or professional wellbeing advice — just two experienced English teachers sharing the practical habits, mistakes and strategies that have helped them manage their own working lives.☕ Support How to English and help us keep creating free TEFL content:https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpod🌐 Visit our website:https://www.howtoenglishpod.com/You'll find loads of free English-teaching articles, practical classroom ideas, lesson inspiration and fun activities you can use today — all based around real teaching experience and episodes of the podcast.Contents & Timestamps00:00 Welcome to How to English00:32 What exactly is self-care?01:40 Why teacher wellbeing can affect the classroom04:31 Everyday self-care tips for teachers and learners05:21 Creating a timetable that works for you06:15 Why teachers need proper breaks07:20 Protecting your lunch break08:17 Back-to-back lessons or breaks between classes?09:34 Working weekends, evenings and unusual hours10:18 Limiting screen time and properly switching off11:47 Teaching, social energy and finding time alone13:23 Should teachers have students on personal social media?16:01 Creating a healthier teaching workspace17:21 Separating work and home when teaching online18:44 Screens, lighting, posture and teaching comfortably20:48 Meditation, reading and simple ways to unwind22:27 Is teacher training part of self-care — or more work?24:29 Should teachers work when they're ill?26:14 Using online teaching as a flexible alternative27:05 Reducing workload by recycling good lessons28:32 Why every lesson doesn't need hours of preparation29:08 How colleagues and teacher communities can support you30:27 Listener feedback and final thoughts31:23 How to English outro