So here we go again. The start of the school year.
And if we’re honest, it usually comes with that familiar mix of dread, stress, anxiety… and the desperate thought: “Couldn’t we just have one more week of summer?”
But… what if this year was different?
What if this year you didn’t just survive—you actually thrived?
What if you found a way to still love teaching and have a life outside of school?
Here’s the thing: it won’t happen by accident. It takes a few really intentional decisions before the school year even begins.
First, let’s be real.
The to-do list right now is already screaming at you.
- Reading groups.
- Maths groups.
- Assessments.
- Which colour backing paper for the displays?
- Six-table groups? Four-table groups?
It’s a lot.
But honestly—the most important decision you can make right now isn’t about seating plans or displays. It’s this:
👉 How are you going to approach this year?
Because the pressure will come. The stress will come. But you get to decide in advance how you’re going to handle it.
Here are five decisions that have made a huge difference for me (and might just do the same for you).
1. Set Your Work Hours (and stick to them)
Decide when you’re working—and don’t let anyone else decide that for you.
Not parents.
Not SLT.
Not the endless list of “urgent” tasks.
You’re in charge.
For me, at the start of the year I set something simple like 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Here’s the magic: you will work within the time you give yourself. It feels terrifying at first, but when you put boundaries around your hours, you actually get sharper, quicker, and more productive.
2. No Work at Home. Period.
This one feels scary. I get it.
But trust me—decide now:
- No evenings.
- No weekends.
- Laptop stays at school.
Because here’s what happens: if you think you’ve got evenings and weekends to “catch up,” you’ll keep putting things off and end up working way more hours than you realise.
Cut that safety net, and suddenly you prioritise what actually matters during your workday.
3. Sort Your Tasks: Important vs. Urgent
Not everything on your list is equally important.
Some things feel urgent, but aren’t. Some are actually crucial, but easy to ignore. Get clear on the difference. It’ll save you so much headspace.
4. Plan Around Your Energy, Not Just Your Timetable
This one’s a game-changer.
Stop thinking: “Where can I squeeze this in?”
Start thinking: “When do I actually have the energy for this?”
Example:
- Hate teaching writing? Don’t put it on a Friday afternoon.
- Low energy by Thursday? Make that your no-marking day.
- Love teaching PE? Save it for the time of week you usually hit a slump—it’ll lift you back up.
5. Take Control of Parent Communication
Here’s a myth: “I need to reply to parents straight away.”
Nope. Big fat lie. And believing it will burn you out fast.
Here’s what works instead:
- Never reply after work hours. Once you start, you’ll never stop.
- Pick 2–3 set times a week to reply. Batch it.
- Copy and paste answers when parents ask the same thing (because they will).
Honestly, you’ll cut your back-and-forth by half. And you’ll be more focused during the day, because you know exactly when you’re dealing with parent messages.
Top tip: right at the start of the year, send a quick note to parents letting them know when you’ll be replying. It sets expectations and stops you being at their beck and call. Parents actually respect it more than you’d think—it shows you’ve got boundaries and that teachers are human too.
The Bottom Line
The start of the year doesn’t have to feel like chaos.
Make these decisions now and you’ll walk into September not already drained, but confident, focused, and with some actual breathing space in your life.
Because here’s the truth: teaching will always be demanding—but it doesn’t have to take over your whole life.
By David Wright | Mr Wright Teaching
Mr Wright Teaching 
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