Teaching and working with students can be incredibly rewarding and fabulous. However, we know that anyone in education is frequently faced with challenges to their own mental health.  Working with continued change, high work loads, constant demands throughout the day, reduced autonomy and increased criticism, AND you can’t take a day off when you feel like it.

Here are five common mistakes that education professionals often make when it comes to their own mental health.

1. Having unrealistic expectations.

So many teachers aim for perfection in their role and are constantly feeling they aren’t good enough, that they should work more hours to complete all the work. That their classroom displays should be works of art. Or many educational staff I work with criticise themselves for not doing enough for students – they feel they have to make student lives perfect and solve all of their problems.

2. Difficulty setting boundaries.

The demanding nature of the job can blur the lines between work and personal life. Taking work home regularly, being available outside of work hours, and neglecting their own needs. Also feeling that you always have to be available or something catastrophic will happen. Also, personalising student behaviour can be included in this.

3. Lack of self-care.

So many education staff only look after themselves during school holidays. They survive on stress chemicals and neglect healthy sleep, balanced meals, physical activity, and enjoyable activities.  They feel that something is always more important when it really isn’t.

4. Ignoring warning signs.

All too often staff ignore signs of stress, burnout, or other mental health issues. Or they just put it down as being part of the job and life.

5. Failing to seek help.

Stigma surrounding mental health, or feeling you will be judged and seen as weak can prevent teachers from seeking professional help when they need it or just reaching out and talking to someone. Also, convincing themselves they don’t have time to address it or that it’s not a priority. We don’t get better by ignoring things.

It’s important to remember that these are potential mistakes, and not all teachers will experience them. By being aware you can change.

• We don’t make lives perfect, we make them better.
• Perfection doesn’t exist. Good enough is good enough.
• The world won’t end if you take regular breaks.
• Prioritise selfcare time every week.
• Talk to someone and reach out when you are struggling.