Creating Boundaries That Protect Your Energy and Passion
Creating Boundaries That Protect Your Energy and Passion
You became a teacher because you wanted to make a difference. But somewhere between the endless marking, the late nights, and the constant pressure to do more, stress and overwhelm have crept in, and you might even have started to doubt whether you have what it takes.
If you’ve ever found yourself sitting in your car after school, too tired to even turn the key, wondering how you’ll do it all again tomorrow, you’re not alone.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but it can also be one of the most draining. You give so much of yourself every single day, often without stopping to think about how it’s impacting you, because giving generously to others comes so naturally.
Your kind and generous nature is part of what makes you such a brilliant teacher (yes, you! I know you don’t always feel like you are, but it’s the truth). It’s also why you’re more likely to burn out, because you hate the thought of letting anybody down.
Which is why setting boundaries can feel so difficult.
So, even though just thinking about communicating a boundary to a colleague probably makes your toes curl (ask me how I know!), they’re essential.
They’re what allow you to keep showing up for your students and for yourself. Without them, burnout creeps in quietly, and before you know it, the spark that once lit you up starts to fade.
So, if setting boundaries for your own sake feels too uncomfortable to bear right now, try flipping it. Instead of boundaries being something that distances you from others, see them as something that helps you protect your energy and passion for teaching. Because ultimately, without these two things, you won’t be able to support, inspire, and empower your students — and then where will they be?
Let’s start small, with three gentle boundaries that you can integrate into your working week:
1. Set a clear “end of day” time — and stick to it.
You might tell yourself, “I’ll just finish this one thing,” but before you know it, it’s dark outside and you’re still at your desk. We all know that when it comes to teaching, the work will never be fully done. There will always be another lesson to plan or another email to answer.
So choose a time to leave school and honour it. When you walk out that door, give yourself permission to switch off. You deserve to have a life outside the classroom — one that fills you up and reminds you who you are beyond your job title.
If switching off is hard for you, I’ve created a short but super powerful meditation for teachers who are also parents which I'll link below. It’ll really help you leave thoughts of school at school so you can transition from teacher mode to parent mode.
2. Create a small daily ritual that’s just for you.
It doesn’t have to be big or time-consuming. Maybe it’s a quiet cup of tea before school, a walk after dinner, or five minutes of journaling before bed. These small moments of calm help you reconnect with yourself and remind you that you’re more than your to-do list.
The key to making it a habit is to tag it onto something else you already do every day, so finishing that task triggers your brain to want to do the ritual. For example, if you want to start incorporating bite-sized meditations into your day, look for little pockets of time in your schedule that make sense — like once you’ve finished eating your lunch. Pop a sticky note on your desk to remind yourself to take three to five minutes after you’ve eaten, so you feel calm and ready to welcome your class in the afternoon.
3. Stop saying yes to everything.
I know this is the hardest one, but honestly, it’s so important that I just couldn’t leave it out!
I’ve always really struggled with this, so I get that it may not feel like it, but saying no doesn’t make you less dedicated — it makes you sustainable.
Something that’s really helped me is to practise responding with,
“I’d love to help, I’ll just need to check what else I have going on. Let me get back to you this afternoon/tomorrow/on Friday.”
Doing this gives you the space to look at your other commitments and decide whether:
you actually want to do it, or if it’s just something you feel you should do
you have the capacity to take it on without dropping the ball on something else or stressing yourself out
saying yes would negatively impact other areas of your life
When you start taking small actions consistently to protect your energy, something magical happens. Not only will you find yourself looking forward to going to work in the morning, but you’ll also notice you still have energy left at the end of the school day to do the things you enjoy with the people you love.
So, take a deep breath. You’re doing an incredible job, even on the days it doesn’t feel like it. And remember, boundaries aren’t walls that keep people out — they’re bridges that help you stay connected to what matters most.
Start small, stay consistent, and watch how your energy, confidence, and passion begin to return.
Nicola x
If you're a parent and find switching from Teacher mode to Parent mode challenging, grab my free ‘End-of-Day Reset Meditation for Parents’. It’s a short, soothing audio to help you leave school thoughts at school and recharge your energy for the evening.
