6 Ways Teachers Can Immediately Reduce Workload and Take Back Control

Teacher workload is one of the biggest causes of stress and burnout in schools. Long hours, endless paperwork and the constant feeling of being behind can sap your motivation and energy. On Teach Sleep Repeat, we explore practical strategies to lighten the load and take back control. Whether you are overwhelmed by marking, swamped with admin or simply feeling stretched, these six ideas will help you work smarter and protect your wellbeing.

1. Prioritise What Truly Impacts Learning

Many tasks in teaching are legacy practices that no longer make a real difference. Identify the actions that directly improve pupil progress and engagement and give those your attention first. Challenge unnecessary routines like overproduced displays or lengthy written plans that are never revisited. By being intentional about where you invest your effort, you free up mental space and time for what truly matters in the classroom.

2. Streamline Marking with Smarter Feedback

Marking can easily consume whole evenings. Shift towards strategies that keep feedback immediate and meaningful without doubling your workload. Whole class feedback sheets allow you to address common misconceptions in one go instead of writing the same comment 30 times. Live marking during lessons means pupils receive guidance while they are still engaged in the task. Verbal feedback or peer assessment can also build independence and reduce your marking pile. When you move away from excessive written comments, you can focus your energy on planning and delivering high quality teaching.

3. Batch Your Admin and Communication

Admin and communication tasks tend to creep into every spare moment. Constantly checking emails fragments your concentration and can make the school day feel endless. Instead, designate specific times in your schedule for these tasks. For example, you might process emails at lunchtime and again after lessons for 20 minutes. Outside those slots, mute notifications so you can fully focus on teaching or take a genuine break. Batching tasks keeps you in one mode of thinking, which improves efficiency and reduces the mental strain of switching between jobs. Over time, this habit protects your evenings and creates a clearer boundary between work and home life.

4. Reuse and Adapt Existing Resources

There is no need to reinvent the wheel for every lesson. Create a digital folder of lessons, activities and templates that you can adapt for new classes. Sharing and borrowing resources with colleagues can also save valuable time. Even slight tweaks to existing materials are far faster than starting from scratch. Online teacher communities and subject associations are excellent places to find inspiration or ready made content. Building a resource bank might take a little time at first, but it becomes a huge timesaver later in the year. The key is to stop striving for perfection in every single resource and instead focus on consistency and efficiency.

5. Protect Non Negotiable Personal Time

Teaching can easily expand to fill every hour if you let it. Decide on specific evenings or weekend slots that are completely free from work and protect them as you would a meeting with your headteacher. Communicate these boundaries to colleagues or family members so they can support you. Use this time to rest, enjoy hobbies or spend time with loved ones. Protecting personal time prevents resentment and helps you return to school refreshed. Remember that recharging is part of being an effective teacher, not an indulgence.

6. Automate or Simplify Repetitive Tasks

Small repetitive tasks can add up to a significant drain on your energy. Explore tools or systems that can reduce this burden. Even simple habits such as preparing your classroom at the end of the day to save time tomorrow can make a difference. These incremental improvements compound over time, giving you more hours and headspace for meaningful work and personal life.

Final Thoughts

Reducing workload is not about cutting corners or caring less about your students. It is about working intentionally so you can remain the teacher your pupils need without sacrificing your health or happiness. By prioritising tasks that truly impact learning, streamlining feedback, batching admin and protecting your time, you can reclaim control and enjoy teaching again.