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It’s easy to be negative about the state of education. There is no denying that things are tough for teachers and school leaders right now.

But while it’s important to speak up when we see systems and policies that negatively impact the children in our care, it’s also crucial to find a sense of balance.

In my new book, The Well Teacher: finding energy, purpose and passion in your teaching career, I argue that while teachers should acknowledge the challenges, we can do this while focusing on the many positives of a career in teaching, and the steps we can take to make the job work for us.

Because, ultimately, working in education is brilliant. In the current context, it feels uncomfortable to say as much, but I truly believe it.

Focus on the positives of teaching

And I am not alone in thinking this way. For my book, I spoke to teachers across the country who loved what they did and were making choices that allowed them to do it more effectively.

The fact is, we all have a choice. We can choose to allow our in-built negativity bias to draw our attention to everything that is wrong, or we can choose to focus on what is going well.

Will that shift in mindset solve the issues with special educational needs and disabilities, the lack of funding, parental complaints, and so on? Of course not. But neither will endlessly focusing negatively on these issues to the exclusion of all that is positive.

So, agitate where you can, but the ultimate goal has to be finding balance.

How, then, do you do that? There is no magic bullet, but these are some practical strategies that you could try in September.

1. Set yourself a clear boundary

Teaching is an endless job. You could work 24 hours a day, seven days a week for all 52 weeks in a year, and the work would still never be done.

The moral purpose we feel can be a wonderful driver of positive wellbeing, but it can also have unintended consequences: it can lead to us feeling that we should always be doing more and doing better. Of course, it’s important to “put the children first”, but this should not come at the detriment of your own wellbeing.

So, before you go back to school in September, identify one boundary you will put in place.

For example, you could leave at 4pm on a Wednesday. Or go for a walk before work on a Monday. Drawing a clear line and communicating this to colleagues can help you to stick to your new boundary.

2. List your priorities

The to-do list will never end. Once you accept this, all that matters is what you prioritise.

A helpful technique here is to start each day by listing three things you are going to do, and recognising that everything else is a bonus.

There are many ways to go about this. When prioritising my time, I try to focus on the reason behind what I am doing. For example, a good starting point is to consider what will make the greatest difference for the children in your care and then what you need to do to make that happen.

Once you have ticked that thing off, if you have time, do the next thing - while remembering that you will never be able to do it all, and sticking to the boundaries you have set.

3. Create a personal ‘joy menu’

Teaching is tough, so it is important to recognise the moments of joy. Luckily, in this job, those are everywhere.

One technique I have found helpful is making a list of small, everyday things that bring you joy: a chat with a child, saying “hi” to a colleague, seeing children focused on their learning.

Aim to find one of these moments each day, and take the time to acknowledge it.

4. Share your highlights

Relationships are crucial for wellbeing. Arguably, nothing is more important. However, building positive connections comes more easily to some than to others.

A great way to connect with someone is to pair up with a colleague and aim to share one highlight with each other, each week. This can be done really informally.

Not only will this help you to identify those positive moments, as it provides a structure for recognising them, but it will also support you in building an all-important connection that will safeguard your wellbeing.

5. Name your impact

Research has demonstrated the connection between having a sense of purpose and positive wellbeing. So, at the end of the autumn 1 half term, jot down a specific way you have made a difference, however small.

This will focus your attention on why you do the job and how your efforts make an impact on the children you work with. It is also helpful to focus on what we have achieved, rather than what we haven’t yet.

No job is perfect, and teaching is not the right career for everyone. But it is a wonderful profession and the endless negativity that surrounds it is both inaccurate and unhelpful.

Of course, there are many challenges that are out of our control, but I still believe there are steps that we, as individuals, can take to make the job work better for ourselves. Doing so is crucial, because when we are flourishing, so will the children in our care.

Ben Levinson is executive deputy director of primary at Meridian Trust and the author of The Well Teacher: finding energy, purpose and passion in your teaching career

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