New Year, New Intentions, New Me!
As I write, we sit at the start of a new year with all the hope that this brings for a happy, healthy and productive new year. Christmas has come and gone and with it, all the rushing around and preparation, but amidst it all, I hope that you found time to relax and reflect on the year just passed.
We tend to be so busy that we move from one thing to the next almost like a series of stepping stones across a river. We become so concerned with the next step that we don’t give ourselves time to look back on where we’ve come from for fear of falling or straying off track.
I have to say that all the signs are that the year ahead will be a tough one for schools with finances not easing and the likelihood of more being asked of fewer people as schools seek to make budgets balance.
At this point, I want you to stop what you’re doing and reflect for 30 seconds.
The last 5 years of my headship (and I stepped away from headship 5 years ago) were typified by less money in schools, having to cut staff to make budgets balance as there was nothing left to cut. We’re now another 5 years on and the financial situation has worsened, so the remaining staff are now doing even more with less. The pressure of inspection hasn’t gone away or more importantly the pressure we put on ourselves to do the very best for our learners.
So can we keep asking more of the staff that remain in schools? The answer is getting very close to the point where we have to say no and many schools tell me that they’ve already reached this point. The “point” which I refer to is one of burnout or being resigned to not being able to do everything that you want to do. Both situations mean that we become dissatisfied with ourselves that we are making a difference and many then question their futures in their roles in schools.
However, I’m going to suggest that there is a way to prevent us getting to this “point”.
It is a series of steps which are going to be tough to take but which will liberate you and allow you to become the best version of you again.
1. Don’t punish yourself
The first thing to remember is that even in the days of more school funding, we never had enough time to get “the job” done. There was always something that was deferred or left for another day, often never seeing that day arrive! Prioritise but then once you’ve prioritised, don’t punish yourself for the things you’ve not been able to get around to and certainly don’t try to work even more hours to get these things done.
2. Be strict with the hours you work
Set yourself a reasonable number of hours to work during the day and stick to it. Remember you’re not going to get everything done so working 24/7 isn’t going to help. What will help is being fresh for work when you are at work.
3. Plan time for you
Being strict with the hours that you work creates time for you in the evening and at weekends. Reflect on what you’d like to do with this time. For some it might be getting more sleep, for others it might be exercise and for others it might just be opportunities to rest or take up a pastime. None of this should make you guilty as it is a basic human entitlement. Where people are thriving in schools (and there are plenty of examples) it is because they are making non-negotiable decisions about their health and wellbeing, often because they’ve had a health scare or a family situation which has made them re-evaluate the hours they are working.
4. Lead by example
Modelling good wellbeing is a vital part of expressing who you are and what is important to you and it doesn’t matter whether you are a senior school or trust leader or a mid-day supervisor. If you model good wellbeing and can explain why making time for you makes you more efficient and effective both in your role and with those you love, then you create space for others to do the same.
5. Be aware of the consequences of not prioritising your wellbeing
The final point is that if we don’t do the things above, we are effectively writing a blank cheque on our health and wellbeing, which at some point in the future we will need to address. It is important that we recognise the long-term harm we do ourselves of working excessive hours in an attempt to make “the job” work and get everything done.
What I’ve outlined above is a 5-step plan towards better health and wellbeing and making sense of an undoable workload in 2025.
Taking the above steps isn’t an easy option. Like any lifestyle change, it takes vision, courage, determination and thought. The status quo in terms of workload in schools is no longer sustainable, so what is going to give in 2025?
I will close by wishing you every good wish for health and happiness in 2025 and if you’d like a conversation about how you go about doing some of the things I’ve mentioned above then please do get in touch by emailing: askandy@uk-sas.co.uk. It’s time to recalibrate our relationship with “the job” and there is no time like the present!
By Andy Mellor
Wellbeing Director
With an SAS policy, you can get access to a range of wellbeing resources and programmes. Listen to podcasts or sign up to our latest live events and programmes here.