School Leaders’ well-being
Here are our top 20 well-being tips for you, whether you’re in school or at home
In school
- Pop a daily break into your diary first and then plan your work around it!
- ‘Let go’ and delegate actions to those around you and / or ask them for help
- Walkabout: you get to meet staff and pupils and stretch your legs
- If you don’t feel well, go home, get better and get your deputy to deputise!
- Use your GP/occupational health service to support you and your return to work
- Build well-being into CPD for the SLT, teaching and support staff
- Make well-being one of your performance management objectives
- Build in 10 minutes to reflect on your day
- Remember why well-being is important: it improves staff attendance, performance, and outcomes
- You lead and model behaviour so your approach can lift the well-being of others around you
At home
- Plan your weekend so that you can use the time to best effect
- Spend time with family and friends to help build a network of support
- Build exercise into your daily routine, something you enjoy doing
- Try to eat healthily
- Consider taking up a new hobby, interest or refreshing an old skill
- Manage your health: GP; dentist; opticians (give yourself an MOT!)
- Get your personal finances and affairs [including your pension!] in order
- Plan your holidays – it’s fun to do and something to look forward to
- If you have an old bed, buy a new one, to ensure you sleep as well as possible
- Embed simple and unconditional well-being into your daily routine
Stay alert to Voltaire’s quote “Perfect is the enemy of good!”