We all have boundaries. Maybe you don’t feel like you do. You’re overwhelmed, tired, burned out, and stress because now more than ever, it feels like you have been run over. Teachers are naturally helpers, caregivers, and go above and beyond.

However, somewhere around the umpteenth time of doing more than your job description you have been of ignoring your own needs. You may have even been treated as though your time is not valuable, you start to believe that you’ve lost whatever boundaries you had – either by your administration, your students, your colleagues, or even your own family.

The good news is, you can re-create your boundaries, and make them stronger and healthier than ever before.  You can bring your teaching life back to center and jump start your entire life and put it on track for a happier you.

5 Teacher Tips for Better, Healthier, Boundaries

1. Permit yourself to start over.

While this step seems obvious, there are quite a few reasons for it. First, by telling yourself it’s okay to set boundaries, you’re declaring that you’re important enough even to have them. But also, in acknowledging that it’s okay to start over, you’re not getting hung up on the past. Your colleagues and students know that you are a person that’ll will accept or say yes to whatever they ask of you. But now you have to learn that it’s time to clock out when your contract time ends! It’s time to embrace taking control!

2. Pay attention.

Here’s where you start getting into the details of who you are and who you want to be. How have people taken advantage of you in the past? Thinking about when you were asked to supervise a club, lead a meeting, professional development, or come in early to plan with a new teacher? Maybe, it’s just answering your phone or email once you have already settled in at home. Where have you wished there were boundaries? What do you need to do to establish them now? Be mindful of your feelings. Look for the disappointment and anger. What has set those off? Chances are those are places where the boundaries need the most work. You’ll find that self-awareness is key to your success so don’t be afraid to dig into your emotions.

3. Where have you been? And where are you now?

Chances are a lot of what you feel about boundaries came from your wiring as a child. If no one respected your space growing up, it’s hard to ask people to respect it now. Examine the boundaries of your childhood and compare them to the boundaries of today. What’s lacking? What needs work? It might be that some of the things you find make boundary setting particularly difficult in some situations. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either with a counselor or therapist to work through some of that old baggage.

One of the best ways I have almost transform my entire well-being is with journaling. As a teacher this has been the number one way that I was able to dig myself out of stress, overwhelm and creating boundaries that I didn’t even know I needed. So take some time for yourself and start writing!

4. Take care of yourself.

When you’re not feeling well, it’s nearly impossible to be firm in your boundaries. Being strong and healthy gives you the energy needed to put your foot down when you need to. Many times we dread heading into work because we didn’t eat breakfast, sleep enough, and then we are running on caffeine. We might come across as “mean” to our students when we don’t even need to be. With that in mind, taking care of yourself not only makes sense, but it is also necessary for entire well-being of running your classroom. Remember the basics: Eat healthy, exercise (just walking can be enough), and get enough sleep every night (set boundaries on a nighttime routine!).

5. Speak up.

There’s going to be push back when you set boundaries. You might be the go-to teacher if admin needs someone to supervise after school, but this will all change. Having healthy boundaries means that you put the work in to maintain them. That means saying ‘no’ when you need to. By being assertive you not only protect those boundaries, but you also tell the world that you have something to say. Need help? Enlist a support team of teachers who can cheer you on or may be in the same boat as you. You can all work together so you are not afraid to point out when you’re starting to slip – and say yes to something you shouldn’t. Sometimes we all need some tough love, especially when we’re pushing for better, healthier boundaries.

By following these steps, you’re not only drawing a line in the sand; you’re taking control of your life. The veteran teachers that made it to 10, 20, 30 years…they had healthy boundaries, learned to say not early, and have teacher support. Healthy boundaries are meant to protect you so that you have room to grow and become the person you always knew you could be, at school in your building or not. But first, you have to begin. So, why are you waiting? Aren’t you ready for that new improved you?

If you are looking for some self-care, check out the self-care starter kit!