Teachers don’t need self-care – they need self-preservation!
Why teacher wellbeing needs more than self-care
While the term “self-care” has become a staple in staffroom posters and PD slides, it often misses the mark. It’s not that bubble baths, yoga classes, or gratitude journals aren’t helpful—they are. But they don’t address the deeper, systemic and physiological roots of burnout. What educators need now is self-preservation: a proactive, science-informed approach to staying mentally and physically well in the face of chronic stress.
The Real Cost of Burnout
Teacher burnout isn’t just an individual issue—it’s a workforce crisis. With rising teacher shortages across Australia and globally, schools are under immense pressure. Fewer staff means heavier workloads, less support, and more stress. It’s a vicious cycle: stress leads to burnout, burnout leads to attrition, and attrition leads to more stress. To break this cycle, we must go beyond surface-level wellness initiatives and address the nervous system—the command centre of our stress response.
Nervous System Regulation: The Missing Link
At the heart of burnout is a dysregulated nervous system. When teachers operate in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze, their bodies and minds begin to shut down. Chronic stress affects sleep, immunity, emotional regulation, and even decision-making. Over time, it leads to illness, disengagement, and departure from the profession.
From Self-Care to Self-Awareness
Self-preservation begins with knowledge. Teachers need access to the science of stress, the language of nervous system regulation, and the tools to notice when they’re tipping into survival mode. This isn’t just personal—it’s professional
This isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about staying well enough to keep showing up.
Self-preservation means giving educators the tools to:
Understand the stress response cycle
Use bottom-up regulation strategies like breathwork, movement, and sensory grounding
Cultivate self-awareness and emotional literacy
Apply practical stress-reduction techniques that build resilience
Culture Change Starts with Leadership
Some school leaders are already paving the way, embedding wellbeing into the fabric of school culture. But for real change, we need a shift from reactive wellness to preventative preservation. That means:
Prioritising nervous system education in professional learning
Valuing rest, boundaries, and emotional regulation as professional strengths
Recognising that wellbeing is not a luxury—it’s a necessity
Thriving Teachers, Thriving Schools
When educators are empowered to preserve their wellbeing, they don’t just survive—they thrive. They become more present, more creative, and more connected. They model regulation for students. They build stronger relationships. And they stay.
Ready to move beyond surface level-wellbeing?
In Teacher Wellbeing Transformed, I explain that self-preservation is the foundation of sustainable education. If you're a school leader, educator, or wellbeing advocate ready to move beyond surface-level wellbeing —learn more about practical strategies for self-preservation in Teacher Wellbeing Transformed.