When you’re training to be a teacher, managing your time effectively is essential. With so many tasks to juggle — lesson planning, marking, studying, and balancing personal commitments — having a solid time management strategy can make a huge difference.
We’ve put together our top time management tips to help you stay organised and make the most of your time.
Prioritise tasks
Figuring out your priorities is a great place to start when trying to manage your time. Your mentor is there to support you and can guide you through this to help you best prioritise.
Together, you can think about which tasks are most urgent and important, and tackle those first. For example, if you have an upcoming parents’ evening, then preparation for that would take priority.
Create a schedule
A well-structured schedule will be your lifeline when managing a busy workload.
Take some time to plan your week and map out your teaching duties and personal commitments.
Tools like Microsoft Outlook or Google Calendar are great to help you stay on top of things and set reminders. Many teachers will also print a small copy of their timetable and attach it to the back of their ID badge. It’s a handy tool which allows you to keep track of your schedule on the go without having to memorise anything.
Avoid procrastination
Procrastination will be one of your biggest barriers to effective time management. Techniques like the Pomodoro method — which involves working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break — can help you stay focused and productive.
Dedicating each 25-minute chunk to different tasks or smaller parts of a larger task can be especially helpful in breaking down overwhelming projects.
For example, you could use a Pomodoro session to focus solely on writing feedback for your classes homework or to tackle a specific part of your lesson planning.
Set realistic goals
It’s very normal to feel overwhelmed by all your tasks when training to be a teacher. It can help to break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
For example, rather than planning for an entire term of lessons, break it down by topic or week by week.
Doing this will make each task feel less daunting and give you a sense of achievement at each stage.
Use planning tools
Make use of planning tools like to-do lists, planners, or apps like Microsoft OneNote, Trello and Asana. These apps can help you to break down your larger tasks and projects.
They allow you to organise tasks, set deadlines, and track your progress — most of them also have integrated priority setters to help you focus on what’s most important.
Use shared resources
Teachers don’t need to build resources from scratch. You can find them in your school’s shared drives, as well as from trusted online sources like BBC Bitesize and United Teaching curriculum.
You can also find resources from TES and Twinkl, which may require paid subscriptions. Just make sure to fact check content found online.
Ask for support
Asking for help shouldn’t be something to shy away from, especially in a teaching environment.
If there are tasks you are struggling to start or finding difficult, it's okay to look for some assistance, whether it’s asking your mentor for guidance or utilising online tools – it's always worth asking.
Reflect and adjust
Make time at the end of each week to reflect on what went well and where you could improve. Time management isn’t a skill you can master overnight; it develops with practice.
Be open to adjusting your approach as and when necessary. For example, if you find that planning a weeks’ lesson in one go isn’t working for you, try figuring out a periodical structure that is more efficient.
Regular reflection will help you refine your strategies and improve your overall efficiency over time.
Take care of yourself
It’s important to remember that time management isn’t just about work, it’s also about making time for yourself.
While your schedule may be busy, try to make the most of your free time. Use those moments to go outside or engage in hobbies that you enjoy.
If you have a few minutes between classes, step outside for some fresh air or do a quick mindfulness exercise. Dedicate some time in the evenings and at the weekends to activities that help you unwind. These small breaks can significantly reduce stress and boost your overall wellbeing.
At United Teaching, we share the Action for Happiness calendar with our trainees every month to encourage self-care, mindfulness and appreciation of the little things. These will all help you in your teacher training and beyond.