Teaching Game Changers: How Deleting Work Apps Can Prevent Teacher Burnout

Oct 1, 2025

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Kas

Removing Emails & Apps From Personal Devices.

Our phone has become a tool that we all carry every day. As teachers, our personal device often doubles as a work device. We use it to access emails on the go, stay contactable during school hours for admin or office updates (like when a student is leaving early), and even for checklists or calling parents after school. It’s a necessary tool that helps us stay efficient and on top of our daily tasks.

At the start of my career, like many teachers, I was burning the candle at both ends. I was extremely passionate (I still am just in a healthier way now) and eager to learn and do my job well. Like most early career teachers, I relied on my phone for emails, checklists, and admin tasks when I wasn’t at my laptop. The problem was, that meant I was always receiving updates from colleagues and messages from parents at all hours. Seeing notifications pop up made me want to read them, which meant school was constantly on my mind, even outside of work.

The issue with this is subtle: burnout and stress creep up slowly, sometimes over years. Research from the Australian Catholic University (2023) found that more than 70% of teachers report feeling stressed by constant digital communication outside school hours. We break good habits without realizing it, and before long, messages, notifications, and tasks consume our attention beyond our paid hours. While this didn’t drastically damage my life, it did stop me from properly switching off and being fully present with the people around me. We all know how critical it is to recharge and enjoy life outside of work in order to be healthy people and outstanding teachers. I’ve also learned how important it is to not constantly dwell on work related issues, many times if not every time I have had a mental break from a work situation or task that needed to be done, I always return with a clearer mind and always a better solution or idea. I always wondered why many people who train understand our bodies and muscles need rest in order to recover so we can train again. Yet we never take that same approach with our mind. We expect to push 110% every day without any rest. Once I understood how important the mental peace was, my perspective on everything changed.

About a year ago, I made the decision to delete email and all work-related apps from my phone. It was daunting at first, thinking I wouldn’t have instant access to information, but I quickly realised it didn’t affect my ability to do my job at all. Everything I needed could be done during work hours on my school laptop. What it did do was remove constant distracting notifications outside of work. It gave me mental peace and allowed me to be present with my actual life, friends and family. Even better, I realised that seeing emails earlier wasn’t actually useful, I couldn’t respond until I was at school anyway. Often, I could even save time by just chatting directly with the person rather than sending a reply.

The benefits outside of work were huge. I stopped constantly checking for notifications, colleagues and families adjusted their expectations in terms when I would respond and I no longer felt pressured to respond during dinner or downtime. A Beyond Blue (2020) survey found that teachers who don’t set boundaries with technology are 1.5 times more likely to report high stress levels, which I could absolutely relate to. It also made me more respectful of others’ boundaries; by not emailing after hours, I wasn’t pushing work into their personal time either. This is also incredibly important, as we are all part of a school- have a part to play in the culture of that school. If we contribute to contacting our colleagues outside of work hours that places an expectation and pressure on them to do the same. That is not fair. This is an important realisation I had to make, and something I encourage you all to understand.

Over time, bad habits can leave us drained and exhausted. That’s why boundaries matter. In 2025, Australia introduced national “Right to Disconnect” legislation, following similar moves in France and Ireland, which gives employees the legal right to ignore work communications outside paid hours (Fair Work Ombudsman, 2025). It’s a great initiative, but it also comes down to us doing our part. Deleting work emails from my phone was one small change that made a big difference for my wellbeing, my relationships, and ultimately, my teaching.

We work in a very unique profession where we build strong relationships with our students, their parents, and our colleagues. We play a part in their safety, wellbeing, and education, and because of this we often feel a strong sense of guilt if we’re not available 24/7. Of course, there will be times when it’s necessary to send emails or use apps outside of work hours especially in roles that involve a lot of pastoral care and wellbeing. But even when I was in similar roles, those moments were rare and shouldn’t be the reason we create unhealthy work habits.

You can care deeply for your students, be amazing at your job, stay organised, punctual, and reliable and still set fair, transparent boundaries that separate work from personal life. Doing so allows you to be fully present with your loved ones and enjoy life outside of school.

3 Practical Tips to Protect Your Wellbeing

If you’re considering making a similar change, here are three evidence-based strategies to support you:

Set Digital Boundaries with Clear Availability Times

Research shows that constant connectivity increases stress and prevents proper recovery from work. Setting “cut-off times” improves sleep and reduces burnout. Try using an email auto-reply after hours (e.g., “I check emails between 8am-4pm on school days. For urgent matters, please contact the school office”).

Prioritise Recovery Activities Outside of Work

Teacher wellbeing reports highlight that those who schedule regular recovery activities like exercise, social connection, or hobbies are more resilient to stress. Treat these as non-negotiables in your week, just like you would a staff meeting.

Model Healthy Boundaries for Students and Colleagues

Schools that normalise balance and wellbeing practices see healthier staff cultures. By letting others know you only respond during work hours, you not only protect yourself but also set a positive example for students learning about healthy work habits.

Overcoming Teacher Burnout: Why Small, Consistent Changes Matter

There are countless factors that contribute to teacher stress and add to the already demanding day to day tasks of our roles. While the strategies shared here aren’t new and chances are you’ve heard of many before I deeply encourage you to actually try them. Or try something. Even adopting a strategy that a colleague or your workplace uses can make a real difference.

If there’s one thing to take away from this article, it’s this: the strategies to reduce teacher burnout and workload stress do work but not overnight. Like many teachers, I spent years reading articles and resources on how to manage burnout, reduce workload, and improve wellbeing. But it wasn’t until I implemented those strategies and committed to creating healthier habits that I noticed real change. Just like burnout doesn’t happen overnight it builds slowly over time through compounding factors positive change works the same way. The results come gradually, often after weeks or even months of sticking to your new boundaries and routines.

So start today. Small, consistent steps toward balance and wellbeing can make a lasting impact. Teacher burnout is real, but with intention and persistence, recovery and sustainability are absolutely possible.

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