The Time Management Hacks Every Teacher Needs (But Few Know About)

LIZ BARTLETT
Nov 22, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Nov 22

Teacher writing a to-do-list using time management strategies.

“A calm teacher isn’t someone with endless hours — just someone who learns to honour the ones they have.” - The Quiet Teacher

There’s a moment at the start of every school day that feels almost sacred. The lights are soft, the classroom still. Nothing has yet asked for your attention, and the world hasn’t pulled you into its noise. There’s simply space — and possibility.

And then the day begins.

A dozen small tasks call your name before 9am. A parent wants a quick conversation. A student needs quiet support. Leadership drops in. An email pings with something “urgent.” Your to-do list grows before you’ve even taken a full breath.

If this sounds familiar, please know: there is nothing wrong with you. You are not behind. You are not failing. You’re simply teaching in a profession where the workload outpaces the hours.

Time management for teachers isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about honouring your energy, simplifying your choices, and creating quiet structure around the parts of your day that matter most.

Here are three gentle, research-informed practices that can restore clarity and calm to your week.

Understanding Time Management for Teachers

Many teachers don’t struggle because they lack strategies. They struggle because everything feels important all at once. This next section will help soften that load — with clarity instead of pressure.

1. The ABC Method: Prioritising with Purpose and Ease

Most to-do lists don’t soothe us — they overwhelm us. The ABC Method brings gentle clarity back into your day.

A-Tasks: Essential and Time-Sensitive

These tasks directly impact your teaching tomorrow or your students’ wellbeing today. Examples include planning tomorrow’s lesson, preparing a required assessment, or responding to an urgent wellbeing need.

B-Tasks: Important, But Not Urgent

These tasks matter but aren’t time-critical. Think updating a display, improving a resource, or prepping long-term units.

C-Tasks: Optional Enhancements

These tasks feel satisfying, but they don’t move your teaching forward in essential ways. Examples include reorganising your desk, browsing Pinterest for ideas, or colour-coding files.

A Quiet Teacher Way to Use This Method

Instead of writing a massive list, pause. Label each task A, B, or C. Then — commit to completing A-tasks only. This reduces emotional clutter and frees your nervous system from urgency.

Reflective Questions

What truly needs my attention today?
What would shift if I protected my A-tasks and allowed the rest to wait?

2. The Pomodoro Technique: Working With Your Nervous System

Traditional productivity advice assumes we’re machines. Teachers know better.

We work in emotionally dynamic environments — absorbing feelings, managing behaviours, and making countless decisions. That’s why the Pomodoro Technique works so well for teachers.

How It Works

25 minutes focused work
5 minutes rest
After four cycles, take a longer break

Why It Supports Teachers

It reduces overwhelm by creating manageable chunks. It makes starting easier (“just 25 minutes”). It restores clarity through small pauses and protects your energy by working with — not against — your nervous system.

If 25 minutes feels like too much, start with 10. Gentle consistency matters more than intensity.

Reflective Questions

Where could I place just one Pomodoro cycle in my day?
What shifts when I work in rhythm rather than pressure?

3. Time-Blocking: Creating Structure for a Calmer Day

Time-blocking transforms scattered days into steady ones. Instead of reacting constantly, you assign blocks of time for specific tasks. This prevents multitasking and anchors your day with clearer rhythms.

Before-School Example

8:00–8:15 — Check emails
8:15–8:30 — Prepare morning work
8:30–8:50 — Set up resources
8:50–9:00 — A moment to breathe

After-School Example

3:00–3:30 — Marking
3:30–4:00 — Planning
4:00–4:15 — Prep tomorrow’s resources
4:15 onwards — Home, rest, life

Time-blocking isn’t rigid. It’s permission — permission to focus, to shift, to end your day without carrying everything home in your mind.

Reflective Questions

What part of my day feels the most scattered?
How might time-blocking help me feel less rushed and more grounded?

A Gentle Reminder About Teacher Time-Management

You don’t need to master every strategy or overhaul your routines. Just choose one. Let it settle. Observe what shifts.

Time management for teachers isn’t about controlling every minute. It’s about reclaiming the ones that nourish you.

You deserve spaciousness. You deserve clarity. You deserve a teaching life that feels human.

A Soft Invitation

🌿If you’re craving steadiness, clarity, and calm systems you can actually use, join The Quiet Teacher newsletter — a weekly moment of grounding to help you teach with less rush and more presence. It’s a gentle space for teachers who want to work in alignment, not urgency.