Let’s be honest. Drama teaching isn’t just a job – it’s a full-body, full-voice, full-heart experience. You’re directing. You’re designing. You’re mentoring. You’re covering extra lessons when someone’s off sick. You’re sourcing props, navigating tricky personalities, calming nerves, keeping students safe – and sometimes doing it all with glitter in your hair and last night’s script notes still on your clipboard. That’s why it’s not indulgent to talk about how to look after yourself – it’s essential. So, here’s our Wellbeing Guide for Drama Teachers! Enjoy!
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Teaching, in general, has one of the highest burnout rates of all professions, and drama teaching comes with its own unique challenges: physical demands, emotional investment, constant public performance, and a timetable that rarely fits neatly into school hours.
According to a 2022 study by Education Support, 75% of teachers reported being stressed, with 59% saying their mental health was “poor” or “very poor”. Drama teachers often work evenings and weekends during productions, and with reduced budgets, many are doing more with fewer resources. This isn’t sustainable without care and support.
Here’s a practical, honest guide to protecting your energy, preserving your passion, and putting yourself back on your own to-do list.
1. Accept that you can’t do everything – and that’s OK
Drama teachers are used to wearing many hats. (Sometimes literally.)
But the culture of saying “yes” in schools – especially when you’re known as creative, enthusiastic and dependable – can be dangerous. The result? Exhaustion and resentment. Losing the joy in a subject you once loved.
Ask yourself:
- Do I say ‘yes’ out of guilt or fear of letting others down?
- Would I expect this workload from a colleague I care about?
A healthy boundary is not a rejection – it’s a commitment to your long-term effectiveness.
Try this:
Say no to one non-essential task this week. Delegate where you can. You’re allowed to set boundaries – and it doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you human.
“You can do anything, but not everything.” – David Allen
2. Carve out quiet time – even in a noisy school
Drama departments are alive with energy – that’s part of their magic and it’s why we love them. But amidst the lighting cues and ensemble chaos, your nervous system needs rest.
Why it matters:
Chronic overstimulation can lead to what psychologists call sensory fatigue – especially if you’re introverted, highly empathetic, or sensitive to noise. Even five minutes of quiet can reset your stress response and improve focus.
Try this:
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early and sit in silence with a coffee before students arrive
- Step outside at break, even for a brief walk. Nature is proven to lower cortisol
- Use noise-cancelling headphones when planning or marking to create a bubble of calm
Stillness is not the absence of productivity. It’s what makes productivity possible.
3. Reconnect with your own creativity
You are an artist. A storyteller. A creator.
But in the push to meet deadlines, mark mock exams, and rehearse the Year 11 scripted piece, your own creative soul can get sidelined.
Why it matters:
The Teacher Wellbeing Index notes that creative engagement reduces emotional exhaustion and increases resilience. If you’re running on empty, feeding your creativity isn’t a luxury – it’s fuel.
Ask yourself:
- When was the last time I read a play purely for pleasure?
- Have I created something just for me lately?
Try this:
Start a creative ritual – read a poem each morning, write a journal entry, sing in the car, doodle in a notebook. Creativity is not a tap that only flows for students. Let it flow for you too.
4. Make your physical health a priority
Drama teaching is physically demanding – you’re on your feet for hours, demonstrating movement, dragging staging blocks, crouching by lighting rigs.
And yet, so many drama teachers report chronic back pain, sore throats, and fatigue.
Try this:
- Stretch before and after long rehearsals – treat it like a physical warm-up
- Wear supportive shoes. Invest in your feet – they carry you all day
- Keep a water bottle in the drama studio. Hydration aids focus and vocal health
- Use a mic when needed – shouting over 100 people isn’t a badge of honour, so use the technology and save your voice
Think of yourself as a performer. You wouldn’t send an actor on stage without vocal warm-ups and proper shoes – offer yourself the same respect.
5. Build your own support cast
Drama teachers often feel isolated. You might be the only one in your department. You work in different spaces. Your day doesn’t align with classroom-based subjects.
Why it matters:
Connection reduces stress. Regular conversations with those who understand your world – your highs and frustrations – can act as a pressure release valve.
Try this:
- Join an online drama teacher group (like the Drama-Teachers.com Facebook community)
- Set up a regular coffee with a colleague you trust
- Use CPD events not just for ideas, but for connection
Find your people – and be someone else’s. We all need a support cast.
6. Plan rest into your rehearsal schedule
This one’s non-negotiable.
Without deliberate breaks, you’ll run on fumes. That “just until the show” push can become chronic stress if you’re not careful.
Try this:
- Build in rest weeks during long-term productions
- Observe proper rests and breaks in shows especially for children – they are written into law!
- Avoid rehearsals immediately after show week unless essential
- Don’t feel guilty for taking your PPA time properly – it’s not a bonus; it’s a right
Rest isn’t weak. It’s radical. And it leads to better work – for you and your students.
7. Celebrate the small wins
Amidst all the noise, it’s easy to focus on what’s still left to do – the incomplete set, the miscast role, the understudy who’s off sick again.
But celebrating what went well is a powerful act of resilience.
Try this:
- Keep a “Drama Wins” board in your planner or office wall
- Ask your students each week: What made you proud in drama this week?
- Notice moments of growth – not just performance
A quiet student speaking for the first time in front of others? That’s a win.
A Year 10 finally using vocal variation? That’s a win.
They’re not small. They’re everything.
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Final thoughts
Drama teachers are some of the most passionate, multi-skilled professionals in education. You teach courage, creativity, compassion, and sometimes, controlled chaos.
But if no one’s said it to you lately: YOU matter too.
Not just your show. Not just your grades. YOU!
So here’s your gentle, theatrical reminder:
Take care of your voice, your body, your mind, and your heart.
The stage will still be there tomorrow – and it needs you well.
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I was shocked to read that teachers have the highest burn out rate. I am a dance teacher and I love it, but yes it does take a lot of energy out of you, especially when you need to put on and organize shows, events, etc. So from this perspective I can understand why people get burnout.
I think the main reason is that people try to do everything themselves, where in actual fact there are many people who would be willing to help if you only ask them. I know it is difficult to ask for help, but it is very necessary to delegate certain tasks to reliable people to lessen the load on your plate.
Hi Michel. Thanks for reading and commenting on this post. Your input is truly appreciated. I totally agree with you about people trying to do everything themselves. That me! I’m not so good at asking for help although I know that there are people who would love to get involved. Thanks for the advice! I think it’s great.
This guide is such a timely and compassionate reminder of what so many drama teachers need to hear — and live by. Drama teaching truly is a full-body, full-heart commitment, and the emotional labour involved often goes unnoticed. I especially appreciate the honesty around setting boundaries, the importance of carving out quiet time, and reconnecting with creativity not just as educators, but as artists.
The metaphor of building your own “support cast” really resonated — drama teachers often work in isolation, and knowing that you’re not alone can make all the difference. Rest isn’t a luxury in this profession; it’s essential for sustainability and continued passion. Thank you for celebrating the humanity behind the role and reminding us that looking after ourselves is not only valid — it’s vital.
Hi Ariel. Thanks for your insightful comments on this article. I’m glad that you found it useful and helpful. I agree that we all need our support cast otherwise we end up ill and in a bad place, and then we can jeopardise the entire production/exam/class. Hopefully, you can take some time out yourself and prioritise your own wellbeing.