Why is it so hard to switch off?
As big-hearted educators, we carry so much home with us.
Not just the work, but the people, the pressure, the responsibility.
And even when the school day is over, it still lingers.
The mental load. The constant hum of thinking, planning, and anticipating.
We tell ourselves we’ll rest once the reports are done, when things settle down, when the next break arrives.
In this week’s episode of The School of Wellbeing podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Helen Kelly, a global expert in school leader wellbeing and author of School Leaders Matter: Preventing Burnout, Managing Stress and Improving Wellbeing.
Helen brings a rare blend of research, leadership experience and deep empathy to this conversation and she doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of school life. Instead, she offers clarity, practical tools and gentle encouragement to start doing things differently.
What You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Why switching off is such a challenge in education.
- The emotional and physical toll of always being “on”.
- The cultural expectations that fuel overworking.
- How guilt, identity and responsibility keep us stuck.
- The signs of chronic stress and burnout.
- Practical ways to build boundaries and recovery into your everyday life.
Who Is Dr Helen Kelly?
Dr Helen Kelly is a school wellbeing researcher, speaker, and consultant with over fifteen years of experience as a school principal in Asia and Europe. She’s internationally recognised for her work on leader wellbeing and burnout prevention, and is passionate about helping schools create cultures where both staff and students can thrive.
Why This Conversation Matters
If you care deeply, carry a lot and find it hard to stop, this episode is for you. It’s for the moments when you feel stretched too thin but keep going anyway. When switching off feels uncomfortable or even wrong. When the lines between who you are and what you do start to blur. Dr Helen Kelly reminds us that switching off is not a luxury. It is necessary. And most importantly, it is a skill that supports not only our wellbeing but also the wellbeing of the people we teach, lead, and love.
You can quote us on that…
“What we need to do is try to break that cycle of compulsive behaviour.”
Dr Helen Kelly
“All of these kinds of behaviours that we get trapped into, plus the guilt, cause us to push ourselves too hard and not take the time that we need to recover properly.”
Dr Helen Kelly
Contact
Dr Helen Kelly – Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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Hi, I'm Meg!
B.Phys Ed, M. Ed (Student Wellbeing), CIPP
I’m a teacher with experience working in primary and secondary schools across Australia, and a specialist in the field of wellbeing education and coaching. I founded Open Mind Education in 2013 with a vision of sharing practical, enriching wellbeing education with staff, parents, and broader school communities.
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