In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by Bob Benson, a former secondary headteacher and now coach and consultant, to explore a deeply embedded belief in education: that strong leadership means pushing through, coping silentlyand toughing it out.

Drawing on lived experience, Bob reflects on the pressures of headship and how ongoing stress can quietly change who we are, pulling us away from the kindness and values that brought us into education.

Together, we unpack the realities of school life, constant reactivity, emotional labour and long hours and question the idea that being busy or visible equals being effective.

We also explore emotional honesty in leadership, the balance between vulnerability and oversharing and practical ways leaders can protect their wellbeing and model healthier boundaries.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why “toughing it out” is often confused with strength in education
• How leadership pressure can quietly reshape behaviour and identity
• The impact of stress on empathy, kindness, and decision-making
• Why emotional intelligence becomes harder but more vital in busy schools
• The difference between being busy and being effective
• How leaders can model healthier ways of working without guilt
• Why sustainable leadership matters for the future of the profession

Key Message

Toughing it out is not what makes leaders strong.Self-awareness, kindness and courageous boundary-setting are what sustain people and schools over time.

If you’re a leader or teacher feeling the pressure to keep going at all costs, this episode offers reassurance that doing things differently isn't a weakness, it's leadership.

Connect with Bob Benson:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bob-benson1educator.

Follow me on:

1. Instagram: @rowenaphicks

2. Facebook: Rowena Hicks

3. Linked In: Rowena Hicks

Email me: authorrowenahicks@gmail.com

Visit my website for Books, Journals, Free Community and lots of other interesting stuff: www.rowenahicks.com

In this reflective and honest solo episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I talk openly about vulnerability, near-burnout, and what it has taken for me to finally slow down as 2025 comes to an end.

Inspired by Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability as courage, this episode explores how even positive things like building a business, publishing a book, pursuing passion projects can quietly push us back into old patterns of overworking, people-pleasing, and trying to prove our worth. I share how recognising those patterns early helped me step back before burning out again.

This episode is for teachers, leaders and anyone who feels driven to keep going, even when their body and mind are asking them to stop.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why vulnerability is not weakness, but a form of courage
• How passion and purpose can still lead to burnout if we ignore our limits
• The warning signs that show up when old habits return
• Why rest is more than sleep and what real rest actually looks like
• How learning to truly switch your brain off creates clarity and creativity
• Why prioritising yourself isn’t selfish, even when it feels uncomfortable
• The role of boundaries, saying no, and protecting your energy
• How imposter syndrome and the need to prove ourselves keep us stuck
• Why finding safe people and places matters more than ever
• How small, intentional positives help us and our teams thrive

Key Message

You don’t need to keep proving yourself to be worthy.

Rest is not failure.

Vulnerability is not weakness.

When we slow down, listen to ourselves, and choose to do things differently, we protect our wellbeing and create the conditions to show up with greater clarity, compassion

Follow me on:

1. Instagram: @rowenaphicks

2. Facebook: Rowena Hicks

3. Linked In: Rowena Hicks

Email me: authorrowenahicks@gmail.com

Visit my website for Books, Journals, Free Community and lots of other interesting stuff: www.rowenahicks.com and purpose for the people around us.

In this episode of Beat Teacher Burnout, I’m joined by George Athanasiou, former headteacher and wellbeing consultant, for a powerful conversation about why so many educators are overwhelmed and what we can realistically do about it.

George talks openly about the exhaustion sweeping through schools, the guilt that keeps teachers pushing past their limits, and the pressure leaders face in trying to support everyone while barely holding themselves together. We explore how burnout builds slowly, why self-care must start with basic regulation like breathing and rest, and how mindset shifts only work once the body feels safe again.

George introduces simple but impactful strategies for protecting energy: taking genuine breaks, saying “no” without guilt, focusing on what actually matters, and finding small moments of creativity to reconnect with the joy of teaching. His Cha Cha Cha framework Children, Choice and Challenge offers a beautifully simple way to plan lessons that feel purposeful rather than draining.

We also discuss the role of technology and AI in reducing workload and bringing back the spark of creativity that many teachers feel they’ve lost.

This conversation is honest, practical and deeply human, a reminder that thriving isn’t selfish, it’s essential. And sometimes, the first step really is as simple as one breath, one boundary or one small act of kindness toward yourself.

Connect with George Athanasiou

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgeeducationalconsultant

Website: https://www.educationalconsultancy.net/

Follow me on:

1. Instagram: @rowenaphicks

2. Facebook: Rowena Hicks

3. Linked In: Rowena Hicks

Email me: authorrowenahicks@gmail.com

Visit my website for Books, Journals, Free Community and lots of other interesting stuff: www.rowenahicks.co