How Do I Boost Staff Wellbeing Without Adding More to My Plate?

 
 
 

Written by Andrew Murray, former Principal and Director, Lumina Consulting

I hear this often from school leaders. And I get it. As a former principal, it can be hard to know what to do without falling into the yoga-and-morning-tea trap. While those things can be nice, they often feel like a band-aid rather than a real solution. The good news? Supporting staff wellbeing doesn’t mean adding more—it means doing things better.

By making small but strategic shifts in how your team works, you can reduce burnout, improve productivity, and create a school culture where people feel valued and energised. When staff feel supported, they are not only more engaged, but they also bring their best selves to work, leading to stronger teams and better outcomes for students.

The Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Survey (2023) highlights that school leaders are struggling under immense workloads, with over 56% of them seriously considering leaving their jobs. While the pressures of leadership are undeniable, there are practical, meaningful ways to improve wellbeing while keeping productivity, engagement, and high performance front and centre. Here are three things that actually make a difference:

Three Meaningful Strategies for Staff Wellbeing

1. Identify Inefficiencies in Systems and Processes

Unnecessary admin, unclear procedures, and repetitive tasks drain energy and time. Research shows that having a sense of purpose and control at work is critical for wellbeing. Successful school leadership thrives when leaders treat schools as adaptive ecosystems, reducing inefficiencies and promoting collaboration.

Take a look at what’s slowing your staff down—what can be streamlined, automated, or scrapped altogether? Even small changes, like reducing redundant paperwork or tweaking approval processes, can lower stress levels and free up energy for meaningful work.

Think about tasks that consistently frustrate staff. Is there a better way to handle them? Can technology help? Even something as simple as clarifying expectations around emails or paperwork can create a noticeable shift in stress levels.

2. Use Time Blocking—and Protect It

Before you pack the calendar with meetings (or, in schools, teaching time), make sure staff have dedicated time for deep work—ideally, a two-hour block. Studies on leadership ecosystems (Hudson & Gurr, 2024) highlight how uninterrupted work time boosts cognitive function and prevents burnout. Schools move fast, but prioritising deep work time sends a clear message: focus matters. When staff feel in control of their workload, they get more done and feel less overwhelmed.

Leaders can take this one step further by reinforcing the importance of focus time at all levels of the school. If possible, avoid scheduling meetings back-to-back and encourage staff to create their own protected work blocks.

3. Encourage Frequent, Short Breaks

A quick 3-5 minute break can sharpen focus, prevent burnout, and increase productivity. The Weaving Circle Model for Systemic Impact in Education (Diaz-Gibson et al., 2021) shows that well-timed micro-breaks help people regulate stress and perform at their best. Simple things like stretching, getting fresh air, or stepping away from a screen can make a huge difference. Leaders should model this—if you take small breaks, your team will feel encouraged to do the same.

The 2023 ACU Wellbeing Survey underscores that burnout and stress among school leaders remain at crisis levels, yet simple interventions—such as fostering a workplace culture where short breaks are normalised—can improve resilience and overall job satisfaction.

Consider making short breaks a visible, encouraged part of your workplace culture. Instead of expecting staff to push through fatigue, normalise stepping away for a moment to reset. Even encouraging staff to walk between meetings or step outside during lunch can make a significant impact.

Improving staff wellbeing isn’t about adding another initiative—it’s about working smarter. When you focus on efficiency, protect deep work time, and normalise breaks, you create a culture where people thrive, not just survive. Small shifts like these don’t just help your staff—they create a healthier, more sustainable workplace for everyone.

At the end of the day, staff wellbeing is about designing a workplace where people can do their best work without feeling constantly drained. When leaders take a proactive approach, everyone benefits.

Want to learn more about how to embed these strategies in your school? Join me at the Wellbeing for Future Focused Schools Conference, where I'll share practical, research-backed approaches to help school leaders and staff thrive—without burnout.

📍 Brisbane: 31 July - 1 August 2025 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

📍 Melbourne: 28 - 29 August 2025 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Extra Reading

  • Hudson, C., & Gurr, D. (2024). Leading an Australian school towards an ecosystem for learning and flourishing. Journal of Professional Capital and Community.

  • VanderWeele, T. J. (2023). Harvard Human Flourishing Program Research. Harvard University.

  • Dicke, T., Kidson, P., & Marsh, H. (2024). The Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey. Australian Catholic University.

 
Darshana Amarsi