The Balanced Teacher Path: How to Teach, Live, and Be Happy

by Justin Ashley

Award-winning teacher offers advice on achieving work-life balance and employing self-care techniques to avoid burnout.

It wasn’t long after being named North Carolina History Teacher of the year that Justin Ashley started noticing signs of burnout. He knew he needed to make some radical changes in how he handled his work and personal life. In The Balanced Teacher Path , Justin shares his personal story—illuminating how easy it is to give your job everything you’ve got and leave yourself with nothing outside of school—and shows new teachers and veterans alike the self-care techniques they can employ to create work-life balance and prevent burnout. With equal parts humor and wisdom, Justin analyzes four key aspects of every teacher’s life— career, social, physical , and financial —and offers practical advice to bring these areas into sync, reigniting a passion for teaching in the process.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2017

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justin had some great tips for how to balance being a great educator with having a happy home life. I read this book as part of a graduate class. I liked it because most of his tips are practical and easy to apply. I have specific things ready to bring into the new school year.

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read for any teacher but especially newly qualified ones.

As it is drawn on the authors real life experiences of burnout it makes it very personal and warns of common dangers teachers may experience.

The tips on how to get a good work life balance could apply to any employee but teachers especially can relate to issues such as giving too much this can be changed by trying to leave school work at school, living a healthy lifestyle with exercise, rest, having fun,giving students their best and being financially responsible being key points to renember.

Overall I would recommend this book to all teachers especially new ones who need to balance the need to forge a career as well as having a positive home life.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I will come back to again and again throughout next months and years. The author gives practical, yet not cliche advice for experienced teachers and those of us with just a year or two under our belts. Sometimes when I read “teacher books” it feels like all of the information inside of them was taught during the first year of teacher school and is a waste of time. This one is different. It reads like a conversation you’d have with a friend. Highly recommend!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, chunked chapters with strategies and ideas you can immediately apply. Trying to balance teaching and life with a husband and two small children is my theme right now, and as a starter tome or a Mentor Text, this was absolutely perfect!

[AF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed.

[Amanda Yamate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, teacher-centered (but student-focused) text about self care and success in the classroom. A quick, enjoyable read.

[Erica VanPelt Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone (not just teachers) who struggle with finding a balance between work life and home life will benefit from reading this book. It is full of ideas to make teachers' lives easier, but the strategies can easily be applied across a spectrum of professions.

[Alex Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for a PD class, particularly enjoyed the part about energy vampires because oh boy are they everywhere. I'd recommend the class and book to others.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book, and had great expectations given that Justin Ashley at the very beginning explains that seven years into his career he was in rehab for prescription-drug addiction and considering leaving teaching. With this setup, I expected Ashley to delve into the issues, but after mentioning a 4-day stint in rehab, he just launches into a series of VERY common sense prescriptions for a balanced teaching life. These can be summed up as leave school work at school, find a supportive fellow teacher friend, give your best to your students, rest and recharge with exercise, healthful eating, and fun leisure activities, and be financially responsible.

Ultimately, this book is a little too basic to be useful to experienced teachers who are facing burnout, though it might help newbies avoid it. I was left wanting more. 2.5 stars