Ask any teacher what they need more of — and chances are, the answer is time.

Time to plan.
Time to support students.
Time to rest and recharge.

And yet, according to the National Education Association, most teachers work more than 50 hours a week, significantly more than the average U.S. adult (NEA, 2023). Meanwhile, data from Education Week shows that even experienced teachers are overwhelmed by administrative tasks, meetings, and last-minute demands that crowd out the very work they were hired to do.

The result? Rising stress levels, burnout, and a growing exodus from the profession. And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: When teachers are time-starved, students feel it too.

The Hidden Cost of Overwhelm

We often frame time management as a personal issue—something teachers just need to “get better at.” But research suggests that burnout and time pressure are systemic issues that require organizational support, not just personal willpower.

A 2024 Pew Research study found that over 60% of teachers say they don’t have enough time during the school day to prepare lessons or collaborate with colleagues. And more than half say their workload is unsustainable.

What’s more: teacher stress doesn’t stop with teachers. A study featured in Education Week found that students in high-stress classrooms are more likely to experience anxiety, disengagement, and behavioral challenges.

“Time isn’t just a logistical concern. It’s a wellness issue,” says Angela Watson, veteran educator and founder of Truth for Teachers. “When teachers reclaim their time, they reclaim their ability to be present — for their students and for themselves.”

It’s Not About Doing More — It’s About Doing What Matters

So what can schools do to help?

Angela Watson, author of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek, believes the solution lies in shifting the narrative. Instead of pushing teachers to be more efficient so they can fit more in, we need to help them focus on what matters most — and let go of what doesn’t.

In her upcoming live-virtual RocketPD cohort, Unlocking Teacher Productivity, Angela guides educators through a process of identifying priorities, creating simple systems, and building healthier boundaries that support both performance and well-being.

Some of the strategies include:

• Using tech tools to automate repetitive tasks
  Establishing “focus blocks” for deep planning
  Letting go of perfectionism and embracing “good enough”
  Creating team-wide templates to reduce decision fatigue

“Productivity isn’t about hustle — it’s about clarity,” Watson explains. “The goal is not to do more. It’s to do what only you can do, and make peace with the rest.”