Surviving the October Half-Term: 3 Things to Stop Doing and 3 to Keep

It’s that time of term when coffee cups multiply, lesson plans blur together, and every teacher seems to be counting the days. The first half of the school year always starts with good intentions, but somewhere around week six or seven, the energy dips. That’s normal, and surviving it isn’t about pushing harder, but pacing smarter.

Many UK teachers search every October for ways to manage burnout, reduce workload, and get through the half-term crunch with their wellbeing intact.

With half-term just around the corner, classrooms across the UK are buzzing with equal parts excitement and exhaustion. The finish line is in sight, but the last stretch before the break can feel like a marathon.

There are assessments to mark, parents to email, plans to finalise, and students who are just as ready for a rest as you are. If you’re running on fumes right now, you’re not alone. The October half-term crunch is real. But with a few small mindset shifts, you can end this half-term lighter, not more overwhelmed.

3 Things to Stop Doing

1. Stop chasing perfection

Every lesson, worksheet, and email doesn’t need to be flawless. Good enough really is enough this week. The goal is to get everyone to half-term in one piece, not to win Teacher of the Year for laminated displays.

Students won’t remember the color of your slides, but they’ll remember how you made them feel seen and supported. That’s what matters.

2. Stop reinventing every resource

If you’ve already taught this topic, reuse what worked. If a colleague has a great resource, borrow it. You don’t need to start from scratch, especially when time and energy are running low.

3. Stop saying yes to everything

You don’t have to take on every extra task or stay late every night. Protect your time. The world won’t collapse if you leave a few non-urgent emails for after the break.

3 Things to Keep Doing

1. Keep your boundaries clear

Clock off when you said you would. Step outside for fresh air at lunch. You’ll be a better teacher when you return if you’ve actually rested.

2. Keep small wins visible

Half-term isn’t just an endpoint. It’s proof of what you’ve achieved so far. Look back on the lessons that clicked, the student who finally grasped a concept, the laughter that filled your classroom. Those moments matter.

3. Use tools that lighten the load

When your energy is stretched thin, let technology take on some of the busy work. Dolly’s AI-powered lesson template, marking support, and report comments can help you finish faster and breathe easier heading into the break.

Instead of spending your evenings chasing paperwork, you can use them to actually rest. One teacher told us Dolly helped her finish her weekly marking in half the usual time, meaning an actual Friday evening to herself.

A Calm Finish Before the Break

You’ve made it through the longest stretch of the term. That’s no small thing. As half-term approaches, give yourself permission to ease off the gas a little. Focus on what matters most: your students, your sanity, and your well-deserved time off.

And if you’re ready to lighten the load even further, see how Dolly can help you skip the paperwork and start your break feeling human again.