The First Weeks: Staying Grounded While Settling In

Soojin Kim• December 9, 2025• 3 min read

The countdown is on.
In just a week, the school bell rings again.

Whether this is your first September or your fifteenth, the final stretch of August always feels the same: part anticipation, part anxiety, part “do I even remember how to do this?”

The truth is, you don’t need to start this term at full speed.
You just need to start grounded — with clarity, calm, and a bit of compassion for yourself.

As teachers prepare for the first week back to school, staying grounded and protecting your wellbeing matters just as much as planning and classroom setup.

Here are five reminders to hold onto as you prepare for the return to school in September.

Infographic titled ‘5 Reminders for a Gentle Start in September,’ listing tips for teachers on easing into the new school year with calm, clarity, and support.

1. Your Classroom Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect — Just Functional

Pinterest classrooms are nice. But your students don’t need perfection. They need presence.

This week, focus on the basics:

  • Can learning happen comfortably?

  • Can your students feel safe and welcomed?

If yes, you’re ready. The rest can grow with time.

2. Stick to Three Priorities Per Day

Back-to-school weeks are full of noise: Meetings, new names, tech hiccups, policy updates.

Instead of trying to “do it all,” pick three things each day that actually matter to you.

Maybe it’s:

  • Connecting with each student

  • Establishing calm routines

  • Getting through the first staff meeting with your sanity intact

Ground your energy where it counts.

3. You Don’t Need to Feel Confident — Yet

That nervous flutter in your chest? It’s not a sign of failure. It’s a sign you care.
Confidence will catch up as the days settle in.

Give yourself space to warm up.
You don’t have to walk in as your “Week 6 self” on Day 1.

4. Rest Is a Strategy, Not a Reward

Resist the urge to sprint through the first week.
Set your pace now — before the adrenaline wears off.

  • Plan a midweek early finish

  • Block out one weekend afternoon for nothing

  • Make “good enough” your first week motto

Sustainability starts here.

5. Let Your Tools Do Some of the Work

Not everything needs to be handcrafted from scratch this year.

Actual working page of Dolly AI Assignment Assistant Feature

Dolly AI was built with real UK teachers to help you:

  • Cut down planning time

  • Streamline student feedback

  • Generate engaging assignments

  • And most importantly — protect your time

Because you teach better when you’re not running on empty.

You’re Not Behind. You’re Right on Time.

The quiet week before term is a chance to ease in, not hustle harder.

And when you’re ready to share the load, Dolly AI will be here — built to support teachers who want to do meaningful work without sacrificing their evenings.

👉 Join Dolly for early access discount today

👉 Or follow us on LinkedIn or Official Blog Channel to see how UK teachers are using Dolly to lighten their load — especially when it matters mos