Be Like Chris: Build Community, Create Connections, and Achieve Work-Life Balance Teaching in Thailand

“You can’t do a good job if your job is all you do.”

A very warm welcome back to all our hard-working teachers, and indeed to all within the BFITS community, as we begin another year. I hope that everybody had a pleasant break and is feeling reenergized as we tackle another busy but rewarding year. I especially want to welcome any of our new teachers and trust that you are adapting well as you begin your teaching journey here in Thailand.

This year will be full of challenges and opportunities, and as always, support here within the company will be readily available. Together, we are stronger, and I predict that once we approach the year with enthusiasm and determination, we can all achieve great things for ourselves and our students.

Teaching in Thailand: Growth Beyond the Classroom

There is great potential for professional development here in Thailand, but what I want to address in my first blog of this year is another aspect of our time here, one that is also extremely important, and that is trying to achieve a healthy work-life balance and separating our work lives from our home ones.

Understanding Work-Life Balance While Teaching in Thailand

The concept of work-life balance has become intrinsic to discussions about mental health, workplace efficiency, and overall quality of life, particularly in the post-COVID years we now live in. How should we define what work-life balance is, and why is it important?

First, the definition. It is just that, the balance between the time one dedicates to their workplace responsibilities against the time and energy spent on personal endeavours, be they family, hobbies, or social activities.

Getting this balance right is essential to maintaining your own physical and mental health. I myself have been guilty of overworking at times, partly because I feel most comfortable and, frankly, happy, in my workplace. That is not always admirable, and I am still trying daily to establish a balance that is good for me.

When Balance Is Lost: The Cost of Overworking

Let’s look at some of the negative results of not getting the balance correct. It can lead to anxiety, sleep disorders, and a number of other negative health issues. An article in The Guardian newspaper stated how “work-life balance is now more important than pay for employees worldwide.”

The COVID pandemic led workers worldwide to reevaluate their relationships with their jobs and seek greater equilibrium in their lives. Some countries have discussed establishing a 4-day working week, while others have allowed greater flexibility for working from home.

Of course, as teachers, especially in Thailand, this is not a realistic option for us, so we need to learn to switch off when we can.

Finding Support Through the BFITS Community

Here at BFITS, a number of groups have been formed on the Line app to support our mental health and to establish connections among teachers living and working in different parts of the country. There is the BFITS Wellness Network, established to support and promote a healthy lifestyle. It aims to inspire and motivate all those in the group to improve their mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

We also have a BFITS Travelers Network group, which offers travel tips to those who wish to explore Thailand further during weekends or holidays, or even overseas territories during longer school breaks.

As someone who likes to travel as much as possible, I enjoy getting advice on the best hostels, tours, and other things to learn from those with firsthand experience.

Building Connection Beyond the Classroom

A group I have been largely responsible for is our BFITS Premier League Fantasy Football group. It is a free-to-play game where you select a fictional team of actual football players in the English Premier League and act as the team’s owner, general manager, and coach. The squad of players you select numbers 1,5 and you have a budget of £100 million with which to select your squad.

The league season runs from August to May, so we are nearing the end of our current league campaign. It has generated strong interest among football fans at the company in particular, but all are welcome to play, and, as I said before, it is free. This year, we have over 20 players and hope the league grows next season with new additions.

Please contact Marc Tubelleja or me if you would like to join in for the next season. I will send out a reminder email closer to the time. Also, BFITS has kindly offered prize money to those who do well in the league, giving them that competitive edge.

These are a selection of the groups now active within the company, but if you have any ideas for a group you would be interested in forming, then please do not hesitate to get it off the ground, as there will doubtless be people receptive to most suggestions. We are a diverse group.

Setting Healthy Boundaries as a Teacher

These groups can act like a pressure switch at times, but it is vitally important that we have other things in our lives that help us unwind at the right time. What, for example, are the characteristics of a healthy work-life balance?

I would suggest that, firstly, and maybe most importantly, setting boundaries. This involves making clear boundaries between work-related activities and our own personal space and time. In most cases, the two should not overlap whenever possible.

A small thing to mention: I am not signed into my work Gmail account on my phone. I have a laptop that I use exclusively for work, and on that laptop is the only space where I conduct emails, messages, grading, etc. Of course, I do have Line on my phone, and every now and then I will receive a work-related message there, but largely it is a bit more unofficial than email, let’s say.

I try not to bring my work home. If that means staying in the office to do some grading an hour later than usual, I would much prefer that to having to continue working at home, if at all possible. Of course, there can be exceptions, such as at busy times of the year approaching exams, but it is still a general rule I try to keep to.

Time Management and Staying Organised

Additionally, time management is incredibly important for effectively organising and prioritising your tasks each week. This includes planning and having a clear idea of what it is you wish to achieve each week in your classes.

I keep a school diary for each class, noting what we have done each day, whether I have assigned work, how much work I may have assigned, and the timeframe I have given my students to submit that work. It helps me keep on top of my classes and see where I stand with each one, in terms of what we have covered and what we have yet to do.

I feel with this system that I never fall behind, as such, and that it allows me peace of mind in this regard. The old adage ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ can be as useful to us teachers as it can be to our students at times. Effective time management will obviously give you more space and time to pursue personal goals.

Stress Management, Health, and Lifestyle

Of course, it should be noted that a healthy work-life balance can differ from person to person, as we are all different, with our own personalities and preferences. What is right for me may not necessarily be right for somebody else, and vice versa.

Stress management is another skill that we should try to manage. The vast majority of teachers do it because they love it and see it as a calling they’ve followed. 95% of my days are good, but I’m also human and will, of course, have bad days when things don’t go to plan or the students are being particularly uncooperative.

I have noticed that among the colleagues I have worked with here, Muay Thai is very popular. Many of the teachers I have seen here tend to partake in this, and if not, at the very least, attend a gym regularly. The gym offers obvious physical benefits, but the release of endorphins also helps reduce stress and boost mood.

Gym membership in Buriram typically costs about 1,000 Thai Baht per month, making it a worthwhile investment for those inclined towards exercise.

Living Well While Teaching Abroad

We all have different ways that we like to unwind, but I think just trying to live a healthy lifestyle, even in terms of just diet alone, can be extremely beneficial. We have a selection of some of the best fruit in the world here at a fraction of the cost most of us would pay back home.

Community, Purpose, and Life Beyond Work

Truth be told, we do need more to our lives here than just work. Of course, take pride in what you do, in your appearance, and in how you speak and treat people. Those things matter. Be the best teacher you can be.

Somebody once advised me that you should never say no to anything when you live in a foreign country, and I think that is solid advice. Within reason. Be open to new experiences here and use common sense to avoid trouble, and you can live a fantastic life in this part of the world.

And in an ever more dangerous and unpredictable world in which we seem to inhabit, SE Asia seems like a good place to be right now. Ultimately, a healthy work-life balance will lead to better long-term health. Sleep the hours you should sleep, stay hydrated; those little things will make a difference.

And reach out here in our BFITS community if you are struggling. Because that’s what we are, a community.
‘A collection of people living in the same place with a particular characteristic in common.’

Finding Your Own Rhythm

I mentioned earlier in this blog how I am still trying to master my own work-life balance. That’s true, but I am taking steps to rectify that and keep them separate when possible.

I’m a morning person. I regularly wake up at 5 am and will almost always be up by 6 am at the latest. I’ve always been like that. I do my best thinking and work in the mornings, and by 3 pm, I can become tired.

That will be alien to some people who will gladly stay in bed until 10/11/12 when possible, then burn the midnight oil on various projects, etc. I use this example to drive home the point that we are all different, and it is important to find the best fit for ourselves in how we approach our lives here.

But you’re not alone, and I implore anyone who has ideas or tips on how best to approach all that I have talked about here to please share them with me.

Life, Teaching, and Everything Between

I wish all of our teachers, support staff, and everyone in the BFITS community the very best of luck for the year ahead. Until I speak with you again, be safe and talk soon.

Let me sign off with a photo drop of myself and various colleagues I have worked with here over the past number of very happy years.

Chris Whearty
BFITS Program Teacher
Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School