Supporting Teen Mental Health During the Festive Season

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The Christmas period is often portrayed as a time of joy, family, and celebration. For many teenagers though, the festive season can bring unique challenges that impact their mental health. As teachers, understanding these pressures is key to supporting students during what can be an emotionally complex time.

 

Why Christmas Can Be Stressful for Teens

While younger children may see Christmas as magical, teenagers often experience heightened stress. Academic pressures, social expectations and family dynamics can all contribute to feelings of anxiety or low mood. For some, financial strain at home or complicated family relationships means the season is far from cheerful. Others may feel isolated if they don’t share the same traditions or if they are coping with loss.

Social media adds another layer of pressure. Teens are bombarded with images of ‘perfect’ celebrations, which can lead to comparison and feelings of inadequacy. This can intensify existing mental health challenges, such as anxiety or low self-esteem.

 

Common Mental Health Challenges at Christmas

  • Anxiety: the disruption of routine during the holidays can be unsettling. Teens who thrive on structure may feel anxious about changes in schedules, social gatherings, or expectations.
  • Low Mood: shorter days and less daylight can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), while loneliness or family tensions can deepen feelings of sadness.
  • Eating Concerns: festive meals and treats can trigger stress for those struggling with body image or eating disorders. Comments about food or appearance, even well-meaning ones, can be harmful.
  • Managing Mental Health: with school closed, access to regular support networks may be limited. Teens might feel unsure where to turn if they’re struggling.

How Teachers Can Help Before the Holidays

  1. Start Conversations Early: create space for open discussions about mental health in the classroom. Normalising these conversations helps students feel less alone.
  2. Signpost Resources: remind students about the mental well-being pages in their planners. These pages are designed to empower them with practical strategies they can use during the break.
  3. Encourage Routine: suggest that students maintain some structure during the holidays—whether through exercise, hobbies, or regular sleep patterns.
  4. Promote Kindness: encourage students to focus on meaningful connections rather than material expectations. Acts of kindness can boost mood and reduce stress.

 

A Positive Message for the Season

Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. By acknowledging the challenges and equipping teens with tools to manage their mental wellbeing, we can help them navigate the season with confidence and self-compassion.

As teachers, your role in supporting mental health is invaluable. A simple reminder to check their planner’s well-being pages or downloading an app before school breaks up, could make a big difference for a student who feels overwhelmed when they are alone.

As well as general information about managing mental health, the Mental Wellbeing pages included in Boomerang’s student planners cover worries about anxiety, low mood, eating, and self-harm. Each section gives warning signs to look out for, top tips which may help, and a web address for further advice.

 

Primary Planners

Academic Planners

Teacher Planners

 

Why Paper Teacher Planners Still Shine in a Digital World

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In today’s tech-driven classrooms, digital tools dominate lesson planning and scheduling. Yet, many educators still swear by the traditional paper planner—and for good reason. While apps and online calendars offer convenience, paper planners provide unique advantages that can’t be replicated on a screen.

 

  1. Tangible and Visual

There is something powerful about physically writing down your plans. Studies show that handwriting improves memory retention, helping teachers remember tasks and deadlines more effectively. A paper planner offers a clear, at-a-glance view of your week without the distractions of notifications or pop-ups.

 

  1. No Tech Hassles

Digital tools rely on batteries and Wi-Fi, and devices can fail at the worst times. A paper planner is always ready—no loading screens, no app crashes, and no need to worry about syncing across platforms. It’s dependable and stress-free.

 

  1. Encourages Mindful Planning

Writing by hand slows you down just enough to think through your day. This mindful approach helps teachers to prioritise tasks and reflect on what’s most important. Plus, they allow the creative freedom to doodle, colour-code, and personalise pages to make planning feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable routine.

 

  1. Reduces Screen Fatigue

Teachers spend hours in front of screens for grading, emails, and virtual lessons. A paper planner offers a refreshing break from digital overload. It’s a tactile experience that helps reduce eye strain and mental fatigue.

 

  1. Personalisation and Creativity

Unlike rigid digital templates, paper planners allow full customisation. Add sticky notes, highlight key dates, or decorate with washi tape—your planner becomes uniquely yours. This creative outlet can boost motivation and make organisation fun.

  1. Privacy and Security

No passwords, no data breaches—just your plans on paper. For teachers who value confidentiality, a physical planner offers peace of mind.

 

In short: A paper teacher planner isn’t just a nostalgic choice—it’s a practical, reliable and creative tool that supports focus and flexibility in a busy teaching environment.

 

Teacher Planners

 

Keep on top of your workload with our bespoke teacher planners

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Is your desk full of unmarked work? are you drowning in hundreds of ‘to-do’ lists? or, do you just simply feel like you’re swamped with work deadlines and see no way out?

It sounds like it’s time to take back control by organising your day-to-day teaching life, with help from Boomerang!

Here at Boomerang Education we appreciate just how hard it can be to stay on top of your workload as a teacher. So, in a bid to help, we supply teacher planners to teachers nationwide as our way of offering a helping hand.

How they help

Our teacher planners not only provide teachers with the ultimate work organiser, but are completely bespoke to all teaching needs, meaning that teachers able to personalise their planners and tailor them to their exact needs.

A combination of a trusty handbook and diary; our teacher planners provide teachers with the resources they need to stay on top of their workload successfully. Our hard copy planners allow teachers to lesson plan, organise their school days and track their everyday tasks –making way for a more stress-free work life.

And, with completely customisable elements, your teacher planners can include additional information such as school policies and assessment schemes, providing you with your own personal assistant that tucks away neatly in your draw.

Bespoke element

Our teacher planners generally come as A4, A5 or B5 size and are wiro-bound. However, due to their bespoke nature, we’re able to quote for any size or pagination required – meaning you’ve got complete control over what your planner contains and what it looks like.

However, if you’re looking for a standard teacher planner, or require a something more generic, our team can talk you though the extensive range of designs and layouts we have at the ready.

Product details – the basics

Our teacher planners tend to come with the below; however, it is important to remember that they’re customisable! So, should you require additional information, or wish to change what’s in your planner, please do contact a member of our team so we can make this happen.

Product details:

  • 3 portrait sizes – A4, A5 or B5.
  • Secure wiro-binding and outer polypropylene covers for year-round robustness
  • Full colour covers
  • 6, 8 or 10 period daily planner sections or bespoke
  • A range of teacher planner template pages to choose from

If you currently don’t have access to teacher planners at your school, and feel you’re in need of a helping hand when it comes to organising lessons and your workload, call us on 01252 368 328 or email a member of our team at  info@boomerang-ed.com.

Boomerang Education can provide you with the assistance you may need to take back control of your schedule!