How can EdTech professionals combat stress?

April is both Stress Awareness Month and National Pet Month, and it got our team thinking about how we combat everyday stress and if our furry friends play a notable role.   

Working in EdTech can be stressful and isolating. We know this from first-hand experience and from speaking to network managers in education on a daily basis.   

In fact, our Managing Director previously shared his best tips for reducing workload and improving wellbeing as someone with 20+ years working in education technology.  

April is both Stress Awareness Month and National Pet Month, and it got our team thinking about how we combat everyday stress and if our furry friends play a notable role.   

As our team at Salamander is fully remote, with people working from home in all four corners of the UK, many of us have the privilege of working alongside our beloved pets.  

We spoke to our Assistant Installations Coordinator, Rob Young, about how his dog Bailey helps him cope with stress as a busy tech professional.  

“Stress is part of life, and we all must deal with it at some point. But, over the years, I’ve found ways to cope with stress and my four-year-old fox red Labrador, Bailey, has played a significant role in that,” Rob Young explains.  

“Bailey is an integral part of my stress management strategy. His unconditional love and support have helped me through some of the most challenging times, whether work-related or health-related. When I’m stressed or anxious, simply petting him or taking him for a walk helps me feel more relaxed and grounded.”  

Rob explains that spending time with Bailey has also helped him practice mindfulness and stay present and in the moment rather than getting caught up in worries about the past or future.   

“He’s also been a big part of my recovery after having surgery for a Cochlear Implant so I can hear again in my right ear.”   

Talking to like-minded people.  

Another way Rob tackles stress is by talking to others who are in a similar situation:  

“I find reaching out to friends or colleagues dealing with similar challenges helpful. Sharing experiences helps reduce feelings of isolation and provides a sense of support and understanding. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in my struggles and that others have found ways to cope with similar stressors,” he adds.  

“Plus, when I’m taking Bailey out for walks, I often meet other dog owners, and we strike up conversations. Whether we talk about dogs, our careers or the weather, it helps me relax and it’s a great stress reliever.” 
 

Taking a break.  

Allowing yourself to take a break is a challenge, whether you work remotely or in a busy school environment. It’s hard to peel yourself away from your desk when emails and notifications pop up every few minutes.   

“It’s taken me a long time to get into a better break habit, but taking regular breaks is essential for me to relax and recharge. I like to take a few minutes every hour to stretch my legs; maybe take a walk with Bailey, read a book, build some Star Wars Lego, cook or simply put the kettle on and have a cuppa,” says Rob.  

“Stepping away from work restores a sense of balance and perspective. Of course, spending time with Bailey is one of my favourite ways to spend a break. His wagging tail, goofy grin, and oddly human-like bear hugs always put a smile on my face. It provides a much-needed break from the demands of daily life and slows things down a bit.”  

At SalamanderSoft, we’re keen to develop solutions that take as much stress away as possible from our customers’ shoulders, whether it’s saving school network managers thousands of hours managing user accounts, providing teachers instant access to everything they need to deliver quality learning or being quick to respond when you have a question or issue with your systems.