TEACHER WELLNESS INITIATIVE: VIABILITY OF INCORPORATING EXERCISE INTO TEACHERS’ WORKDAY

Abstract Teaching is a caring profession that can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining, causing burnout and other stress-related ailments. The incorporation of physical exercise into the daily routine of teachers may promote overall wellness in the profession. This thesis explores the feasibility of incorporating several short bursts of exercise into schoolteachers’ workdays. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) principles inspired these short bursts of activity and was spread across the workday to achieve recommended weekly exercise levels. A qualitative case study investigated a particular instance of deliberate incorporation of HIIT-inspired exercise among participating teachers. We were particularly interested in understanding the extent to which the participants believed they derived benefits (e.g., agency and self-efficacy to cope with the complexities of working in contemporary schools) from this approach by spreading out HIIT-inspired exercises throughout the day that were like those accrued from the traditional HIIT workouts in other settings. Data were collected from eight teachers who participated in an eight-week program where they exercised at least thirty minutes daily, in small chunks, three times per week. The study was a collective explanatory case study. Data collection included two group interviews, an anonymous survey at the project's midpoint, and observation field notes. Results showed that incorporating regular, short bursts of exercise into teachers' workday effectively promoted wellness, including reduced stress, better mood, and improved teacher self-efficacy. Results also suggested that teacher exercise initiatives should be implemented at the organizational level with support from school leaders. They should include strategies such as providing realistic exercise programs that are maintainable for the average person, promoting active living, as well as supporting and monitoring progress, and removing barriers by providing on-site workout spaces and showers. Since school organizations that implement exercise and wellness programs save money on less employee absenteeism, more creative solutions, such as encouraging flexible work schedules to facilitate participation in physical exercise to help teachers reach exercise targets could be implemented. Overall, this thesis provides more insight into the discussion on teacher wellness and how regular exercise can positively impact teachers’ overall health and performance at work