The Secret to Avoiding Burnout & Growing Your Tuition Centre

February 10, 2025 | Read Online

Read time: 4 mins…

Welcome back, fellow educators 🫡

This week’s Tutor’s Growth Guide covers:
🏝️ Why your term-time break matters more than you think
🥊 What Derek Chisora taught me about resilience in business
💡 The Power of Deep Work for tutors & tuition centre owners
🔥 How to avoid burnout before it hits
🚀 The productivity paradox (less work = more results)

Let’s go… 👇

Why My Term-Time Break Was More Important Than Ever

As tuition centre owners, we only work during term time—but that doesn’t mean we’re truly switching off.

For years, even when the holidays rolled around, I was still thinking about my business.
❌ Checking emails
❌ Planning marketing for the next term
❌ Worrying about student retention
❌ Thinking about improvements instead of actually resting

This Christmas, I decided to do things differently.

I tried—really tried—to stop thinking about my business and fully take a break.

No emails. No lesson planning. No ‘quick check-ins’.

Just time with family, time to unwind, and time away from work.

And you know what? It was the best decision I’ve made in a long time.

Because when I came back in January?
✅ I had fresh ideas for my tuition business
✅ I was excited to get started again
✅ I saw problems more clearly than I had before

It reminded me that taking breaks isn’t just about rest—it’s about coming back better.

That’s why I’ve made it a priority to take regular breaks, even during term time.

Like this Saturday, when I went to the boxing match with my son.

The Underdog Mindset: Lessons from Derek Chisora

The fight we watched was incredible. Derek Chisora—a fighter who’s been on a real journey—stepped into the ring as the underdog.

Most people had already written him off. He’s had his fair share of losses. At times, it looked like his best days were behind him.

But Derek Chisora doesn’t quit.

He fought with everything he had, left it all in the ring, and won convincingly.

The crowd went wild.

That’s why he has such a huge following—not because he’s unbeatable, but because he always gives everything he has, no matter what.

He’s proof that losing doesn’t define you—giving up does.

And that got me thinking...

How many tuition centre owners feel like the underdog?

How many of us have struggled to fill classes, dealt with cancellations, or had slow months?

How many of us are on the edge of burnout but keep pushing, hoping we’ll get that big win?

The truth is, pushing harder isn’t always the answer. Sometimes, stepping back is what helps you come back stronger.

The ‘Step Away’ Strategy

Taking a break isn’t a luxury. It’s a strategy.

Here’s why:

🧠 Your Brain Needs Space – When you’re always “on,” you don’t get the distance needed for fresh ideas. The best insights happen when you’re NOT working.

⚡ Burnout Kills Productivity – You’re not a machine. Overwork leads to exhaustion, exhaustion leads to bad decisions. And bad decisions cost you money.

📊 You Make Smarter Business Moves – Ever notice how your best business ideas come in the shower, on a walk, or on vacation? That’s no accident. Stepping away gives you perspective.

The Productivity Paradox: Less Work = More Results

After my Christmas break, something crazy happened.

✅ I made faster decisions (because I wasn’t second-guessing everything).
✅ I felt excited about my business again (instead of drained by it).
✅ I solved problems I’d been stuck on for months (without even trying).

Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is walk away.

But what about when you’re actually working?

This is where a second, equally important idea comes in…

The Power of Deep Work (and Why You Can’t Focus)

Taking breaks isn’t just about resting. It’s about training your brain to focus when it matters.

Right now, most tuition centre owners are stuck in shallow work:

❌ Constantly responding to parents
❌ Managing tutor schedules
❌ Handling admin tasks instead of growing the business
❌ Feeling "busy" but not actually making progress

But real success comes from deep work—focused, uninterrupted time spent on high-impact tasks.

Here’s how to actually get into deep work mode:

🕑 Time-Block Your Day – Set 2–3 hours for focused work, with no interruptions.
📵 Turn Off Notifications – Your phone is a distraction machine. Airplane mode is your friend.
🚪 Create a ‘Do Not Disturb’ Zone – Close your door, put on noise-canceling headphones, do whatever it takes.
⏳ Use the 90-Minute Rule – Work deeply for 90 minutes, take a break, then repeat.

When you combine deep work with intentional breaks, you hit a whole new level of productivity.

Your Next Step

So here’s what I challenge you to do this week:

1️⃣ Schedule time away from your tuition business. Even if it’s just one full day.
2️⃣ Identify your biggest distraction. Is it your phone? WhatsApp messages from parents? Admin work? Cut it out.
3️⃣ Try a 90-minute deep work session. No notifications. No checking email. Just pure focus.

Do this, and I guarantee you’ll feel re-energized, more productive, and actually in control of your tuition business.

We didn’t start our tuition centres to feel overwhelmed.

We started them to have more time, more freedom, and a bigger impact on students.

And it all starts by stepping back & focusing on what truly matters.

Until next time,
[Graeme] 🚀