Teacher Tips: Preventing Burnout
Teachers teach because they care about students’ learning and they want to make a difference in children’s lives. It is a profession full of passion, dedication, and hard work. Yet oftentimes, this hard work and dedication leads to teacher burnout, no matter how skillful or dedicated a teacher is. Every year, 15% of (approximately half a million) teachers leave the profession, and over 41% leave teaching within the first five years.
What can we do to prevent this from happening? First, it is imperative to know the signs. These include physical and emotional exhaustion such as fatigue, lack of motivation, irritability, and a sense of failure. Behavioral signs include procrastination, withdrawal from responsibility, and isolation from peers. These symptoms may be caused by an overwhelming workload, student misbehavior, frustration with administration, etc. Even the best teachers experience some of these symptoms at times. Recognizing and finding solutions for them can help prevent teacher burnout.
Take care of yourself
A little self-care and compassion can go a long way for educators, according to Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion. It is important to not only get a good night’s rest, eat well, and take care of their health, but teachers should also be compassionate toward themselves for the stress they are under. Leaving work at school makes home a place of refuge. This allows teachers to replace the inner critic with a “voice of support, understanding, and care.” By doing this, teachers experience fewer negative emotions, stay balanced and, according to a 2009 study, avoid burnout.
Use the right tools and techniques
Teaching isn’t easy, but it’s been around for long enough that there are tools and techniques to make teachers’ jobs easier. Classroom management strategies can help teachers focus on the important things and not student misbehavior. An effective grading procedure can save effort and ensure too much time isn’t being spent working at home. Modern technology can also help lift the load. Strategies such as blended or flipped learning can be ways to change up the routine, and many online lesson plans and resources are available for teachers. Classroom audio systems allow teachers to speak at a normal tone. This reduces voice fatigue and makes sure all students have an equal chance to hear the teacher. All of these are tools that, should teachers use them, will save time and energy.
Collaborate and connect with peers
Prevent feelings of isolation by reaching out and connecting with other teachers. Help administration to foster a positive school climate by collaborating and supporting peers. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) can be a great way to learn from each other, solve problems, and provide support. Studies show that support from peers can be the most important buffer against burnout. There is a community of caring teachers, all around you and on social media, who are going through the same struggles. There are also teachers who have overcome those same struggles who are willing to help.
According to Richard Ingersoll, teacher turnover costs school districts more than $2.2 billion each year. Often, teachers choose their profession because they care, because they want to make a difference and “be the change.” It’s important to realize, when the going gets tough, that they are not alone there are ways to lighten the load. By doing so, not only can schools save money, but more experienced teachers will stay and be more resilient. That resilience will not only curb burnout and help teachers survive but will also help teachers to thrive in the classroom.
