Even if it's your life's passion, teaching can be draining.
In the past few years, Social Emotional Learning has been a buzzword for educators. But don’t forget that if your bucket is empty, you can’t water your students.
So push aside that pile of papers to grade, go to the bathroom when you need to for once, and let's talk about how to avoid teacher burnout.
- Use Your Planning Period - This seems like a given, but seriously, when you're burnt out it's easy to stare into the empty classroom or doom scroll on social media to disassociate. Try to avoid this by telling yourself, “Let’s get this work done, so we can fill up our bucket later!” Plus, you’re getting paid for your plan period, and you won’t be after school!
- Make time off for school breaks for YOU - You may be drowning in papers to grade and backward planning, but make sure you're investing time off in self-care. Plan a pedicure or a pickleball date with a friend. Spend a day in your pajamas with a good book. Whatever fills your bucket, do it.
- Have A Grading/Planning Cutoff - Being a new teacher is extra exhausting. You’re creating your backlog of lessons and activities constantly. If you’re a veteran teacher, your curriculum has probably changed recently so you’re back to the creation zone, too. Cut yourself off at a certain time each afternoon. As often as you can, don't take work home. I leave at my contract time 90% of the time. (I know that’s not possible for some people, and it wasn’t for me in years 1-8 of teaching, but now when that clock hits 3:45, I’m out! And I’m healthier for it!)
- Don't Reinvent the Wheel - Use your resources! Many websites have activities and lessons for certain standards, targets, topics, and skills (like this one!). Check with your colleagues who are teaching or have taught the same subject in your same school, but also friends from college who might be teaching in a different district. Don’t create more work for yourself if the resource exists. Find something that’ll work and use it or adapt it to fit your needs.
- Delegate to Students - Not all students are helpful or worthy of your trust for tasks, but many are! Find those student helpers and ask them for favors like stapling packets, running to the mailroom, passing papers out, etc. I’ve asked students before to find a YouTube Pixar Short they liked for us to study and practice the theme. They emailed the links, and I copied and pasted them. The End! If they’re the right students, it won’t be about making sure they follow through, it’ll just be nice.
- Exert Your Stress (Healthily) - Exercise. Go for a walk around your block. Go walk around the mall (and buy yourself a latte). Turn on your favorite song and dance in your kitchen. Cry it out! Did you know crying is the fastest way to relieve stress? Do it for a minute or two and feel the relief.
- Try Therapy - Talk through your feelings of stress, burnout, or other issues associated with your job. As teachers, we're carrying a heavy load. It's easy to fall into the habit of complaining to romantic partners, family members, or friends to the point that they absorb your stress. A therapist or counselor will offer an objective ear to the problems you're experiencing and provide tools to manage daily stressors so you can avoid burning out. Check what resources your school offers for teacher mental health support as well.
