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5 Tips to Avoid Teacher Burnout

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What is teacher burnout? Teacher burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by a combination of stressors and factors related to the profession. It can manifest itself in a variety of ways, such as feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, having difficulty making decisions, or feeling disconnected from colleagues. Teacher burnout can lead to a decrease in job satisfaction and an increase in absenteeism and job turnover. To prevent teacher burnout, it is important to establish a healthy work-life balance, practice self-care, and find ways to increase job satisfaction. This is easier said than done. Today I will be sharing 5 tips to avoid teacher burnout.

Disclaimer: I am not in the classroom right now. In this blog post, I am speaking from my time in the classroom when I felt overworked and undervalued.

Tip #1: Take Time for Yourself

Image says Take time for yourself and shows a teacher sitting on the couch reading a book

Make sure to take time for yourself, no matter how busy your schedule is. Schedule breaks throughout your day to give yourself time to relax and refocus. It’s so important to take time for yourself! Make sure to schedule some time each day to relax and recharge – this could be going for a walk, reading a book, doing some yoga or mindfulness, listening to music, or anything else that helps you to relax and unwind. Taking a few minutes for yourself can help to reduce stress and give you a sense of balance in your life.

Tip #2: Network with Other Teachers

Image says network with other teachers and shows a group of 4 teachers standing around talking

Connecting with other teachers can be a great way to have a support system in place. Share your experiences and advice with each other to help reduce stress. My biggest allies when teaching were my fourth-grade team. They talked me off the ledge for many days. I bounced ideas off them, shared lessons with them, and laughed often.

Thanks to technology you can also network with teachers across the country and across the globe. Join teaching groups on Facebook. Reach out to teachers on Instagram or TikTok. Find teachers wherever you like to hang out!

Tip #3: Get Organized

Image says get organized and shows a teacher putting items away on a table

Organization is key when it comes to avoiding teacher burnout. Keeping your classroom and lesson plans organized will help you stay on top of the workload. Making sure your classroom is kept neat and tidy, along with staying on top of all your lesson plans, can help you stay ahead of the workload and will give you the peace of mind to be able to enjoy your free time. Utilizing organizational tools, such as a filing system, calendar, and to-do lists can help keep you organized, efficient, and stress-free.

Tip #4: Ask for Help

Image says ask for help with a teacher who has his head down on the desk and is holding up a notebook with the word help written on it

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from colleagues or administrators if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Having a support system in place can make a big difference when it comes to teacher burnout. Likewise don’t be afraid to say “No.” I remember my first years of teaching and my principal asked me to head up our Lego Robotics club. I had no idea what I was doing. It was a huge stress on me and I should have said no.

Tip #5: It’s Ok to Take Time

Image says take time and shows a woman sitting on a couch in comfy socks with a cup of coffee in hand

Use your personal and sick days when you need to. One of my regrets was always pushing through and working even when I should have just taken the day. The school will go on without you. Your classroom will run without you. Take the day!

These tips to avoid teacher burnout are simple yet effective. Being a teacher is a truly wonderful and rewarding profession, but also an extremely thankless and challenging profession. Teachers I salute each and every one of you for making a difference in the lives of children.

Want to read more on this topic? Check out these blog posts:

 

My name is Jen and I’m the face behind Endeavors in Education.

I have a passion for ELA and science. I am even STEM certified. Now I spend my time hanging with my kids, blogging (endeavorsined.com), and creating for my TpT store Endeavors in Education.

I’m so happy you’ve joined me on this journey!

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