15 Ways to Avoid Teacher Burnout

May 28, 2019

Teachers who are responsive, emotionally available, and sensitive to the needs of every student are invaluable allies to children. But there’s no doubt about it: there are times when the intensity of responsive teaching can deplete your resources and put you at risk for burnout or compassion fatigue.

As you look ahead to your next school year, how can you manage the emotional aspects of your work and protect your own well-being so you can keep being the great, supportive teacher your students need? Today’s post has some good ideas, adapted from Susan Craig’s Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt. A combination of self-care tips and suggestions for strengthening your support network, these strategies will help you guard your physical and emotional health and keep your passion for teaching burning bright.

1. Take scheduled breaks. Even if you can manage just 3 minutes here and there, having an occasional break during the school day can be essential to your emotional well-being.

2. Strengthen the work-home boundary. At the end of every work day, use a “cleansing ritual” to create a clear boundary between work and home. Take a walk, listen to music that picks you up or calms you down, or use a stretching routine to ease the transition.

3. Stay connected with friends and family. Having social support is an important factor in avoiding burnout. Spending time with supportive friends and family will give you encouragement and help you maintain the joy you need to teach and nurture children.

4. Create chances to have fun with co-workers. Strengthening your casual social relationships with other staff members can expand your social support network. Help develop, organize, and participate in social events for your school team—these can be simple get-togethers like shared lunches or more lively bonding opportunities like afterschool volleyball games.

5. Seek out other education professionals. Think beyond the walls of your school for additional professional support. Join a teacher organization, attend educational conferences and workshops, and participate in online activities such as #edchat, #udlchat, and other Twitter chats.

6. Exercise daily. You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to commit to daily exercise. You can take a walk during lunch or after school, or even spend a few minutes stretching between classes.

7. Learn to meditate. Incorporate 10–20 minutes of meditation into your daily routine.

8. Develop a specific list of healing activities. Think about activities you like to do that rejuvenate your spirit and renew your energy, and write them down.

9. Build self-renewal into your daily schedule. So set some time aside each day to reconnect with yourself—you can even write it in your calendar or set an alert on your phone!

10. Pamper yourself. Relax and release the stress of the day by scheduling a facial or massage, taking a hot bath, or giving yourself a pedicure.

11. Reduce exposure to violent media. The media you consume in your off hours can affect your overall mindset. Consider limiting your exposure to violent movies and TV shows.

12. Know your limits. Set limits and be sure to communicate them to others.

13. Process your feelings. Experiment with different ways of processing how you’re feeling—write in a journal, or meet with a friend or colleague who will listen to you.

14. Connect to a cause. Consider joining a community group that works toward a cause that’s personally meaningful to you.

15. Celebrate successes. Remind yourself of the amazing things you accomplish as a teacher! Keep a log of your triumphs and proud moments.

Above all, never doubt the importance of what you do and your ability to make a tremendous difference in the lives of the children you teach. Take time to care for yourself and connect with others—so you’ll have the energy and passion to keep teaching students for years to come.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK

Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt
Strategies for Your Classroom
By Susan E. Craig, Ph.D.
Discover how to create supportive classrooms and schools that meet the complex learning needs of children who hurt and help the most vulnerable students build resilience and hope.