By Kourtnie Hunter, 6th ELA & DMS Collaborative Teacher Okay, we’ve all been there. Maybe some of us are there now, or maybe you are fast approaching. Perhaps, you’ve even been there a while, but I can’t imagine you’ve never been there. Where exactly am I talking about? I am talking about the dreaded teacher burnout *insert gasps of horror*. But what does teacher burnout even mean? Teacher burnout means, according to Psychology Today, "a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, detachment, and feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment." Does this sound or feel familiar? If so, you may be feeling burnt out from teaching.
Because teachers are held to high standards, it can be easy for us to fall into a state of constant work, work, work as we strive for perfection. This includes us constantly learning new teaching methods, classroom management strategies, and acquiring new skills and tools for effective teaching, and not to mention, analyzing data. As defined by Fiona Tap, a teacher-researcher for Western Governors University, burnout can manifest itself in many ways, like losing sleep, feeling overwhelming stress, trouble concentrating, eating issues (too much or too little), and can even affect mental health, leading potentially to depression or anxiety. Because we are in a constant state of giving, as we give ourselves to our students and careers, we oftentimes forget to stop and give to ourselves. Building a balance between school life and outside of school life is key to avoiding or recovering from burnout, so I want to leave you with some suggestions on what you can do if you are facing burnout. First and foremost, make time for yourself and do things you enjoy doing. Go for a run, write poetry, play fetch with your dog, take a nap! Make sure to prioritize your health by exercising and eating well, and take time each day to give yourself positive affirmations, such as “I was proud of myself today when…” or “Today was a good day because…” Learn when to say no when you’re already busy with things, and give yourself time to relax (and maybe avoid social media for a day or two). Take a step back from doing homework and grading on the weekends; I promise, you will learn to cope with the immediate guilt and stress you feel when not doing work on the weekends, but you will learn to be okay with it! Set boundaries with yourself and others to establish expectations and procedures for yourself to follow. For example, “I will not stay past 3:30 on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.” Plan a one-day lesson you teach simply because you love to teach it! These are just some ideas for ways that you can take care of your well-being. As a final thought, we are approaching Thanksgiving quickly, and I want us to think about being grateful for ourselves and all that we do for our school, colleagues, and students. You are valued at Decorah Community School District. You are loved. YOU ARE ENOUGH.
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AuthorsDCSD Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Learner Advocate, and Collaborative Teachers Archives
April 2024
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