A guide to: avoiding teacher burnout
Here at Hope, we know that teaching can be stressful. We all have ups and downs in our well-being and mental health as mentioned in our last guide to blog. In this blog, we want to talk about burnout, what it is and how we can avoid it.
What is burnout
Mental health burnout is described as a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and persistent stress. In 2019, ‘burnout’ was recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. So there we have it, teachers can suffer from burnout.
We know that 83% of teachers are stressed due to their job. This includes being underpaid for their work, and not believing their profession was valued by society.
Symptoms of burnout
Most of us get stressed at work at some point, however, with the long hours, intensity and demands, it’s no wonder that teachers and everyone working in education are at risk of burnout.
Without the right support, teachers are in danger of being overworked and not taking care of their own mental and physical health needs. Be sure to recognise some of these common signs:
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Trouble concentrating
- Insomnia
- Lack of productivity
Other potential common signs of teacher burnout:
- Feeling tired or drained most of the time
- Self-doubt
- Procrastinating and taking longer to get things done
- Feeling overwhelmed
How to avoid burnout
It’s important to recognise the signs of burnout as mentioned above, everyone is different, and they vary from person to person. Therefore, there’s no magic way of avoiding this, but there are ways to help.
To avoid falling into teacher burnout, try to build balance into your life.
Set clear work boundaries – Teachers burn out because they’re spread so thin for way too long until they can’t take anymore. Why not try to leave schoolwork at school? Learn how to say “no”
Take time off – If you’re not able to take time off work, think about clearing your diary to relax and rest on the weekend or during the school holidays when you can.
Sleep – We’re no good to anyone without an adequate amount of rest. Rest encourages a greater tolerance for the tasks during the day that may lead to burnout.
Eat the right foods and avoid the wrong ones – Poor nutritional health can also be a cause for burnout.
Regular physical activity – Getting some exercise can help you to better deal with stress. It can also take your mind off work. Something as simple as walking can make you feel better.
Ask for support – One of the most effective tips is to reach out to others.
Support and collaboration might help you cope. Speaking to someone is always the best port of call if you’re struggling with work-related stress.
Speaking to your local GP or mental health service is a good start.
Keep an open mind as you consider the options above and plenty more. Take a few moments each day to look after your mental wellbeing.
We all have stress in our lives from time to time, which can lead to burnout, to read further on stress then check out our blog on stress relief tips for teachers