Teacher Burnout

For such a deeply rewarding profession, teaching is incredibly demanding. In the last few years, teachers have grappled with how to connect with, teach, and organize classrooms during a pandemic, support the learning gaps and needs of students post-pandemic, and continue to struggle with the ever-present lack of resources, funding, and support.

While this issue isn’t new, more and more teachers are experiencing burnout. They’re emotionally exhausted, detached from the passion that once drove them, and finding it harder and harder to maintain any semblance of a work-life balance. Some are choosing to leave the profession altogether, while others are trying to reignite their drive to educate the future. 

Common Anxieties Fueling the Fire of Teacher Burnout

Why are so many teachers finding it harder and harder to stay? While, yes, burnout isn’t new, some of the stressors of today’s society are. Here are some of the more common anxieties I hear about from teachers:

Lack of Staffing & Large Class Sizes

One of the most significant stressors for teachers is the lack of adequate staffing and the consequent large class sizes. When schools are understaffed, teachers are often required to manage more students than is feasible for effective teaching. Managing the class, administrative duties, and students’ individual needs all become that much more difficult. Teachers may also feel as if the quality of the education they are providing is compromised.

Are you a teacher struggling with burnout?

State Testing/Requirements

High-stakes testing has become a cornerstone of many educational systems, creating pressure on teachers to ensure that their students perform well. Teachers may feel pressured to “teach to the test.” That’s not even mentioning the anxiety that builds in the classroom as both teachers and students stress about their performance. 

Poor Behavior

More and more often teachers are dealing with poor behavior from their students. Call it the fallout from the pandemic or a change in parenting, teachers are finding themselves acting more as parents and less as educators. Time is squandered as teachers deal with classroom disruptions, and in extreme cases, safety concerns. Constantly dealing with this leads to frustration, anger, and helplessness. 

Secondary Trauma

Teachers are often exposed to students' personal traumas, which can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS.) Whether it’s a student’s behavior that is directed at them, or a student willfully coming to them for comfort, teachers often have to navigate the tricky role as educator/role model. Teachers might question their ability to help a student, and how best to preserve their own mental health.

Personal Stressors

All of this doesn’t even cover the personal struggles teachers may contend with. Finances, work-life balance, health issues, and more are just a few things that teachers may contend with day to day.

How to Combat Teacher Burnout

So how do you as a teacher fight this overwhelming feeling of frustration, helplessness, and anger? How do you find passion again in a career that once made you feel so fulfilled? While the answers to these questions aren’t clear cut, I can offer you some strategies.

Speak Up

One of the most powerful ways to combat burnout is to speak up. Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Whether it's through union meetings, staff discussions, or direct conversations with administrators, make your needs and concerns known. Advocating for yourself in turn advocates for your students. Highlight the areas where you need support, whether it’s additional resources, smaller class sizes, or professional development opportunities. In conjunction with this, connect with fellow teachers to share experiences and solutions. Creating a supportive community can provide emotional support and practical advice.

Reignite Your Passion

Continuing education and professional development can inspire new teaching methods and ideas. Attending seminars about education can reignite your passion and provide innovative tools to bring back to your classroom. You may also want to think about other opportunities, like tutoring, writing educational content, or developing learning materials. 

Last but not least, explore other hobbies completely outside of education, like crocheting, gardening, or trying new recipes. These activities provide a creative outlet and a break from the routine stress of teaching.

Make Space for Self-Care

Teachers often put their students' needs above their own, leading them to neglect their own well-being. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Set aside time to take a walk, exercise, journal, read for pleasure, see family and friends, or just get outside. You deserve it. 

Consider Therapy

Therapy can be an invaluable resource for teachers experiencing burnout. Therapy provides a safe space to explore and address issues contributing to stress and fatigue, including those that may be underlying. As therapists, we can also offer strategies and healthy coping mechanisms tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. 

Therapy for Teachers in Charlotte, NC

Teacher burnout is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address effectively. Teachers are some of the most important people in our lives; we owe it to them to help them find peace and fulfillment in their lives. Plus, by supporting educators, we ensure a brighter future for both teachers and students alike.

If you are a teacher struggling with burnout, please reach out. I’ve worked with many teachers in my practice and I would be honored to work with you. There is always hope.

I would like to be clear that this blog post is not intended to substitute for professional counseling. If you are in need of support, please consider speaking to a professional counselor.