Preventing teacher burnout - the ABC method

It’s sad to say, but teacher burnout is nothing new. It’s been around since the days of OHP projectors, chalkboards and toilet roll that doubled up as tracing paper. Maybe even longer. But while it may not be new, it’s certainly getting worse. And since the pandemic hit, it’s reached a crisis point. So what can you do to prevent teacher burnout? We’ve got some tips to help you. 

Teacher burnout - the cold, hard facts

First, let’s look under the teacher burnout ‘bonnet’ and tinker around for a minute.

You know small amounts of stress are actually good for you, spurring you on to achieve or do things you may never have imagined you could. Like surviving that lesson observation or leading singing assembly for the first time. A little bit of pressure is okay. But ongoing, chronic stress damages your health. Not just mentally, but physically too.

Recent research from Education Support shows that 8 out of 10 teachers say they’re stressed as a direct result of their job. 4 out of 10 are considering leaving the profession due to pressure on their mental health. Numbers that are not far from the data published in the Guardian way back in 2018. 

And after the 18 months we’ve all just experienced, it’s no real surprise. 

Teaching is challenging- it requires you to take on various roles and switch between them at a moment’s notice. From teacher to mental health professional to parent, you can turn your hand to anything. But in doing so, you create a ripple effect on your already pressured workload.

And before you know it, you’re on that slippery slope to burnout.

Preventing teacher burnout - it all begins with ABC

So what on earth can you do about it? Well, that’s where the ABC approach comes in - and yes, the irony of using an ABC acronym for teachers is not lost on us…

A - Awareness

Burnout is a devious creature. It can creep up on you without you realising. Yes, you’ve felt a bit stressed recently and yes, you’re dreading Monday mornings, but isn’t everyone? Not necessarily.

A little like the child in your class who is a low-level disruptor, burnout is often chipping away at you without you noticing. It’s not like breaking your leg, where you know about it immediately - the intense pain and mishapen bone being a couple of the telltale signs. But burnout? It’s not an instant situation. So you need to raise your awareness and keep an eye out for clues.  

Here are just a few changes to be aware of:

• Exhaustion - not just feeling a little tired, but totally and overwhelmingly shattered. Maybe you fall asleep involuntarily on the sofa in the evening and wake up there at 2am?
• Problems with teaching performance - things you used to be able to do quite easily seem harder such as controlling the class or organising your time.
• Mental detachment - your approach to your work changes and you no longer feel engaged or invested in what you’re doing.
• Physical symptoms such as trouble sleeping, stomach/digestive issues, dizziness or pains in your chest.

B - Boundaries 

If you start to notice any of the changes/symptoms mentioned above, it’s time to put some boundaries in place to protect your mental health and wellbeing, and prevent burnout. Boundaries start and end with you. You may feel like you’re at the mercy of SLT expectations, but as author Greg McKeown says, “If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.”

We know it isn’t always easy to put boundaries in place, particularly if you’re like me and you’re a recovering people pleaser. But until you do, you’re leaving your wellbeing in the hands of others. And that’s a risk you don’t want to take.

Boundaries really are the key to preventing burnout. Creating and setting them is a skill, so requires practise. It’s easiest to start small. Try saying ‘no’ to little things to give you confidence to say ‘no’ to bigger things later on. Speak up more about small topics so you can speak up about larger issues when you’re ready. Sit down and look at your week - where can you begin to make small changes? 

Once you successfully change one aspect of your workload, you’ll soon be able to change others. So which boundaries do you need to set up to take back control? 

C - Communication 

Preventing burnout isn’t a one person job. Yes, you need to be in control but you also need support. There’s no prize for managing your stress on your own. If anything, it just leads to more stress. So it’s time to talk. But to who?

• SLT - not all SLTs are cut from the same cloth, we know that. But you need to raise awareness of how you’re feeling to someone who can do something about it. You’ll know who that person is. Telling your year group partner how you’re feeling is great, but they’re not going to be able to help you at a strategic level. 
• Friends/colleagues - choose friends (both inside and outside of work) to talk to. Share how you’re feeling with them and you’ll be surprised at how many will support you to create the boundaries we talked about above. Your family are also an important piece of the puzzle too. 
• Professional help - if you’re experiencing any symptoms of stress or burnout, talk to your GP about getting help. You can also get advice and guidance from Education Support, a charity dedicated to teacher wellbeing. If you’re a school leader, there are some tips to help you support staff wellbeing here.

So if you want to prevent teacher burnout, follow the ABC approach and get the support you need. It can take just one conversation to make all the difference. 

Because you’re not alone. Not on our watch.