Reading Now – How Teachers can avoid Fatigue and Burn Out
How Teachers can avoid Fatigue and Burn Out
As teachers resume the physical classroom, the tendency to experience fatigue and burnout will increase. Fatigues can last a week or even an entire term, no matter the duration, it is important that teachers address this issue head-on. Here are a few ideas to help teachers avoid fatigue and burn out
Read Also: 6 Tips to Improve Hybrid Learning for Teachers
Here are a few ideas to help teachers avoid fatigue and burn out
1. Get Organized
One major reason teachers experience fatigue is that their classrooms, curriculums, and lives have become cluttered. There is too much to think about and anticipate and make up for.
It’s time to approach your job with a critical eye and see what you don’t actually need to be doing, or how doing some work in advance could save you time down the road.
An example is you getting a mug filled with pencils for students who forget their own. This prevents you from having to stop class every time a student neglects to bring something to write with.
Whatever it is, eliminate the tiny drags on your work and check if it gives you more breathing room.
2. Give yourself something to look forward to each day
There are days that teaching comes easy and there are days when it doesn’t. No matter how much you care and how great your classes are, there would be times when would drag your feet when walking into the classroom.
To address this, give yourself a daily reward or a daily indulgence. An example may be getting that Ice Cream bucket or watching that movie, after achieving all your daily goals.
Whatever it is, counteract the difficult with the easy, the dreaded for the highly anticipated.
3. Talk to your principal
Many teachers who experience teacher fatigue can’t seem to put a finger on why they feel that way or what to do about it. If this happens, talk to the principal.
The Principal would most likely have heard about teacher fatigue before and they will probably have some solid insights, from a perspective of experience. They should take your concerns seriously and work with you to solve them.
4. Take consistent Breaks
Sometimes what teachers need is a “break.” We understand that this can be difficult for teachers sometimes considering all that’s on their tables (Lesson plans, grading, Parent-Teacher Conference, and so on).
Teachers, if you are feeling overworked and the frustration is mounting, take a day to rest and resharpen your mind. It can make a huge difference to your outlook on the job, and a happier teacher is a better teacher.
5. Consider EdTech Solutions
EdTech Solutions refers to hardware or software solutions designed to enhance teacher-led learning in classrooms and improve students’ education outcomes. With time constraints, it is difficult for a teacher not to feel fatigued as he/she has to teach according to the curriculum, write lesson notes, and catch up lower-level learners.
By adopting, EdTech solutions, one can potentially reduce the fatigue and burnout levels for teachers and lead to better outcomes for the class as a whole.
6. See a professional
It’s astounding and disheartening that there is such a strong stigma against seeking professional help from a psychiatrist, but for people with careers as intense and thankless as teachers, it can be a godsend. Just having someone, with a disinterested view of your life to discuss issues and bounce ideas off of, can truly help.
Finally, You got into teaching for a reason – you love to enrich the lives of students, you love your subject, you love to watch young minds blossom, all of the above. Whatever the reason is it is a good one.
Now, you can’t let fatigue, burnout, or depression get in the way of that reason. Take the courage to admit it’s an issue and take the patience to address it. Because, in the end, your students, your school, and your profession need you.
