Teachers: It’s Time to Quiet the Chaos

9 Apr, 2023

This is our 7^th installment in our blog series for Educators

Of all the professions we work with, Teachers are notorious for their reluctance to unplug from their jobs. Often overworked and overwhelmed with responsibilities, they have a habit of putting their needs last. A hard-working teacher is not a stranger to this; however, it is an unsustainable model.  Overwork leads to burnout. Burnout leads to anxiety, depression, challenges with personal relationships, low productivity and eventually, as we are seeing, an abandonment of the profession.  If time is not carved out for self-care and personal replenishment, there will simply be nothing left to give. Teachers need to learn how to unplug, step away, create time for themselves and yes, even be a little selfish with their time spent away from the classroom.

The first question to ask is why? Why are teachers reluctant to unplug? Often, because they can’t. Their workloads and demands continue to increase.  Their available resources and support have dramatically diminished.  The job has changed, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day to complete what must be done. Increased amounts of time and energy are being devoted to classroom management in addition a growing list of additional responsibilities.  Some teachers also report feeling guilty if they aren’t doing the tasks they feel need to be done or even being concerned for their position if they aren’t treading water and constantly keeping their professional plates spinning. “To survive,” as one educator shared, “is to always try to be one step ahead- but that is impossible. I am never even caught up with everything I must do, never mind ahead of the game. I always feel like I am drowning.”  This feeling is one of the key reasons why so many teachers are leaving their careers.. They are on the brink of burnout with no relief in sight.  No one wants to exist in a constant state of being overwhelmed.

The thought process leaning to burnout needs to initially change on the personal level. Often, teachers must learn to re-think their approach to balancing their personal needs with their professional roles.  A few quick tips include:

1. Understand that taking time every single day to replenish yourself, you will be better equipped to meet the challenges of the day. Self-care is not the same as selfishness. By giving to yourself, you will be more productive, and you will have more to give to others.  Learn how to give yourself permission to have daily “windows of selfishness.”
2. Learn proper time management strategies and this will create efficiency and allow you to proactively schedule time for yourself.
3. Mentally invest in yourself. Your well-being is an investment that will serve you over time. Be mindful.

By focusing on yourself you will be able to step away from the professional cacophony, quiet the chaos and create a happier, healthier and properly balanced YOU.