May 1 2024
Teacher Thrive: Episode 46: Am I Burned Out?
Free Guides:
Examine your Thoughts
Who Are You, Really? 12 Prompts to Create Self-Awareness
Thoughts That Build Resilience
Weekly Time Blocking Planner
Boundary Setting Cheat-Sheet
Understanding Imposter Syndrome
Connect with the hosts:
Madel Mazzella:
Instagram: @madelmazzella
TikTok: @madelmazzella
Website: madelmazzella.com
Kaitlyn Rapai:
Instagram: @the_teacher_burnout_coach
TikTok: @kaitlyn_rapai_coaching
Website: kaitlynrapai.com
In this episode of the Teacher Thrive podcast the hosts delve into common signs of burning out and a few tips on how to approach it. Unsurprisingly for anyone in our field, burning out is a common experience for many teachers. The demands are many for us: attending meetings, professional development, curriculum planning, delivering and assessing lessons and assessments, proctoring, parent communication, extra help, school events, etc. If we add non-tangible tasks the list keeps going: Building relationships with all constituents of our school– students, parents, colleagues, administration– advocating for students, holding them accountable, etc.
When we stop enjoying our daily teaching practice and start feeling as though we cannot continue to juggle all the responsibilities, or we may start getting easily frustrated, we can be sure we’re on the road to burning out. There are also physical signs that our bodies have to endure: insomnia, exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, muscle tension, etc.
As soon as we start noticing the symptoms we can pivot our attention to our priorities during the day. We must take an inventory of all our obligations and re-evaluate them in order of priorities. Focusing our attention to one small goal at a time is an easy way to reset our thinking and shift our perception regarding our to-do list. Sometimes starting with what we enjoy doing the most is the best way to shift our perspective and feel inspired again so that we can have the energy to complete the less appealing tasks.
Most importantly, we must be firm about our individual needs. Often we’re our own worst critic and many of our stresses may be self-imposed. When we take the time to think about what we truly need to do to have a successful day at work and have the energy to be present at home, we become empowered to make decisions that work for us.
Original Music by: Matthew Dotson
Cover Art by: Nate Rapai
[Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any educational institutions or organizations. This podcast is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The hosts are not licensed therapists and their opinion does not substitute the advice of a physician or other qualified professional]