Teaching Is A Vocation

You have a passion for the profession, teaching is worthwhile because of the positive impact on students’ learning, development and chances in life.

However, increasingly teachers are suffering from burnout and acknowledging that it is real is very important for the individual and the profession. At Those Who Can we often have phone calls with teachers who have reached breaking point and this isn’t good enough, individuals that work so hard to educate, inspire and safeguard young people deserve to look after themselves and those around them.

This is why we created this blog, to address what teacher burnout is, the common signs of burnout for yourself, how to identify colleagues who might be suffering and where to get support.

Spotting teacher burnout, whether in yourself or colleagues, is crucial for maintaining a healthy work environment and ensuring the wellbeing of both educators and students.

What Is Burnout?

“Burnout is the result of a prolonged period of stress which negatively affects your wellbeing. The signs and symptoms may be subtle at first, but can progressively deteriorate and become overwhelming.” NHS Foundation Trust

The NHS states these Common causes, and you can probably relate to some if not all within the teaching profession:

• Work-life imbalance
• High volume of work
• Lack of resources
• Feeling unsupported
• Unclear job expectations
• Feel unable to influence decisions

Teachers burning out can have financial implications for the school and increase the workload of your colleagues, knowing this will only add to the stress and guilt you feel making the situation worse. 

So how do we know if we might be suffering from burnout?

What Are The Signs Of Teacher Burnout

Here are the most common signs of teacher burnout to look for in yourself:

Physical & Emotional Exhaustion

You feel constantly drained, tired, or emotionally overwhelmed, even after a good night’s sleep.

“It’s estimated that teachers make about 1,500 decisions every school day. When you combine those decisions with all the necessary self-regulation involved with teaching kids, it’s no wonder our willpower is gone by five o’clock. We are exhausted.” Teacher Habits

Decreased Performance

You have a noticeable decline in your teaching quality, lesson planning, and classroom management.

Lack Of Enthusiasm

You are losing passion and excitement for teaching and feeling disengaged from your students and the subject matter.

Isolation

You withdraw from colleagues, avoid staff meetings, and feel disconnected from the school community. 

“We all know what loneliness feels like and feeling lonely from time to time is a normal part of life. But when loneliness is severe or lasts a long time, it can negatively affect our mental health.” Mental Health Foundation

Increased Irritability

You’ve become easily frustrated or agitated with students, parents, or colleagues over minor issues.

Reduced Empathy

You are finding it hard to connect with students’ needs and emotions, and feeling less empathetic overall.

Neglecting Self-Care

You are ignoring your own needs, not taking breaks, skipping meals, or neglecting hobbies and personal time.

Cynicism & Negative Attitude

You have developed a negative outlook on your job, students, or the education system in general.

Insomnia

You are finding it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or experience restlessness due to work-related stress.

“Both sleep and mental health are complex issues affected by a multitude of factors, but, given their close association, there is strong reason to believe that improving sleep can have a beneficial impact on mental health and can be a component of treating many psychiatric disorders.” Sleep Foundation

Physical Symptoms

Frequent headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension, and other physical signs of stress. The Teacher Wellbeing Index Survey 2022 found that 47% of teachers go to work when they are feeling unwell.

What Are The Signs Of Teacher Burnout

Here are the most common signs of teacher burnout to look for in your colleagues:

1. Change in Behaviour: Noticeable changes in a colleague’s behaviour, such as increased irritability, moodiness, or sudden withdrawal.
2. Increased Absenteeism: Frequent sick days or time off, often due to vague or stress-related reasons.
3. Drop in Performance: Colleagues struggling to keep up with their responsibilities, showing a decline in teaching quality or organisational skills.
4. Avoidance of Conversations: Avoiding discussions about teaching, students, or school-related matters, and disengaging from collaborative activities.
5. Expressions of Frustration: Voicing frustration about workload, administrative pressures, or lack of support.
6. Isolation: Colleagues becoming increasingly isolated from social interactions and professional development opportunities.
7. Neglecting Self-Care: Colleagues who consistently work long hours, neglect breaks, or seem unable to detach from work.
8. Physical Ailments: Observing signs of physical stress, such as fatigue, weight changes, or frequent health issues.
9. Lack of Innovation: A sudden lack of interest in trying new teaching strategies or engaging with innovative approaches.
10. Decreased Enthusiasm: Colleagues who once exhibited passion and enthusiasm becoming noticeably disengaged and unenthusiastic.

If you or a colleague show several of these signs, it may be indicative of burnout. Addressing burnout requires open communication, support from senior leaders, and a commitment to self-care and wellbeing. Schools should encourage a culture of understanding, empathy, and collaboration within their school community to help prevent and alleviate teacher burnout.

Get Support

If you feel you’re heading for burnout, or experiencing it already, don’t suffer alone. Speak to colleagues, friends, family or call Education Support free, confidential helpline, staffed by qualified counsellors and available 24/7 on 08000 562 561.

They also have a free poster you can display at school to help with teacher burnout awareness.

Nick Elston is one of the highest-profile and leading Inspirational Speakers on the Lived Experience of Mental Health. Nick regularly works with schools and educational professionals, he ran a free webinar for Did Teach audience in 2020. You can subscribe to his YouTube channel for inspirational content.

“You can have all the Wellbeing & Mental Health initiatives you like – but unless you get engagement in them – absolutely nothing changes.” Nick Elston

This really does resonate with us, please don’t suffer in silence, help is there for you, find the right platform, specialist or activity that suits you and move forward.

We have a new blog on Teacher Burnout Prevention & Management coming soon.