About Burnout

Teaching is a profession with a high amount of daily stress. This high amount of stress can lead to both physical and mental health problems and that can eventually lead to burnout. With almost half of teachers leaving the profession within five years of employment, it’s important to learn how to recognize what burnout is and consider how your school can make small changes to help prevent teachers from burning out. 

What is Teacher Burnout? Burnout can be defined as “a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place.” 

The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) is a 30 item self-report measure of the positive and negative effects of working with people who have experienced extremely stressful events. 

The ProQol contains three subscales measuring Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction. 

Click here to take the ProQOL quiz and assess your professional fatigue, burnout and satisfaction. 

Causes for Teacher Burnout 

    • Volume: Too much to do and not enough time – one of the most common problems and also one of the most burnout-rendering problems. 
    • Environment: Including overstimulation and inadequate resources. 
    • Tedium: This generally applies to veteran teachers who find themselves doing the same thing year after year and does not typically pertain to new teachers. 
    • Student Behavior: Including classroom management, lack of boundaries at home, drug use, gang involvement, etc. 
    • Administration: When ineffective and/or antagonistic. 
    • Community Relations: Involving media, parent relations, etc. which can potentially disrespect teachers or not support teachers adequately) 3 

Burnout Signs and Symptoms: 

    • Fatigue and sleep issues 
    • Trouble concentrating 
    • Depression 
    • Anxiety 
    • Job absenteeism 
    • Irritability 
    • Diminished performance 

How to Avoid Burnout 

    • Learn to say “no” 
    • Make “you” time a priority 
    • Take time for introspection 
    • Treat yourself! 
    • Try to simplify as much as possible 

Strategies to Help Reduce Burnout 

    • Try 4Square Breathing: Try practicing 4Square Breathing in between classes. Even just a few minutes can make a world of difference. 
    • Try the “STOP” technique the next time you find yourself getting overly stressed. 
      • Stop – Whatever you are doing, just pause momentarily. 
      • Take a Breath – Reconnect with your breath to keep yourself in the present. 
      • Observe – Take notice of what is happening inside and outside of you. 
      • Proceed – Continue doing what you were doing.