| Merriam-Webster defines "burn out" as "exhaustion of | | | | you felt and grateful you were to have the opportunity |
| physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as | | | | to positively impact a student's life? Spend a few |
| a result of prolonged stress or frustration." Just how | | | | minutes at the beginning of each school day thinking |
| many of us have experienced those feelings at least | | | | back to a time when you didn't feel burned out. And |
| once in our life? Probably most of us have. | | | | until you begin feeling that way again, try the old adage: |
| As a teacher, your classroom responsibilities may | | | | "Fake it until you make it." |
| place you more at risk than those working in other | | | | Give yourself a pat on the back. Many teachers |
| fields. Poor student-teacher or parent-teacher | | | | create a scrapbook or file to store all of the "ataboys" |
| relationships, lack of student motivation, little student | | | | they've received over the years from peers, |
| respect for teachers, lack of positive feedback from | | | | administrators, parents and students. But you can take |
| peers and school leaders, pressures related to time | | | | this a step farther. Pay attention when someone gives |
| and performance, increased paperwork, poor working | | | | you a compliment, thanks you for something you did or |
| conditions, such as large class sizes or lack of teaching | | | | does something thoughtful. Write each instance down, |
| materials, are among what teachers commonly site as | | | | no matter how seemingly insignificant, to help you |
| job stressors. | | | | concentrate on what is going right - instead of focusing |
| What starts out as common daily stress can | | | | on what is wrong. |
| eventually burn you out. Experts say that irritability at | | | | Get more training. Feelings of professional inadequacy |
| home and in the classroom, anxiety and feelings of | | | | are among common stressors for educators. It's not |
| powerlessness can signal that someone is feeling | | | | uncommon for teachers to feel overwhelmed when |
| burned out. Physical symptoms can also manifest | | | | asked to take on a responsibility they aren't trained to |
| through headaches, shingles, heart palpitations and | | | | do. Talk to your administrator about taking a class or |
| chronic fatigue. | | | | training module to brush up on skills you might feel |
| But just when does stress that is bearable become | | | | inadequate in. You will feel empowered when you gain |
| intense enough to harm you? Personality type greatly | | | | competency in skill sets you regularly use. |
| influences how well someone can handle prolonged | | | | Get organized. Sounds simple, right? Well, often it's |
| stress. But there are other ways you can influence | | | | simpler than we think it is. Look around your classroom. |
| how easily you can improve your feelings of burn out. | | | | Is your desk top cluttered? Are you files bursting at |
| If you're experiencing symptoms of extreme work | | | | the seams? Maybe it's time for a new start. Clear out |
| stress, it can be helpful to talk about it with a peer you | | | | all unnecessary paperwork and files. Many items can |
| trust, especially if they are someone who seems | | | | be scanned and stored digitally, and they won't clutter |
| particularly resilient and adept at coping with stress. | | | | up your space like paper files will. When your |
| They might advise you to do some of these things to | | | | classroom is in order, you will feel more in control, too. |
| get back on track: | | | | Persevere until you feel better. Sometimes you can |
| Identify what is burning you out. Try writing down all | | | | change your circumstances in a way that will alleviate |
| your thoughts, jotting freely and with the utmost of | | | | your feelings of burn out; but many times |
| honesty. Then scan back over your notes and identify | | | | circumstances cannot be changed. Persevere and do |
| a common theme. Is it lack of time? Feeling | | | | the best you can until your stressors improve - or you |
| overworked? Conflict with a particular student? Once | | | | learn better ways to handle stress. Either way, if you |
| identified, the problem might seem less daunting and it | | | | think that it sounds like a lot of work to get back on |
| will give you a place to start. | | | | track, you're right. But your efforts will be worth it |
| Recall the reasons you became an educator. | | | | when you can identify what is defeating you and learn |
| Remember how nervous you were on your first day | | | | how to work your way around it. |
| of teaching your own class? Remember how excited | | | | |