Henry
James said the two sweetest words in the English language were “summer
afternoon.” For educators, perhaps the sweetest words are “summer break.” This
is the time of year many of us recharge our batteries as we vacation and take
time with family and friends.
But
what about those of us who are contemplating not returning to the classroom in
the fall and becoming part of that sad statistic that half of all teachers quit
in the first five years. Or what about those of us who are dreading getting
back in the classroom because even after summer break, we will still feel
burned-out?
Can
we recapture the energy and enthusiasm that brought us into the classroom and
help our colleagues when they start to get discouraged? Yes, we can become
revitalized and help others keep growing through the roller coaster ride of the
school year by becoming aware of what leads to burn-out and then becoming more
resilient as we add some of the following tools to our teacher's tool-kit.
What is
“Burn-Out?”
According
to a top burn-out researcher, Carol Maslach, “Burn-out is more than feeling
blue. It is a chronic state of being out of sync at work and can be a
significant problem for educators. People feel constantly overwhelmed,
stressed, and exhausted. Teachers may try to get away from it for a while, but
when they come back, it is as bad as ever…Burn-out is loss of enthusiasm. The
original passion to teacher has faded or gone away completely. Teaching feels
like a burden and a chore. Instead of doing their best, they do the bare minimum.”
Here's
a link to take the Burnout Self-Test from the Maslach Burnout Inventory for
yourself:
Five Steps to
Knock-Out Burn-Out
Step
#1) Reach out for Help
Even though burn-out makes us feel isolated, we are
not alone. Reach out to mentors, trusted colleagues, administrators,
counselors, and friends to start getting help and support, and don't be afraid
to get professional help. We can help others who are experiencing the same
thing and create networks of colleagues and friends. A study by Figley (2012)
shows that we can heal from “compassion fatigue” before it becomes full
burn-out.
Step
#2. Be Grateful-Look for the Positive
Research
(Emmons, Froh, Bono) shows that practicing gratitude helps restore our energy.
Gratitude is much more than a pleasant emotion; it is a potent action. Start to
practice gratitude: write a gratitude letter to a colleague, or make a
gratitude list about things in your classroom and life. Do it on a daily basis
for two weeks and watch your classroom become brighter.
Step
#3) Develop a Growth Mindset
Research by Dr. Carol
Dweck affirms that applying growth mindset activities helps teachers avoid
burnout and also helps students achieve in the classroom. Dweck tells us that praising the process
versus praising intelligence “may involve commending effort, strategies, focus,
persistence in the face of difficulty, and willingness to take on challenges.”
She gives some helpful examples in this article:
Step
#4) Help Others
In
the classroom and in the world, when we help others in big and small ways, we
are helping ourselves stay rejuvenated all year. By partaking in
altruistic actions, we open ourselves to the profound joy of giving freely as
we focus on others and not on ourselves. Write or call a parent and tell them
something about their student that you are proud of. Find a student that is
struggling and sincerely complement them for something they are doing well.
Altruistic giving has been shown to increase positive neurotransmitters in the
giver, receiver, and anyone observing the act of giving. People who volunteer
or care for others consistently are happier and less depressed. In her book, Raising
Happiness, Dr. Christine Carter writes about the “Helper’s High” we get
when we give of ourselves.
Step
#5) Have Fun in the Classroom
Humor
is a powerful way to stay fresh and rejuvenated throughout the long school
year. Although life can be serious, we can temper that with a sense of humor
about situations in the classrooms. We can learn to laugh at ourselves in
stressful situations and keep some balance and positive perspective.
Sometimes when I am
in survival mode, I forget that teaching can be fun. So, I start every day off
with a riddle. Not only is this fun, but it helps students think outside the
box. Sharing jokes, brief stories, brain teasers, etc., only takes a minute and
can easily be aligned to the day’s topic.
Make time to connect
with students, like standing at the door at the beginning and ending of class
and simply shaking their hand and telling them something you appreciate about
them.
Get Through the School Year with
a Smile
These
suggestions may seem daunting, but we don’t have to try everything at once.
Take some time to reflect this summer and make a plan to try the easiest of
these tips to get unstuck and feel refreshed. Then, try something else from the
list to revitalize and keep out of burn-out mode. If something doesn’t work,
remember that one mistake is not a failure but a step in learning. Keep trying
and reach out for help. We can do this! We can get through the year with a
smile.
