1 answer
Rebecca
Student
Monticello, Kentucky
1
Question
Updated
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How do you avoid burnout as an Elementary Teacher?
I often hear teachers complain about the struggles of teaching? I have also worked with teachers who often say how exhausted they are, and how hard it is to keep going, I am interested on how to avoid this.
1 answer
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
188
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
I know two types of teachers. The first teacher teaches all year, in their spare time volunteers, on the weekends they help with extracurricular activities, tutor students, and if they have five minutes to themselves they will gladly drop everything to help you. The second teacher takes a nice vacation every summer to the beach, they make time for work friends separate from their non-work friends and family, they tutor but do so on specific days only, and they participate in community events but every few years.
The one thing people don't add into their career is time for them to reset and create boundaries for themselves. Too often we look at the job and plan how we are going to work. We don't look at a job and think how we can use that job to relax or unwind.
The first school teacher has an honest heart and is almost completely selfless. You likely have a teacher like this right now. They will drop anything to make sure what you need. The issue is, they likely have poor health or might be edgy or mean at times. The second teacher still has an honest heart, but they realize they can only give what they have. When you talk to them they are cool and collected, they are usually in good health, but they make sure they have their boundaries before they step in. I may be painting a bad picture of the first teacher, but if I were one of the two, I would consider myself the first one. I have set up poor boundaries for myself professionally.
This is important in any profession (again I know teachers, I am not a teacher) but it means more for an elementary school teacher because no matter what you are doing it because you love kids. You will have an attachment to them no matter what, this is who you are. All of the administrative, political, and family interactions you will have likely won't burn you out. Giving more to others than what you have for yourself in any capacity will burn you out quickly.
Lastly, the joke they make is that summer break is for the teachers and not the students. But actually, they make it for the teachers. It would make more economic and curricular sense to keep kids in motion in school, but you would lose teachers from burnout because they would not have the time to themselves they need.
No matter the job, create time for yourself and make boundaries. If you are passionate about your work it is harder to make that separation.
The one thing people don't add into their career is time for them to reset and create boundaries for themselves. Too often we look at the job and plan how we are going to work. We don't look at a job and think how we can use that job to relax or unwind.
The first school teacher has an honest heart and is almost completely selfless. You likely have a teacher like this right now. They will drop anything to make sure what you need. The issue is, they likely have poor health or might be edgy or mean at times. The second teacher still has an honest heart, but they realize they can only give what they have. When you talk to them they are cool and collected, they are usually in good health, but they make sure they have their boundaries before they step in. I may be painting a bad picture of the first teacher, but if I were one of the two, I would consider myself the first one. I have set up poor boundaries for myself professionally.
This is important in any profession (again I know teachers, I am not a teacher) but it means more for an elementary school teacher because no matter what you are doing it because you love kids. You will have an attachment to them no matter what, this is who you are. All of the administrative, political, and family interactions you will have likely won't burn you out. Giving more to others than what you have for yourself in any capacity will burn you out quickly.
Lastly, the joke they make is that summer break is for the teachers and not the students. But actually, they make it for the teachers. It would make more economic and curricular sense to keep kids in motion in school, but you would lose teachers from burnout because they would not have the time to themselves they need.
No matter the job, create time for yourself and make boundaries. If you are passionate about your work it is harder to make that separation.
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