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FEATURE: TEACHER BURNOUT
Five ways to tackle burnout and be happier at work
People in any profession can suffer from burnout and teachers are no exception. In fact, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research, teachers are more likely to suffer job- related stress than any other professionals. While teaching is a highly-rewarding and fulfilling profession, it does come with its own challenges. Most days, educating young minds,
encouraging students to reach their full potential and making tangible differences in their lives can be hugely motivating. Other days, it can be draining, stressful and exhausting, both mentally and physically. The pandemic has only seen more pressure put
on teachers as they adjust to disruptions to lessons and exams, and the introduction of home based learning and ongoing safety management measures to keep students and staff safe - all while juggling their heavy workloads and personal lives, too. As a result, research from NASUWT found 1 in
I
n our fourth feature this month we hear from Giancarlo Brotto, Global Education
Advisor at SMART Technologies, who offers some essential advice for teachers reaching the limits of their endurance, and shows how you can navigate your way through the difficult times.
4 teachers sought medical help last year because of the impact the pandemic had on their workload and mental health. These worrying statistics suggest that more needs to be done to support teachers’ wellbeing and to prevent burnout from escalating. So, how can it be avoided?
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Creating healthy work boundaries In a role like teaching, it can be difficult to separate your life at school from your life at all, particularly when you are deeply passionate about the work you do. However, space is important. While it can be tempting to bring home a pile of books to mark in the evening or over the weekend, creating healthy work boundaries is vital. It’s important to remember we’re all human
and there are only a certain amount of hours in the day - some things can simply wait. Accepting this is a must. Too often teachers put their students before themselves but as the old saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. With this in mind, senior school leadership
teams must support teachers in putting themselves and their health first by encouraging them to set and observe boundaries. If teachers are to perform to the best standard in the classroom and provide the best education to students, leadership must encourage teachers to take time to refuel and look after their own health and wellbeing. For many teachers the planning time during the
school day is not enough, and in many cases the working late hours or planning lessons over the weekend is common. However, you need balance
July/August 2022
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