Is Teacher Burnout Really a Thing?
Teachers play one of the most important roles in society. Still, they have consistently faced several challenges — within and outside the classroom.
They are collapsing under the weight of the responsibilities they are supposed to carry, more specifically post-pandemic. They simply didn’t get enough time to deal with everything in these fast-changing times, resulting in burnout.
Why Are Teachers Stressed?
Teachers work hard to give a solid educational foundation to all their students. According to the National Achievement Survey (NAS)-2021 conducted by the Ministry of Education (MoE), 65% of teachers are overworked. Amidst the stressors from low wages, extended hours, and demands of fulfilling each student's needs. And then entered the global pandemic, increasing the difficulties further.
Increased work responsibilities during the pandemic, disrupted student learning, and students with mental health issues are just a few of the reasons teachers believe they are under severe stress, especially with staff shortage worsening the situation even more.
Moreover, many teachers have struggled to navigate online teaching in the last two years. According to the TeamLease Edtch report, 31% of teachers in India are not adept in digital tools, with the remaining 79% undertaking training.
Quite possibly, teachers might also be stressed over their personal well-being, affected by pressures they have been experiencing.
The question is, what are these overwhelming levels of stress?
Is This Actually Stress or Teacher Burnout?
Teaching is undoubtedly challenging, and teachers might have felt stressed before. But what about the sense of exhaustion and lack of motivation that never ends. Is this stress or teacher burnout?
Although reaching the end of stress seems daunting, there is still some hope. Under stress, one can struggle to manage pressure. On the other hand, burnout is recurring episodes of negative emotions and withdrawal because of investing too much into something emotionally, physically, and intellectually without making any efforts to recover.
Once burnout sets in, the affected person loses all motivation to overcome their challenges. As the affected individual grows more isolated and withdraws, possibly to the point of depression, it becomes pertinent to seek professional help.
Teachers generally enjoy working hard and constantly seek ways to improve. Although these qualities are admirable, they lead to the adverse effects of perfectionism and do not let them have enough time for relaxation.
Thus with prolonged working hours and hefty workload, teachers can easily fall prey to teacher burnout. In fact, a 2022 National Education Association survey found that 90% of teachers believe teacher burnout to be a serious issue.
What Does Teacher Burnout Feel Like?
When teachers experience burnout, they may feel deprived of energy and too tired to continue working. Moreover, they may have difficulty sleeping, as burnout can cause sleep disruptions. Each day may feel like living in survival mode.
On top of it, teachers may experience symptoms of depression such as feeling incompetent or ineffective with anxiety and irritability. They may withdraw from socializing with others, including collaborating with other teachers.
Withdrawal is mostly accompanied by depersonalization — a sense of estrangement or a negative attitude toward their surroundings. Their attitude about the teaching profession may become pessimistic and unenthusiastic. They may also develop a mental detachment from their jobs. This is proven by the fact that many teachers have considered leaving the field.
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
Without sufficient support, teachers risk becoming even more overworked, neglecting their own mental and physical health. They need to be supported by the communities around them.
To prevent teacher burnout, teachers must incorporate balance into their lives. Setting up work boundaries is one method to achieve this. Moreover, they can plan to spend some time each weekend where self-care is essential, and the school is the lowest on their list of priorities.
With the right support from schools, teachers can escape the pessimism and exhaustion from teacher burnout. Counseling, workshops, and training sessions can help teachers cope with burnout. Such measures can considerably help teachers analyze their problems. Accordingly, they can change their responses that otherwise leads to apathy and pessimism.
Teachers understand their situation best. So, schools should look for symptoms leading to teacher burnout. This way, they may be able to take corrective action while there is still time to improve things.
Wrapping Up
Being a workaholic is often praised, whereas it shouldn't be. Most teachers are passionate and enthusiastic about their profession. As a result, teaching exists as part of their identity. However, they must be reminded that they have a personality that is more than just their jobs. They need to care for their overall well-being. Furthermore, teachers should get assistance at all levels, from the classroom to school administration, to help them thrive in a post-pandemic society and prevent burnout.