Teacher Self-Care 101

Educational exhaustion in teachers is quite common. So common that teacher burnout has led to a shortage in certain parts of the United States. This type of exhaustion is often caused by a lot of factors. One of the primary factors being a lack of autonomy. Rather than a teacher being able to prioritize their own curriculum and teaching pace, they may be required to follow a different plan that affects their teaching style and prohibits creative learning. Another factor, as mentioned previously, is teacher shortages. Staff turnover, resignations, and retirements could increase a teacher’s workload and decrease essential planning time. This can also place students in a bit of a limbo if they’re forced to change classrooms as a result of a teacher abandoning their position. In some instances, students displaying disruptive classroom behaviors may be the reason for teachers resigning. Managing student behaviors that stem from low self-esteem, family dynamics, or social pressures requires extra time and energy. For a teacher with an already sizeable classroom and workload, this could be what sets them over the edge. It’s important to attempt to avoid reaching that point as an educator, which is why self-care and maintaining one’s health is so important in these positions. Check out the resource included alongside this post to learn more about the ways in which teachers can better care for themselves amidst educational exhaustion.