Tag Archives: Principal Burnout

Redefine and Combat Burnout

Redefine and Combat Burnout: An Educator’s Perspective

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Talk About Burnout

Educators across the country talk about burnout. Teachers, principals, and administrators want a way out of the profession. They cannot take the stress of all of the demands put on them. Unfortunately, support for them is minimal and there is a “suck it up” mentality. Eventually, that mentality runs out, and burnout becomes a reality. So, its time for educators to take matters into their own hands. It’s time to redefine and combat burnout on your own terms.

Definition of Burnout

First, let’s take a look at the definition of burnout. It is usually defined as physical or mental collapse due to overwork or stress. You can experience mental or physical exhaustion. According to Psychology Today, “Burnout is not simply a result of long hours. The cynicism, depression, and lethargy of burnout can occur when a person is not in control of how the job is being carried out.”  

As a teacher, you want to teach and run your classroom based on the needs of your students. Principals want to manage and administer based on the needs of the students, teachers, and families. Often central office personnel dictates policies and mandates. Then school personnel feel unsupported and left out of the decision-making process. Teachers and principals feel the weight of the mandates such as additional paperwork, reports, and too many assessments. Continue reading

Five Life Changes for a First-Year Principal

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First-Year Principal

Congratulations! You’re smiling like a Cheshire Cat because you signed your first contract as a school principal. You’re happy. Your family is happy. Your checkbook is happier. The new position is everything you worked hard for. Give yourself a high five! Life as you know it is about to change big time. The intent is not to scare you, but to give an honest view.  Here are five life changes for a first-year principal.

 

Sleep is a Fantasy

The first life change is you will never sleep like a baby again. A full night of sleep is now a fantasy. The job is now in control of your mind. While everyone else is snoring in your house, your eyes are wide open. All of the projects, reports, meetings, emails, and other work-related stuff is on your mind. A list of ideas, plans, and changes run through your mind’s eye.  The clock keeps ticking, one o’clock, two o’clock, and three o’clock. Finally, you fall asleep and the alarm goes off at six o’clock in the morning. The first -year principal runs on fumes.  

Sleep is evasive for a first-year principal. Photo by Toa Heftiba on Upsplash.

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Educators! Make This Wellness and Self-Care Workshop Your Priority

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This Workshop is for You!

In our last post, we wrote about teacher wellness and self-care becoming a priority. Educators have more opportunities to attend workshops and conferences. Do you want to learn how to reduce stress and burnout? Teach and Take Time for You has the perfect workshop for you. Mark your calendar! This event, “Strategies and Tips to Reduce Stress and Burnout” is Saturday, October 6, 2018.

First, answer a few questions to see if this is a fit for you. Are you stressed out? Are you ready to quit the profession? Do you drag yourself to work each morning? Are you losing patience with your students, colleagues, and parents? Do you count the days between weekends and holidays? If your answer is Yes to any question, this is the perfect workshop for You! Continue reading