Balancing the Scales: Managing Burnout with Boundaries
Published 8 December 2024
“I think it’s really important to––excuse my language here but––show yourself some grace! This is a really…It can be a really difficult field to get into, especially if you struggle with perfectionism and wanting things to go your way. I think you have to make sure that you can have an idea of how the lesson’s going to go and how your class is going to go but be okay with it. I think as educators it’s really important to make sure that if you are working from 8 to 5, make sure you’re [only] working from 8 to five. That might be hard to find time to lesson plan. I know teachers go above and beyond, but if you can stick within your time limits of what you’re paid to do that would be my recommendation for not burning out and enjoying the job.”
As we explored in our previous blog post, perfectionism can prevent us from communicating freely but as Grace exemplifies above, it can also cause stress when it drives us to extend ourselves beyond our limits.
Teaching is more than a job; it’s a calling. However, this calling can often come at a personal cost when educators stretch themselves too thin. Between lesson planning, grading, parent communication, and professional development, the workday can easily spill into evenings and weekends. While dedication to students is admirable, it can also lead to burnout if not carefully managed.
One way to combat burnout is by setting and respecting boundaries around your work hours. The idea of working only from 8 to 5, or within your contracted hours, may seem radical in a profession where "going above and beyond" is often expected. However, it is essential to remember that sustaining a teaching career requires preserving your mental and physical health.
Burnout doesn’t just affect teachers—–it impacts students, too. Educators who are overworked may find it difficult to bring their best selves to the classroom. Fatigue, frustration, and a lack of enthusiasm can seep into interactions with students, colleagues, and parents, ultimately diminishing the quality of instruction and school culture. In fact, studies have shown that “students of teachers reporting burnout had elevated levels of stress hormones, suggesting that teachers inadvertently pass their stress on to students” (American University, 2021).
To manage burnout, educators must redefine their relationship with work. This starts with showing yourself grace and acknowledging that perfection is neither attainable nor necessary (iCEV, 2023). Lessons may not always go as planned, and unexpected challenges will arise. Allowing flexibility in your expectations can create room for personal and professional growth.
Another key to maintaining balance is prioritization. Not all tasks require the same level of attention, and it’s important to distinguish between what is essential and what can wait. By focusing on the most impactful tasks during work hours, educators can free up personal time to recharge and connect with family, friends, and hobbies.
Finally, fostering a culture of balance within the school environment can make a significant difference. Administrators can support teachers by encouraging realistic expectations, offering time-saving resources, and promoting open conversations about workload and well-being. Teachers can also support each other by sharing strategies, materials, and a collective commitment to respecting work-life boundaries.
Five Practical Tips for Managing Burnout:
Set Clear Work Hours: Decide on your "off-the-clock" time and stick to it. Use alarms or timers to remind yourself to stop working.
Prioritize Tasks: Focus on high-impact activities during your work hours. Delegate, simplify, or postpone tasks that don’t need immediate attention.
Learn to Say No: Politely decline extra responsibilities that would overload your schedule or compromise your well-being.
Leverage Technology: Use digital tools to streamline grading, lesson planning, and communication. Platforms like Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams can save time.
Plan for Downtime: Schedule personal time for activities you enjoy, whether it’s reading, exercising, or spending time with loved ones.
When schools are faced with numerous tangible problems, the emotional burdens of teachers may seem like a trivial issue, but research shows that the most effective interventions to reduce teacher burnout were “in the mindfulness, behavioral, and cognitive‐behavioral domains” while the least effective interventions “delivered solely informational content” (Von der Embse et al., 2019).
Teaching is a marathon, not a sprint. By consciously managing work hours and creating space for rest and renewal, educators can maintain their passion for teaching while safeguarding their health and well-being.
Discussion Question
What strategies have you found most effective in maintaining work-life balance as an educator, and how do you communicate your boundaries to colleagues, students, and parents?
Related Posts
-
iCEV. (2023, December 28). The 7 best ways to avoid burnout in 2024. iCEVonline.com. https://www.icevonline.com/blog/best-ways-to-avoid-teacher-burnout
American University. (2021, February 16). Addressing Teacher Burnout: Causes, Symptoms, and Strategies. SOEOnline.American.edu. Retrieved from https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/teacher-burnout/
Von der Embse, N., Ryan, S. V., Gibbs, T., & Mankin, A. (2019). Teacher stress interventions: A systematic review. Psychology in the Schools, 56(3). DOI:10.1002/pits.22279
