Staying Motivated

Sometimes digging deep to stay motivated is just plain hard.

Teacher burn-out is real. So, what the heck can we do to get out of our own way and push through the tough times? Surely, I do not have the answer to that, but I do know that unless we can re-frame our purpose, it will just get harder.

The other day I was reading my “NEA Today” magazine and there was an article titled: “6 Must-Do’s to Fix the Educator Crisis.” Besides more money, better working conditions (that’s a loaded one), there was one that struck me- “Remove barriers to the profession instead of lowering standards.” It talks about teacher apprenticeships and mentoring programs, while at the same time proposing the elimination of one-time hiring incentives. Nothing says long-term support like a one-year counseling position. Right?

Well, after having several conversations about the profession, and burnout, and how we are going to engage young teachers into the field, it occurred to me that one thing that is missing is sincere empathy. It may sound silly, but although there is a growing awareness and concern about teacher burnout, I feel like there continues to be a disconnect with a real understanding from the public, about how the day-to-day challenges are affecting the professionals who are dedicated to the students. If we (the teachers) felt that people actually cared about how we feel- maybe, we would not be contemplating running out the door and not coming back. It’s one thing to say, “we are supportive of our teachers” and another to spend a day in schools and see what is actually happening on any given day. 

More and more demands are being placed on the schools and we simply do not have unlimited resources or the emotional capacity to handle them. We are now ensuring that kids are fed, often clothed and provide counseling that is over and above what is reasonable or appropriate in a school setting. In addition, we are expected to learn and implement new programming to accommodate the gaps in learning while the social emotional behaviors in students continue to escalate. So, when the ESSER funds are being used to add in a one-year position to help fill a need, it is a double edge sword. It’s a short-term solution that will end up being detrimental to the team. Because when that funding runs out- you can bet that taxpayers are not going to want to commit to funding those positions… and then where does that leave the school staff? Right back where we started! Stressed out and scrambling to find solutions to all of the needs of the students.

Would sincere empathy be sufficient to mitigate teacher burnout? I’m not sure. However, it would be great if we could have open dialogues with the powers that be without worrying that we are sounding like whiners. I don’t think we have a safe place to voice that without being perceived in a negative way.

Some things you can do to stay afloat:

• Stick to your routine. Routine is not just for kids. Teachers can benefit by the “usual” routine. It’s one less thing to tax the brain. 
• Find a few close colleagues to share your concerns, vent, and also support. Instead of always being the victim, try being more positive and helpful. Don’t get stuck in the mire of negativity. If those are the colleagues you are hanging with- mix it up and find some new ones.
• Don’t make any rash decisions about heading for the hills. Talk to your administrator about concerns, options, and changes that are happening at the statewide and local level. Look at your curriculum and implementation- are there things that you can do differently next year to alleviate some of your stress?

“Teaching is a work of heart.” Ain’t that the truth! If it wasn’t for the kids, we would have quit a long time ago. But they need us, and we need them. So, find things outside of school that provide an outlet to the stress during the school day. Call a friend to go for a walk. Make a dinner date with someone special. Buy yourself a new snuggly shirt! Set some goals that focus on time management so you can find (no matter how small) a bit of balance between work and home. Every little bit helps. So, dig deep to find that inner strength and positive attitude. If you can’t do it for yourself- do it for someone else!