School Just Began and I’m Already Overwhelmed
Teaching has particular challenges in the first few years, but there are things you can do to make it through tough times.
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The first few weeks of school are always a blur, but by October, new teachers may wonder if they can last until Fall Break. Despite your best efforts to stay focused, you may already feel like you’re running on empty. If this sounds even vaguely familiar, know that you’re not alone.
Teacher burnout is real, and it can happen at any time of the year. Balancing school responsibilities and personal life can leave you feeling exhausted and inadequate. This is a side of our profession that teacher preparation programs don’t always fully address, leaving many new educators feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically depleted.
I’ve been in education for almost 30 years now, and there have been times when I balanced the complexities of this job relatively well. However, there have been other moments when I failed miserably, struggled, and suffered in silence, thinking that it was weak to complain. To avoid making the mistakes I’ve made, you can try a few strategies that have worked for me and many teachers over the years.
1. organize Your Week
Arrive early: Although hitting the snooze button feels great, trying to play catch-up as students are arriving on campus can cause more stress than you need. Consider arriving 30 minutes before your assigned report time so you can get settled in, check your email, and grab a refreshing drink to get you through to lunch. I promise you this piece of advice is the best I received as a new teacher!
Copy materials a few days in advance: It never fails: When a teacher is in need of a copier to reproduce the day’s copies right before school starts or during their lunch break, the copier is either broken or being used. Avoid this stressor by copying as much as you can ahead of time.
Use that enrichment section in your teacher’s manual: There will always be one or more students who finish early, and for me, it always happened in math class. Trying to work with all students and teach with differentiation was my biggest struggle. As you are copying materials for the week, be sure to copy all of the enrichment activities so you can keep all of your learners engaged.
Prepare everything the night before: Pack your teacher bag, lunch, and big tumbler of whatever refreshing drink you enjoy throughout the day the night before school. Bonus points for planning your wardrobe the night (or even the week!) before. With your teaching bag in your car, all you have to do is grab your lunch and drink out of the refrigerator and go the next day!
2. Build a Support Network
Find the support of trusted colleagues: Having a teacher bestie is one of the greatest gifts in our profession. Sometimes, teachers just need to vent so they can release the stress, refocus, and jump back into the game. For me, this was a game changer—talking to others in the profession who are going through the same thing truly helps.
Seek out professional development opportunities: While attending more PDs is not always at the top of an educator’s list of to-do items, it does provide you the chance to connect with like-minded professionals who have the same goals in mind. This also provides you with a broader network of educators, which can really help you build a great network of people to call upon when you need a deeper expertise!
3. Find Ways to Decompress at School
Play music: Play soft music in the background as students come in to begin their morning routines and during independent work time. Listening to music during your break time can also help you shift your mood.
Don’t forget to eat your lunch: My first year, I allowed the responsibilities to my class overwhelm my physical needs. I would skip lunch to grade an extra set of papers or copy things in the teacher workroom, thinking I was getting ahead. But doing this sets you up for failure and hunger. Always take time to sit, eat your lunch in peace, and get some quality time with your colleagues.
Build in mindful brain breaks: This is one of my favorite suggestions because not only does it refresh me, but it is a fantastic tool for students! After lunch and recess, students can become unfocused. Begin a tradition of mindful brain breaks! To do this, I would turn off the overhead lights but keep my desk light and other smaller lights on. Then I would project images on the whiteboard like beta fish swimming, ocean waves crashing onto a calm beach, or nature scenes.
4. Save positive resources
Write a letter: At the beginning of the year, write yourself a letter expressing why you chose this profession. Be specific. On days that are particularly tough, get it out and read it to encourage yourself that things will get better! You can keep this going throughout the year by journaling to record the sweet and simple moments of the day that made you giggle or smile.
Keep student and parent letters of encouragement: Whether it is a handmade card, picture, email, or letter, keep these items and browse through them to remind yourself of the powerful and positive impact you have made already! These mementos have meant so much to me, as they are reminders of the positive work that we as teachers do every day.
Take lots of photos: Looking back on the special projects, field trips, fun assignments, and other things that are personally special and memorable to you will be an essential way to keep your spirits up and your motivation high! It is rewarding to glance through old photos of students who now have families and careers of their own, thanks to the work teachers do.
Finally, when you’re home for the day, take a break. If you enjoy binge-watching your favorite show, spend a little bit of time doing that. If reading is your happy place, get lost in another time and setting. If exercising helps you release tension, be sure to schedule it into your day. These things are most important to staying mentally and physically healthy.