Education staff play a pivotal role in our children’s life and their education environment. It is the responsibility of these people to ensure our children are provided with a safe place to learn and grow as individuals, so we can create the best outcomes possible.
For many, this is why they work in education, to be a part of the reason for our children’s success. However, with this goal in mind, it can bring added pressure, high expectations and intense workloads.
Education support recently released their 2023 Teacher Wellbeing Index which states 36% out of 3,004 staff have experienced burnout – an increase of 9% from 2022*.
So, what is burnout and how can it be avoided?
Occupational burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion that occurs when the demands of our work consistently outweigh the resources available to cope with those demands.
Whilst it is not considered a ‘medical condition’, it can often lead to extended periods of sickness absenteeism and presents common signs such as:
- Decreased productivity
- Reduced job satisfaction
- Decline in overall wellbeing
Unfortunately, there are no definitive preventions for burnout, however, it is vital for you to make yourself and your colleagues aware of the signs to spot. Being proactive in the matter could be the reason yourself, or someone else, can avoid reaching this level of stress. It is also worth considering the following points:
- Stress awareness – Everyone is different, one size doesn’t fit all. Identify your stress ‘triggers’ and take time to learn how to manage them.
- Stress knowledge – Stress is a natural psychological reaction; it is your body’s way of reacting to pressure. Experiencing this isn’t always a bad thing, it’s learning to control it which is key.
- Self-care – Try and implement personal boundaries and healthy habits into your day. Learning that prioritising your wellbeing and saying no sometimes is ok!
- Lifestyle management – A subject that is spoken about often but is extremely important. Ensure you are fuelling your body, giving yourself time to rest and getting out and about can be a blessing to your mental wellbeing.
- Everyday energy – Ensure you’re recharging not only your mental and physical energy, but also your emotional and spiritual energy. A balanced and refreshed mindset will only bring a positive outlook.
- Proactive approach – If you feel your workload is getting too much, speak to your manager or leadership before this gets unmanageable. Your workplace may be able to support with rebalancing or managing your workload.
- Balance – Work life balance is at the top of many discussions regarding occupational burnout. Having boundaries of when the laptop closes, or the phone goes off can be hugely beneficial to reducing burnout. It means you can prioritise self-care and lifestyle management.
Burnout cannot be eliminated, but we all can ensure we are being mindful around the matter.
If you feel you could be experiencing burnout, please reach out to your line manager to discuss the support options available for you.
At SAM, we offer Staff Absence Management Software to the education sector. The software can assist you, as education leaders, to get your staff back to work quicker, feeling fully supported by their team. SAM can manage absence cases and utilises trigger watchlists to highlight staff who may require further management and support.
Sources: Working Well Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
