Burnout and Stress
Reflect and Share Before You Dive In
Before you embark on reading this insightful article, take a moment to share your initial thoughts and expectations. Reflecting on what you currently understand about burnout and stress and pinpointing your learning goals can greatly enhance your reading journey.
Consider the following before you begin:
- Have you experienced burnout as an RECE? How did you identify it?
- What aspects of burnout and stress are you hoping to learn more about through this article?
We encourage you to use the comment box below to share your reflections and insights, as this will enrich our collective learning experience. (After you’ve made your comment, please take a moment to capture a screenshot of it. Then, include this screenshot in your CPL portfolio as a record of the valuable contribution you’ve made to our learning community)
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In the demanding world of education, educator and staff burnout has emerged as a silent crisis, impacting educators’ teaching and the quality of education children receive. Tackling this issue head-on is essential for fostering a nurturing and effective learning environment for young children.
“45% of early childhood educators report high burnout and stress – Modan, 2022.”
Understanding Teacher/Staff Burnout:
It is essential to understand that everyone experiences burnout differently, and everyone’s experience is natural and completely valid. Burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, having a pessimistic view of one’s job, or feelings of reduced personal achievement. It’s often fueled by excessive workloads, insufficient support, and the intrinsic emotional challenges of teaching young children.
Impact of Burnout:
Beyond personal health and job satisfaction, burnout affects classroom dynamics and student engagement, leading to a decline in the quality of education and higher educator turnover rates.
Identifying Burnout:
Creating a supportive atmosphere where staff can express concerns, identify signs of burnout, and seek help is critical. Burnout identifiers include:
- Prolonged negative attitudes and frustrations
- Fatigue and persistent tiredness
- Disinterest or detachment from work – not wanting to do more than the minimum requirement.
- Brain Fog – cannot perform or recall routine tasks or information
- Increased anxiety to complete daily tasks
- Overthinking and worrying about work-related outcomes.
Strategies for Prevention and Management:
For Individuals:
- Self-Care: Prioritize physical and mental health through regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating. Mindfulness, meditation, and limiting sensory input can also reduce stress.- start a feeling journal and attend a collaborative workshop on burnout to share your feelings with others.
- Time Management: Adopt efficient planning and prioritization techniques to manage workload and reduce overtime.
- Professional Learning: Engage in training and workshops that offer strategies for stress management and resilience building.
- Peer/Family Support: Form or join support groups with colleagues to share experiences, solutions, and encouragement. Prioritize time with family and friends.
For Institutions:
- Workload Review: Regularly assess and adjust teaching workloads to prevent overload, considering class sizes, administrative tasks, and extracurricular responsibilities.
- Mental Health Resources: Provide accessible mental health support, including counselling services and stress management programs.
- Professional Support: Offer ongoing professional development and career advancement opportunities that motivate and engage staff.
- Positive School Culture: Create a supportive and respective school environment where educators’ efforts are recognized and their feedback is valued.
The journey to overcoming teacher and staff burnout requires educators’ and educational leaders’ commitment and action. By implementing effective strategies focused on prevention and management, we can safeguard our educators’ well-being and ensure a high-quality learning experience for our students. Let’s nurture a culture of support, understanding, and resilience in education.
Reflect on your Learning:
Seeking Your Insights: How Do You Keep Balanced and Steer Clear of Burnout?
- What steps can you take to maintain a balance and avoid burnout?
- How can you support yourself if burnout happens?
I’d love to hear your strategies for preventing burnout and managing stress. Your insights and experiences are incredibly valuable, so please don’t hesitate to share any tips or approaches you’ve found beneficial. (After you’ve made your comment, please take a moment to capture a screenshot of it. Then, include this screenshot in your CPL portfolio as a record of the valuable contribution you’ve made to our learning community)
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Below, you will find additional resources on educator stress and burnout:
Web Pages
53 Easy Ways for Early Childhood Educators to Prioritize Mental Health in 2024
https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/ways-for-early-childhood-educators-to-prioritize-mental-health
Ditch That Textbook: 4 Ways to Fight Educator Burnout
https://ditchthattextbook.com/educator-burnout/
Lillio/HiMama: Overcoming Burnout in Child Care
NAEYC: Preventing Compassion Fatigue: Caring for Yourself
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/jul2020/preventing-compassion-fatigue/
Prodigy: 8 Proven Ways to Overcome Teacher Burnout and Love Teaching Again
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/teacher-burnout/
Reducing Teacher Burnout Tips
https://www.teachtraveltriumph.com/post/supporting-teacher-burnout
Women’s Agenda: What drives early childhood educator burnout, and what interventions can help?
Videos
Early Childhood Investigations: Overcoming Burnout in the ECE Workplace
Documents
Canadian Mental Health Association: The Burnout Crisis: A Call to Invest in ECE and Child and Youth Workers
Childcare Canada: Bound for burnout: Early childhood educators are swimming against a gendered, micromanaged tide
Childcare Education Institute: Issues in Early Childhood Education in 2022
https://www.cceionline.com/issues-in-early-childhood-education-in-2022/
The Importance of Early Childhood Educator Mental Health & Well-Being: A guide to supporting educators.
https://www.college-ece.ca/en/Documents/QCR_Importance_of_ECE_Mental_Health.pdf
Self Care Exchange: Strategies for Preventing Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood Education.
https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/files/ccic/pdf/articles/strategies-for-preventing-teacher-burnout.pdf
Journal Articles (Open-Source)
CellPress: Early childhood educators’ emotional labour and burnout in an
emerging economy: The mediating roles of affective states
https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(23)01260-4.pdf
Early Childhood Education Journal: It matters: Early childhood mental health, educator stress, and burnout.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10643-022-01438-8
Very old – Educational Research Quarterly: Educator Burnout: Sources and Consequences.
https://smlr.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/Documents/Faculty-Staff-Docs/EducatorBurnout.pdf
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal: Early childhood educators’ emotional exhaustion and the frequency of educational activities in preschool.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1350293X.2023.2217485
Sage Journals: Examining Burnout and the Relationships Between Job Characteristics, Engagement, and Turnover Intention Among U.S. Educators
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244020972361