Thought Leadership
How School Administrators Can Avoid Burnout
It takes a village to keep schools running, and we’re here to help school administrators get the support they need for burnout and stress. Whether it’s the first day of school, the holiday season, or the end-of-year stretch, there’s always something going on at schools to keep school administrators and teachers working around the clock.
As school administrators, you often feel the weight of all the responsibilities on your shoulders. For example, this may be the pressure to keep everything running smoothly and ensure our students get the education they need, which can feel overwhelming.
Read on to learn more from BrainPOPpers and our Certified BrainPOP Educator (CBE) community with tips on how you can help support you and your staff from burnout year-round.
How can school leaders can avoid burnout
Burnout is one of those things that builds up over time. According to Edsurge, “85% of school principals are experiencing job-related stress, and 48% are dealing with burnout.” Burnout is a growing topic in education. And It’s “all-of-a-sudden you’re burned out,” but it just so happens to be a slow process.
CBE and Lahainaluna High School Interim Vice Principal and CBE Nicole Heinlein chimes in on ways to keep stress levels at bay. “I avoid burnout by setting boundaries around my time. I leave work by 4:00- 4:30 each day. Sometimes, I continue to work on something at home on my laptop, but it’s at home. I don’t stay late in my office. Also, I make time for my hobbies. I take two yoga or dance classes weekly and spend quality time with my family.”
Setting work-life balance boundaries, time blocking, and using enrichment resources are just a few of the many ways to avoid burnout.
Steps to take to avoid administrator burnout
Every person is different, and there’s no one-fits-all approach to burnout. It may take time to realize you are experiencing burnout, and it may take a process to get yourself out of burnout, but that’s okay. Let’s dive into some steps to avoid burnout.
Work-life balance check
When you wear a lot of hats (which all admins and teachers do), it can be hard to separate your time. Work-life balance can add fulfillment that blends into your work life. Take the chance to enjoy those life moments. For example, log off the computer, leave at the same time every day, and embrace opportunities outside your role. Go for an afternoon walk in the park, join a cooking class, or start a book club. Work when it works best for you, personally and professionally. This may include working only at work during designated hours, like replying to emails or planning. Consider time-blocking your calendar at work to give yourself the proper time to work on projects.
Be proactive with tasks: try to do it now
When you’re experiencing burnout, a to-do list of tasks can feel overwhelming. Do you have a task that needs to be done? Do you need to get ahead on a project? Is it time to have a difficult conversation? Consider leaving time on your calendar to get the job done. Even if it means prioritizing one major task or project a day. For example, this could look like a list of three taks. 1. must get done, 2. would be nice to get done, and 3. an optional task. Heinlien weighs in, “Make all the phone calls you need to make as soon as possible. That way, I’m not at home with those tough conversations hanging over me. Get it taken care of right away.”
Focus on what you can control
Diving into “What-Ifs” can be easy when situations get out of control. BrainPOPper and Regional Sales Manager Niccolina Abruzzese speaks to the concept of control, “Remember what is in your control. Many outside factors go into decision-making and are often the decisions that can make you frustrated or upset. Remember that you are a change agent for things within your control. You can continue to make a difference in your students’ lives by not being caught up in the things you cannot control. Breathe them in, and let them go.”
Find a new hobby
Whether it’s a passion, new project, or hobby, embracing your identity outside of the classroom as self-care is a great resource to help with burnout. Heinlen adds, “Find something you enjoy doing that will help you take your mind off work. I tap dance and find that if my mind wanders during tap, I forget what my feet should do! It forces me to be mindful and not worry about anything else. I also find that when I’m cooking, I can escape any work worries and focus on creating delicious meals for my family.”
How administrators can help with teacher burnout
All staff can feel the lows of burnout, starting with the teachers. According to Gallup, “39% of K-12 teachers always felt burnout or often, compared with 29% of workers in other occupations.” It’s essential to try to understand why teachers experience burnout.
Due to budget concerns, safety measures, class capacity, and being stretched to the limit, teachers are experiencing stress, burnout, and turnover at alarming rates.
As former teachers, administrators, and education experts, our BrainPOPpers understand the pressure of today’s classroom. Let’s dive in as they share some expert advice on how to better support staff with stress and burnout.
Tips to prevent teacher burnout
Be your best self (and leave it on the field)
“As a former college athlete, I remember the phrase, ‘leave it on the field.’ I translated that to my educator life (as a teacher, admin, and dept. director) by remembering to be my best self for my students and teachers every day while I was in the school building, but as soon as I walked out at the end of each day, I left it there. This, of course, is easier said than done, but if you can find the spot on your walk to your car or when you leave through the last door, that can be your reminder to leave it all at the school for the day.” – Nicolina Abruzzese, BrainPOP Regional Sales Manager
Open up communication
“Administrators should encourage an open communication policy. Consider asking your staff members what’s working for them, what isn’t, and what solutions they propose. Always be mindful of meeting run times, to respect teacher work-life balance.” – Jailene Streeter, BrainPOP Customer Service Expert
Create transparency and celebrate the wins
“As a teacher, I felt the most supported and guarded against burnout when my admins were transparent and realistic about what was possible and helped me prioritize. I also think that celebrating even the little successes goes a long way. I worked with a principal who was always available for my students and celebrated their English learning successes. She would visit the class to chat with students and always took time to celebrate their work. In turn, that helped me feel like my work was seen and valued and we were in it together.” – Marley Zeno, BrainPOP Sr. Professional Learning Strategist
Share weekly memos (and time back)
“A previous principal of mine would send a weekly memo on Sunday nights so we knew what was coming up, and this was so helpful because it cut back on staff meetings, which allowed me more time to plan and teach.” – Jailene Streeter, BrainPOP Customer Service Expert
Ask for help
When you’re overwhelmed, asking for help can be challenging. It may feel like you need to handle it on your own. But asking for help can give you just the boost you need. For example, asking for support or even an extra set of eyes on a project you’re working on, can make such a difference on your day or on your long-term health. For more tips on streamlining your day, check out this article.
Grab your admin checklist here.
What to do about teacher burnout
Burnout is personal. No situation is the same, but there are ways to manage, beat, and cope with it. If you’re actively experiencing burnout, don’t hesitate to seek support.
Heinlen recalls, “There was a time in my life when I was extremely unhappy. I started and ended the day upset, frustrated, and discouraged. The best thing I did was make a big change. It might be a change in grade level or trying a new approach in instruction. Making a big change helped reinvigorate me and gave me an exciting, fresh, and new challenge. Don’t stay in a situation if you are unhappy and burnt out. Make small changes to your work/life balance, and if that doesn’t help, consider a change to help breathe new life into your career.”
Burnout is personal. No situation is the same, but there are ways to manage, beat, and cope with it. If you’re actively experiencing burnout, don’t hesitate to seek support.
Making small changes in your professional and personal life can lead to new opportunities and challenges. Give yourself permission to grow within your career. Take the time to process what you’re experiencing and lean on your support system to implement the next steps. Just know it can and will get better. For example, these changes could look like up-skilling, diving into personal development, or carving out new opportunities in your career path. The journey can be challenging, but remember why you started. Consider looking back at your passions, and let’s see where that leaves you.
Check out this teacher checklist.
School administrators and burnout: self-care and building resources
Whether this is your first experience or you have a history, there are resources and tools you can use to help you overcome burnout. From time-blocking calendars to self-care prioritization and work-life balance, these are tips you can implement today.
Kelli Rascoe is a Sr. Content Strategy Manager at BrainPOP. She has nine years of experience in writing, content marketing, and strategy for tech and Fortune 500 brands. She is also the momma to a princess scientist and a pack of rescue pups.
