Teacher Burnout
5 Warning Signs You're Heading for Teacher Burnout (And What to Do About Them)
Last week, Sarah contacted me as her previous mentor. Three weeks away from the end of her second term, she was already working until 9pm every night, checking emails at weekends and lying awake worrying about lesson plans. "I love the children," she said, "but I don't think I can keep this up."
Sarah isn't unusual. As a former headteacher, I've seen brilliant teachers hit the burnout wall within months of starting their careers. The tragedy? Most of these warning signs are completely preventable when you know what to look for.
Warning Sign 1: You Can't Switch Off After Work
The Reality: Your brain won't stop churning over the day's events. You're mentally planning tomorrow's lessons during dinner, checking school emails "just quickly" before bed, and waking up with your first thought being about that challenging class.
Why It Happens: No one taught you how to create boundaries between work and home life.
Quick Action: Set a firm "work ends" time (say 7pm) and stick to it. Put your school email on a separate device that stays downstairs.
Warning Sign 2: Everything Feels Urgent
The Reality: Marking that homework feels as urgent as dealing with a behavioural incident. You're treating every task like a crisis, working frantically but never feeling caught up.
Why It Happens: You haven't learned to prioritise what actually matters versus what just feels important.
Quick Action: Each morning, identify your "big 3" - the three things that MUST happen today. Everything else can wait.
Warning Sign 3: You're Taking Everything Personally
The Reality: When a lesson doesn't go well, you assume you're a terrible teacher. If a parent complains, you replay the conversation endlessly, wondering what you did wrong.
Why It Happens: No one prepared you for the emotional resilience teaching demands.
Quick Action: After difficult days, ask yourself: "What went well today?" Write down three things, however small.
Warning Sign 4: You're Comparing Yourself to Everyone
The Reality: Other teachers seem to have it all figured out. Their displays look perfect, their classes are always quiet and they seem to effortlessly manage everything you're struggling with.
Why It Happens: You're seeing everyone else's highlight reel, not their reality.
Quick Action: Remember that experienced teachers have years of trial and error behind their apparent confidence. You're not supposed to know everything yet.
Warning Sign 5: You Feel Guilty Whenever You Rest
The Reality: Taking lunch breaks feels selfish. Watching TV in the evening makes you feel like you should be planning lessons. You can't enjoy weekends because there's always something work-related you "should" be doing.
Why It Happens: Teaching culture often glorifies overwork and martyrdom.
Quick Action: Schedule rest like you'd schedule a meeting. Your wellbeing isn't optional - it's essential for sustainable teaching.
The Truth About Teacher Burnout
Here's what I wish every new teacher knew: burnout isn't a sign of weakness or unsuitability for teaching. It's what happens when passionate people try to do an incredibly demanding job without the right support systems.
During my headteacher years, I watched too many talented educators leave because they thought struggling meant they weren't cut out for teaching. The truth? They just needed practical strategies that teacher training rarely covers.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you recognised yourself in any of these warning signs, take heart. These challenges are entirely normal, and more importantly, they're entirely solvable.
This Autumn Term, I'm hosting an exclusive event for early career teachers in the Shropshire/Telford area - " An ECT Survival Conference." We'll dive deep into practical strategies for managing workload, protecting your wellbeing and building the sustainable teaching career you deserve. Click here for more details.
Want to be the first to know when tickets go live?
Drop me a message through my contact page.
Your teaching career is worth protecting. Let me show you how.
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Having supported hundreds of teachers through these exact challenges during my 25+ years in education, I know these warning signs are preventable. My book The ECT Survival Guide provides the complete survival guide for early career teachers - available now on Amazon.