Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs that I have.
As an English Language (EL) Teacher for an American public school system, I get to help English Learners build confidence in learning English, provide accommodations they need, and listen to their stories.
I also get to learn more about their language and culture, which is one of my favorite parts of the job.
That being said, teaching can be incredibly exhausting.
I often get phone calls and messages from other teachers when students are struggling academically or behaviorally.
I have a district that requires documenting everything. Sometimes, this is to a fault.
I also spend a lot of time helping parents navigate the school system and understand the opportunities available to their children.
That last part is something I genuinely enjoy, but it can take a lot of my energy.
Despite trying to manage myself as a teacher and as a full-time college student, there are days when it feels like no matter how hard I try, nothing goes right.
This school year, out of my four years in teaching, has been the hardest so far.
If you are experiencing teacher burnout, you are not alone because I am there WITH YOU this school year.
Even after the relief of Christmas break, I am still feeling the lingering effects of teacher burnout. That heavy, drained feeling does not disappear overnight.
In this post, I want to talk about why teacher burnout happens, how to work through it, and when it might be time to make a bigger change.
I will also share some tools and strategies that have helped me and other teachers survive even the hardest days.
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Understanding the Sources of Teacher Burnout
Teacher burnout can come from many different places. Often, it is not one single issue causing the stress, but an accumulation of small and large challenges that build over time.
When I talk with other teachers, the most common sources of burnout tend to be the students themselves or the school system as a whole.
Once in awhile, there are problems with the parents, but that is not something we usually talk about unless we have the same student.
What I have noticed is that a teacher’s level of experience often plays a big role in what burns them out the most.
Student-Related challenges
For new teachers, classroom management often feels like a never ending science experiment.
Sure, you MAY have learned about classroom management strategies from your time in college.
But the reality of managing a classroom is very different once you are standing in front of students every day.
Certified or not, everyone has to learn through experience.
Let’s be honest. Not everything taught in a classroom management course will stick with you and some strategies may not even be applicable to your situation.
You know what your job is.
Your job is to hold on until the end of the school year on top of maintaining teaching responsibilities.
Those responsibilities include:
- Keeping students engaged
- Managing classroom behavior
- Accommodating students with IEPs and LSPs
- Trying to reach every learner
It is a lot to juggle and it can be exhausting.
On top of that, teachers are often faced with difficult situations they were never fully trained for. Some decisions require quick judgment in moments that are emotionally heavy and that pressure adds up quickly.
This is often where teacher burnout begins, especially for new teachers. Even experienced educators have days when the classroom feels overwhelming and chaotic.
Parent-Related challenges
Parents can be wonderful allies, but they can also be a major source of stress.
Unreasonable expectations, constant phone calls and text messages, and misunderstandings can make your job feel heavier.
Setting boundaries and clear communication can help, but it does not always eliminate the stress.
Some parents are deeply involved, while others seem disconnected from their child’s education.
Navigating those differences takes time, patience, and emotional energy, all of which can contribute to teacher burnout over time.
Administration and Systemic Pressures
Teachers are often asked to do more with less resources.
Paperwork, evaluations, and professional development requirements can pile up quickly.
Administration plays a huge role in how manageable these demands feel.
Supportive administrators can make difficult days easier by backing teachers and addressing issues fairly.
On the other hand, unsupportive leadership can leave teachers feeling powerless and unheard.
For many educators, this can be the deciding factor in whether they stay at a school.
For newer teachers, especially those working under an emergency license, the pressure can feel even heavier.
In my state, emergency licenses can only be renewed up to three times. After that, teachers must enroll in university programs to become fully certified or leave the profession altogether.
The cost of tuition and the time commitment required can be overwhelming.
It is not uncommon to question whether the path is worth it, especially while already feeling burned out.
Planning ahead and understanding the requirements can help, but the reality is that the pressure often does not ease up until certification is completed or until you get out of teaching.
Personal Factors That Contribute to Burnout
Beyond the job itself, personal factors can also contribute to teacher burnout.
While all teachers experience these pressures, they do not affect everyone in the same way.
New teachers are often learning how to manage a classroom while planning lessons, grading, and building relationships with students.
Veteran teachers typically face a different set of challenges, including mentoring the new teachers coming in, adapting to changing standards or expectations, and watching the profession shift overtime.
As an EL teacher in my fourth year, I find myself somewhere in between.
I am not a veteran teacher, but I still carry added responsibilities that are not always visible.
A big part of my teacher burnout comes from trying to maintain boundaries while also feeling overlooked.
Although EL teachers are not required to know a second language, it can make a huge difference, especially in small rural districts where translators are not always available.
I am happy to help families when they need language support, particularly when they reach out directly to me. That work feels meaningful and necessary.
At the same time, I am often pressured by the district to volunteer my time to be a translator for situations involving our students and the local hospital, law enforcement, or the court system.
These requests go beyond my teaching role and require extra time, mental energy, and emotional effort.
When you add financial stress from university tuition, giving up personal time to complete certification coursework, and working a part-time job to help make ends meet, the pressure builds quickly.
Taken together, these personal and professional demands can push even the most dedicated teachers toward teacher burnout.
Powering Through: Strategies to Keep Going
Small changes can make a big difference in how you handle teacher burnout. When everything feels overwhelming, it is often the simple, repeatable habits that help you stay steady and show up anyway.
Daily survival techniques
A consistent morning routine can help you start the day with more focus and less chaos.
This does not have to be complicated.
The key is preparation and consistency. You have already done the hard work of lesson planning and gathering materials.
A routine helps you move through the day with intention instead of reacting to every stressor as it comes.
Two tools can make a big difference here.
The first thing you need as a part of your routine is a planner.
A planner helps you manage long-term responsibilities, but it also gives you something just as important, which is visible progress.
Checking off tasks, even small ones, creates a sense of control during times when teacher burnout makes everything feel out of your hands.
Seeing yourself move closer to a goal can ease your mental load and remind you that you are doing what you can with what you have.
If you are unsure which type of planner fits your needs, check out my other post that walks through different formats and layouts to help you choose one that actually works for you.
The second tool is a pocket activity that helps you stay grounded throughout the day.
This could be knitting needles and yarn, a small coloring book with crayons, or a book you can read during short breaks.
Some teachers decompress by walking the halls, chatting with coworkers, or scrolling on their phones during planning time.
However, during testing days or other high-security situations, phones and smart devices may not be allowed, hallways may be blocked off, and some teachers may be assigned duties they do not normally have.
Having a simple, non-digital pocket activity gives you an option to decompress before facing the next responsibility on your schedule.
Mental and emotional self-care
Taking care of your mind and body plays a huge role in managing teacher burnout. Stress builds up over time, and without an outlet, it can start to affect how you function both in and out of the classroom.
Activities like exercise, journaling, meditation, or yoga can help release stress and reset your nervous system.
These do not have to be long or intense to be effective. Even a short walk or a few minutes of writing can help you process the day and create mental space.
Another thing you can do is set boundaries with parents and administrators, when possible, to protect your energy.
This does not mean ignoring messages or avoiding responsibility. It means being realistic about when and how you can respond.
Letting parents and administrators know your general response times helps manage expectations and reduces the pressure to always be available.
If it is an option for you, therapy can also be incredibly helpful. Some districts include mental health services in their insurance plans, while others do not.
If you are able to seek therapy on your own, having a space to talk through the emotional weight of teaching can make a significant difference.
In some cases, having documented mental health support may also help if teacher burnout begins to interfere with your ability to function at work and you need to explore options like filing for short-term disability or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Peer support
You are not alone. Teacher burnout can feel isolating, especially when it seems like everyone else is managing just fine.
Finding a mentor or joining a teacher support group can provide perspective, validation, and encouragement.
Sometimes just talking to someone who understands the realities of teaching can make a difficult day feel lighter.
Shared experiences remind you that your struggles are not personal failures.
Adjusting mindset
Teacher burnout is very real, but there are still areas where you can regain a sense of control.
Focus on what you can manage and celebrate small wins, whether it is a smooth lesson or a student showing progress.
Recognizing achievements, no matter how small, can boost morale.
If you want to read a personal story about how a small mindset shift led to a positive change in the classroom, you can find that here.
Pick Your Battles and Your District
Every district has its own unique challenges.
Part of surviving teacher burnout is deciding which struggles you are willing to handle.
Researching districts, talking to current teachers, and visiting schools can help you find a better fit.
Sometimes the issue is the school year itself. Other times, it is the district culture or simply reaching your own personal limit.
In some cases, a change within the same district can help.
Moving into a different role, such as switching subject areas or working with a different student population, may ease some of the stress.
These changes often require passing additional teaching proficiency exams and waiting for an open position, which usually means holding out until the next school year.
For teachers working under an emergency license, options can be more limited, as testing is often restricted to areas closely related to your undergraduate studies.
If changing districts or roles is not an option, the focus often shifts to making your current situation more manageable. Small adjustments can help reduce daily stress and conflict.
For example, if documents frequently go missing, scanning and emailing copies can help create a clear paper trail.
If scheduling meetings becomes an issue, sharing your availability and walking others through your schedule can open the door to more realistic expectations and better communication.
These steps may not solve everything, but they can help protect your time, energy, and sanity while navigating teacher burnout.
If none of what I have written seems worth it or is just not working for you, then you have to consider this last part…
When to Consider Leaving
There is a difference between a tough school year and chronic teacher burnout.
A hard year can improve with time, support, or a change in circumstances.
Chronic burnout feels constant. The exhaustion does not lift, the stress follows you home, and the frustration never really fades.
Sometimes the solution is a different school or district. Other times, it may mean stepping away from teaching entirely.
Teaching is a demanding and sacrificing career.
We get low pay and ONLY paid once a month, not including our breaks.
We’re expected to take on extra roles, like becoming bus drivers and participate in after school programs.
We get the bare minimum when it comes to health insurance at times.
Many can’t even leave campus to get lunch or even be able to eat lunch without having to monitor your class.
And you’re taking all of the certified classes that eat up your personal time and money at the end of the day.
All of this adds up and contributes heavily to teacher burnout.
It may not be dangerous like being a police officer, well compensated like a doctor, and not as glamorous as being a pop star, but it is a profession that matters deeply to the students.
Especially to the students that are from underprivileged and broken households.
Teachers become important parts of their stories, even if they never fully realize it at the time.
That said, your health and well-being matter too.
Choosing to leave the profession does not mean you failed.
It means you are prioritizing yourself and your future.
The impact you made does not disappear just because you decide to take a different path.
The students who remember you would want you to be okay and to be able to take care of yourself.
Teacher burnout is tough, but it does not define you as an educator.
Small strategies like daily routines, self-care, peer support, and smart tools can help you survive the hardest days.
Remember to celebrate small wins, set boundaries, and seek support when you need it.
Some years are hard, some schools are challenging, and you can find your way back to why you started teaching in the first place.
