How Self-Compassion Helps TEACHERS Avoid BURNOUT
If we’re being honest, this new school year will inevitably be hard at some point. It happens.
But how overwhelmed - or how burnt out - we become by the challenges of the school year is largely determined by how we react to the challenges we’re presented with.
It is very common, and even natural, to react to school year stressors with self-criticism (“I should’ve handled that better” or “I was such a bad teacher just then!”), thinking we are alone in our struggle (“None of the other teachers are struggling like I am”), or ignoring or numbing the distress we are feeling (“I’m drinking wine tonight until I forget all about this mess” or “I’ll just work my butt off all evening and everything will be perfect tomorrow”).
A self-compassion practice offers us tools to heal from all three of these reactions.
Read on for 3 reasons why self-compassion can help teachers prevent burnout (plus 2 quotes from others and 1 question for you to consider this week).
And if you’re craving a self-compassion practice, you can check out the ebook, “30 Days of Self-Compassion”, to get started here.
3 Ways Self-Compassion Helps Prevent Burnout
I.
Self-compassion helps us acknowledge our distress. Helping others is challenging in any sort of caregiving career, but teachers get an especially large load put on their plates. Self-compassion encourages us to acknowledge our distress when things get especially challenging, saying things like, “This is incredibly hard. I feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do.” Recognizing our emotions and our pain is an essential part to bringing ourselves healing.
II.
Self-compassion helps us recognize we aren’t alone in our struggle. Teachers who practice self-compassion are better able to recognize that helping others is a challenging but rewarding part of the human experience: “Other people have struggled with meeting the needs of their students, too!” Many of us have at some point doubted our ability to do a good job. Many of us have been scared of failing the people we care about. We can remind ourselves in times of hardship: “I am not alone.”
III.
Self-compassion helps us support ourselves with kind words when we are distressed. Teachers who are self-compassionate regularly practice speaking to themselves as they would speak to a good friend. They might say something like, “I’m so sorry you’re struggling today. I’m here for you. What do you need in this moment?” Self-compassion gives us the words to comfort ourselves in times of distress.
2 Quotes from Others
I.
“What you feel, you can heal.” - John Gray
II.
“Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echos are truly endless.” - Mother Teresa
1 Question For You
What are some words of kindness you can offer yourself right now, in this moment?
Make sure to share this week’s 3-2-1 with a teacher you care about :)
Until next week,
Emily Hemmingson
Health Coach for Teachers
Go Deeper Into a Self-Compassion Practice
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