Keep Teaching or Switch Careers?

Teacher burnout is hitting an all-time high. Why?

What makes teaching so hard?

According to a new Gallop poll, more educators are suffering from burnout. In fact, 52% of polled teachers reported feeling consistently burned out. Personally, I believe that number to be even higher. Why are so many teachers overwhelmed and leaving the profession?

For years, the field of education has been disproportionately overwhelming. Recently, however, the problem has been exacerbated. Teachers are experiencing burnout in record number due to the following factors:

Typical reasons for teacher burnout:

Unreasonable Workloads
Low Pay for a College Educated Professional
Emotional Demands
Lack of Parental Involvement
Social and Economic Disadvantages
Lack of Respect for the Industry

Circumstances have added to the problem.

School Closures
Pandemic Responses
Student Trauma and Mental Health Challenges
Behavioral Issues
Learning Loss
Involvement of Politics
Safety Fears

Making a decision like whether to leave the field of teaching is a big decision—one that couldn't possibly be made simply by flipping a coin. However, poet Piet Hein proposed in his poetry that when we are faced with two choices, we should flip a coin. It works not because it solves the question, but because, in that brief moment when the coin is in the air, you suddenly know what you are hoping for. Let's give it a try.

Heads:

Keep Teaching

Many teachers are choosing to leave the profession. Can you blame them? Low pay. Long days. If you are in a position of leadership, please consider making the following changes in education:

Increase Teacher Pay
Decrease Teacher Workload
Provide Incentives for Longevity
Improve Mentorship Programs
Provide Mental Health Services

In a perfect world, the aforementioned changes would be made by administration and those in decision-making roles. Sadly however, the likelihood of encountering pay raises and improved teacher support in the near future is slim. These improvements are outside of the control of educators.

What steps can teachers take to promote longevity in their careers? It all starts by avoiding burnout.

How can teachers avoid burnout?

if you are a quality educator hoping to stay in the field, most solutions to the teaching crisis may be out of your control. Still, there are steps you can take to protect your mental health and avoid burnout.

Here is everything you need to know about avoiding burnout:

Practice Mindfulness

We are Teachers had some great advice about making mindfulness and self-care a part of your daily routine.

Have Fun

Edutopia claims that having fun is just as important for the teacher as it is the students.

Create Boundaries

Teach Thought admits that technology has made teachers more accessible. To combat that, set hours when you can be contacted and when you cannot. Defend your home time.

Use Your Days

Do not allow being overwhelmed and stressed to become your normal. If work is negatively impacting your physical or mental health, take a sick day! You do not have to be vomiting or running a fever to prioritize your health.

Don't Do it All

You cannot do everything. Learn to say no to extra duties. Allow others to do things for you. Instead of creating all of your instructional materials, utilize resources like Teachers Pay Teachers to make your life a little easier.

Tails:

Leave Teaching

When it comes right down to it, teaching is hard. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. The Learning Policy Institute states that more than 200,000 teachers leave the profession each year. Why are teachers leaving? The answers are complicated and unique to each individual. However, some reasons for educators exiting the field include lack of support, challenging working conditions, dissatisfaction with pay, and better opportunities. Regardless of your reasons, if you are ready to leave teaching, there is help out there.

In fact, I am a former educator who successfully left the field of education. I am no longer a teacher.

Let's be honest. There will always be a tinge of sadness when I say that phrase: I am no longer a teacher. I had high hopes for my career in education. I wanted to impact the lives of struggling students. I wanted to help kids fall in love with learning. I wanted to change the world. Unfortunately, it changed me instead.

I spent nine years teaching. Seven of those years were in middle school and two were in elementary, and—while I have many treasured memories and enjoyed changing lives—I do not regret leaving the profession. Still, I have a heart for educators who are physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. If you think it might be time for you to look for another career path, let me offer you some hope. You can do it. Here are some things that helped me along the way:

Facebook Groups—Several Facebook groups are out there offering support to teachers who are trying to find a new career path. Teachers in Transition was a group I found to be particularly helpful and encouraging. However, I also recommend joining groups related to the new career you would like to have, such as instructional design, copyediting, writing, administration, marketing, and more!
Carolyn's Coaching—A career coaching service, Carolyn's Coaching specializes in helping teachers switch careers. Carolyn was a huge source of motivation and encouragement for me as I made the change. I highly recommend signing up to join her email list. In addition to the advice she provides for free, she also offers personalized coaching services for a nominal fee.
LinkedIn—A social platform for professionals, LinkedIn can help you search for jobs, showcase your profile, and help you make connections. By creating a professional brand on LinkedIn, you can greatly improve your chances of landing a new job. Hiring managers and recruiters use LinkedIn to find quality candidates. LinkedIn can also help you upskill with a plethora of workshops and classes for you to choose from.
Skip's Remote Job Board—All of the job postings shared on this website and Facebook Group are remote positions seeking skills that educators possess. All positions pay at least $60,000 annually, and new postings are made every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. They also offer coaching and resume advice.
Word-of-Mouth—I know it can be scary to say the words out loud, "I am thinking about leaving teaching." It makes the whole thing seem real. However, networking locally is what helped me out the most. If people do not know you are looking for a new career, they will not think of you when they hear about openings. Things started happening for me when I started telling others that I was looking for a new job. Talk! Spread the word!

Is it possible to be successful after leaving a career in teaching?

YES! Thousands of former educators have left their teachings careers and have thrived outside of the classroom. According to Statista, "about 51,000 teachers and other educational staff quit their jobs in the United States." Do teachers regret leaving education? An overwhelming majority of those who have left the field of education never look back. Examine some of the comments on this Reddit discussion and you will find that regret simply isn't part of the equation.

Needless-to-say, chosing to leave a career that requires so much of our hearts is not an easy decision. It is a very personal and complicated one. Just know, if you decide you want something different, it is possible and there is help.

Welcome! Try my ready-to-use resources.

I am an experienced educator with a library of original content from my years of teaching. I have been where you are! Make your life a little easier by utilizing my ready-to-use resources.

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FRAZZLED