I have had the pleasure of being a speaker at many new academic year INSET days. Enthusiastic staff refreshed by the summer holidays (mostly), ready to welcome the eager faces of students (mostly).
Often, the last thing on their mind is their own mental health.” I’m feeling fine Sam, ready to go”. However, in order to stay that way and avoid burnout make sure you don’t commit one of these 5 classic mistakes.
- Overcommitting and Overloading
When I’m feeling great and happy I have a tendency to accept lots of invitations, professionally and personally. They when they get nearer the time I get cross I have so much to do. It drives my current husband up the wall. I overcommit because I’m feeling able to take more on at that precise moment without thinking longer term.
This is one of the most common pitfalls teachers fall into – overloading themselves with excessive responsibilities. This can include taking on too many extra-curricular activities, volunteering for committees, or agreeing to excessive administrative tasks. Take time to decide what your maximum commitment is in term of time over and above your normal working week. When you’ve reached that limit don’t accept any more, especially if it is at the cost of self-care.
- Not Setting and Sticking to Boundaries
Set boundaries and stick to them. For example, when you look at emails, when you reply to emails. Make sure that there are no blurred boundaries between work and personal life. Communicate them to students and parents. This will help protect your time and mental health.
- Ignoring Self-Care
I’ve already mentioned in the first point about self-care. In my experience, teachers are notorious for feast/famine self-care. Minimal in term time, save it all until half term or holidays. However, taking care of your physical and mental well-being is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Make time for activities that you enjoy, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones, schedule them and prioritise them. Why do other people’s needs come before yours?
- Perfectionism
Nobody is perfect and I think it would be boring quite frankly. Striving for perfection isn’t realistic. We are always learning and developing. We will always do some things better than others. That’s ok. Good enough is ok.
- Not Seeking Support
I frequently hear how people ‘don’t want to be a burden’ and so don’t ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, don’t hesitate to seek support from colleagues, friends, or family. People like helping others, let people help you the same way you’d help them. No woman is an island, or something like that.
By avoiding these common mistakes and prioritising your mental health, you can set yourself up for a successful and fulfilling term, AND be less likely to spend your holidays being ill. You matter.
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