Rise From The Ashes – The Burnout Scale
There are phases we go through as educators. We flow in and out of different stages of energy and passion. This is normal, even healthy. However, there is strength in recognizing where we are and how we are doing, because only by arming ourselves with knowledge and self-awareness can we forge a path to a new level of joy in teaching.
“You’re on fire” in a good way!
Maybe you are a new teacher or just fresh from break, but you feel like you can do it all.
And you do!
Reinventing programs. Problem-solving issues. Taking on new initiatives. Going the extra mile
Need someone to chaperone that activity? Supervise that event? Take on that extra project?
You’re on it!
Others, who perhaps are “sizzling” or “ablaze”, see your willingness to take it all on and add to your pile.
You’ve got energy to spare and you pour it all into work. You are fueled by the “aha’s” the recognitions, and “thank you’s” you see the difference you are making and it feels good.
So good in fact that we may not even notice that our own personal (and protective) activities are fading away – the hobbies, exercise classes and socializing with friends are falling by the wayside in favor of getting more work done. It becomes harder and harder to find time to decompress and recharge.
Stage 2: You’re Sizzling
Things are starting to heat up!
All that energy that we put in when we were “smoldering” is now giving way to a bit of a burn – a “sizzle if you will.
The energy that seemed endless in stage one begins to deplete and we get tired. Perhaps we daydream a little more, get distracted easier.
Meeting? What meeting? I was planning on grading?
Where’s Johnny did I give him a bathroom pass?
Perhaps we give a little less feedback to students, maybe we connect with them a bit less.
We may distance ourselves from our friends and co-workers, not talk about work as often.
To cope with our change in professional outlook (and perhaps the loads of heavy situations we are managing in our classrooms) we may turn to dark humor or even mocking situations and students in our classrooms and schools. I see this most frequently in teacher’s lounges. Perhaps it’s not fair, but it’s a way of dealing with what’s going on.
The biggest danger at this stage, in my opinion, is that we begin to change the way we see ourselves as educators, helpers, givers of hope. When we begin to pull away, detach, or poke fun at what we once were inspired to help – it becomes difficult to see ourselves as authentic and caring educators.
Stage 3: You’re Ablaze
“You’re on fire” and not in a good way this time.
Teaching is taking its toll.
The demanding schedule. The heavy workload. The social, emotional, behavioral issues of students – some of which we aren’t trained or prepared to deal with.
On top of that: The lack of recognition. The lack of respect. The lack of ENERGY.
We wonder, “where did our enthusiasm for teaching go?”
Everything blurs together.
What’s really hard at this stage is that we remember LOVING being an educator. We remember that smoldering stage and that “compassion satisfaction” and we KNOW that we really believed in what we were doing – it’s just incredibly hard to access that now.
Stage 5: You’re In The Ashes
The fire is out and there is only darkness (okay maybe that’s a bit too dramatic, but this stage is SEVERE).
At this stage, we are functioning in pure survival mode. We are going through the motions just to get through the day.
We feel disconnected from the people and activities around us. There is little joy in the day and we carry that home with us at night.
This stage can affect us physical too, negatively impacting our health.
This stage may feel like the point of no return, but it doesn’t have to be.
Stage 6: You’re A Phoenix
To quote the irrefutable LL Cool J, “Don’t call it a Comback”!
When things get tough, when you feel like we’re “in the ashes” it doesn’t’ have to be the end of the road.
It IS possible to have energy for teaching and for life after school as well. I know, It sounds impossible – especially if we are further down the scale than we’d like to be.
WE CAN RISE FROM THE ASHES
With awareness of the layers of burnout and the factors that play rolls within it we can begin to develop strategies to rise up.
This takes a bit of time and reflection of both personal and professional practices.
