Question: What’s One Thing You Do to Avoid Teacher Burnout?

It’s no secret that burnout is an ongoing issue in education—and not because teachers aren’t resilient. Chronic underfunding, large class sizes, high-stakes testing, and unsustainable workloads are systemic issues that can’t be solved by self-care alone. These are institutional problems that require institutional solutions.

But until those solutions are in place, many teachers are left trying to manage the emotional and physical toll of the job as best they can. As a result, they've developed personal practices to help them stay motivated, protect their energy, and keep showing up for students.

We want to hear about the strategies that work for you. Whether they’re big or small, personal or collaborative, they matter, and your insights might help a fellow teacher make it through a tough week.

• What’s one thing you do consistently that helps you avoid teacher burnout?
• Is it a mindset shift, a boundary you’ve set, or a habit that brings you joy?
• How did you find this strategy, and what makes it effective for you?
• If you’ve hit burnout in the past, what helped you come back from it, or what would you do differently now?

No single tip can fix a system, but sharing ideas and supporting one another is a small step toward making teaching more sustainable. What helps you stay grounded? Let us know in the comments.

More on How to Avoid Teacher Burnout

If you're looking for additional support and inspiration, check out our Teacher Wellness page, where you'll find strategies for managing stress and maintaining balance.

You might also find these resources helpful:

• How Burned Out Are You? A Scale For Teachers
• Restoring the Joy in Teaching
• Doing the Best You Can With the Time You Have
• How Negativity Bias May Distort Your Perspective
• Teaching Your Heart Out: Emotional Labor and the Need for Systemic Change
• Question: How Do You Show Up for Students on Hard Days?

At Edutopia, we're always looking for educators to share their strategies. If you have ideas that go beyond what can be said in the comments, please be sure to visit our Write for Us page.

Thank you for sharing your strategy for how you avoid teacher burnout. If you have questions of your own, feel free to post them here—our community facilitators are ready to help!