3 Tips to Becoming a Happy Teacher

Teaching is hard work! Plain and simple teachers are the hardest working people I know. On top of loving and caring for dozens of children, teachers have countless lessons to plan,  papers to grade, data to analyze, parents to contact, differentiation to plan for each day, and the list goes on. It’s no wonder teacher burnout is on the increase. Did you know 40%-50% of teachers leave within their first 5 year of teaching? Want to know something else, I was almost a part of that statistic. I love my job, but that wasn’t always the case. As teachers we feel the need to hide our struggles and troubles. But, I can remember one year in particular.  I was in a new grade, in a new leadership role, and let's just say I had beyond difficult class. Despite how tricky many of my students were I loved them unconditionally, because that’s what we teachers do. But between the increased workload, extremely challenging behaviors, and curriculum changes, I felt overwhelmed and defeated all the time. I almost left it all behind, my kiddos, my classroom, my degree, everything. Since then I’ve made some crucial changes and now I love my job more than ever! Today I’m sharing my favorite tips to beat the burnout and become a happy teacher again.  Read more as I share my 3 steps to living your happiest teacher life and let your new happiness take flight!

Download my 10 Steps to Becoming a Happy Teacher Workbook!

Find Your Teacher Tribe

The first step to becoming a happy teacher is to find your teacher tribe. Being a teacher is hard enough, do not surround yourself with people who make you feel anything less than awesome. This can be tricky if you are a new teacher or you are moving to a new school. My advice to you is to avoid the teachers room. At each school I have worked at, I have found that negativity tends to foster in the teachers room. Nobody has time for that in their life. Instead try inviting a teacher or staff member you gel with to have lunch in your room. Start to have more conversations with others in the copy room or office. Keep searching until you find your tribe. Trust me on this, you need a team of work friends who will be there for you. You need people behind you who will hug you on the hard days and celebrate with you on the great ones.

I found my teacher tribe and the impact they have made on my happiness is endless. My new saying is to surround yourself with people who make you feel like sunshine.

Simplify

Step two is simple, simplify. As teachers we try and juggle one million and one things all the time. My question is why? Why do we feel the need to join countless committees and change our bulletin boards like we change our clothes? Your worth as a teacher is not measured by all the extras that you accomplish. My new saying is, simplify and succeed. Cut back on extra tasks that take time and energy. Since cutting out the excess at work I accomplish more and focus my energy on what’s most important. I feel less overwhelmed, and it’s truly a wonderful feeling! 

Teacher Self Care - Give Yourself Grace

Step three is Give Yourself Grace. This saying truly helped to get me through my toughest year, when I too started to feel the teacher burnout. Let me say loud and clear, do not compare yourself to others. Whether it’s the teacher down the hall or a teacher on social media, do not compare yourself to them. Each of us is on a different step and a different path in our educational career. Do not ever judge your worth by another's accomplishments. You do not have to have it all together all the time. You do not have to be “Pinterest perfect.” You simply have to keep trying. Keep showing up for your kids and give yourself grace. Know that in each moment you are trying your best and let that be enough. Want to learn more about teacher self care? CLICK HERE to read more.

This week at the end of each school day, I want you to write down one thing you are proud of yourself for. Read aloud at the end of the week before you leave. Start realizing your awesomeness again. Your students see it, it’s time you did too. “Even on your worst day, you are still some child's best hope,” Larry Bell.

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