It happens differently for all of us.

We’re on our way to work. We’re chatting with a friend. We wake up in the middle of the night to a realization. That moment where burnout rears its ugly head and says something like, “I don’t want to teach anymore.” or “Ugh… here goes another boring week at school.” or “It’s Day 1… only 179 days until Summer Break. I’ll get through it.”

It’s a deep, dark place and if you don’t call it what it is ASAP and do something about it, you could be in for a really rough few years (or worse) career in education.

Unfortunately, if you’ve either heard my story on The Burned-In Teacher Podcast or read it here on the blog, you know that I fought and fought and fought against the burnout for YEARS and was no better for it.

After my interview this week with Stephanie, on Episode #006, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what that ‘first step’ out of burnout could look like, because our stories of burnout are so different and specific to our situations, I originally thought that this first step is likely different for each of us...

(Plus, our burnout type will largely determine our path out of burnout. To discover your burnout type (if you haven't done so already), Click HERE to take the Teacher Burnout Quiz.) 

However, after much research and reflection, I have determined that our first step (for each and everyone of us) is...(drum roll)…

1. SURRENDERING TO IT.

It’s that simple and that difficult all at the same time.

So, how do you surrender to burnout? Simple. Say it out loud. (Go ahead. Do it.)

Again, if you want to put a name to your burnout TAKE THE TEACHER BURNOUT QUIZ that I created. It will help you name your burnout and, if you download The Teacher Burnout Cheat Sheet, you can identify your stage of teacher burnout. 

Now, step 2 would be listing all of the reasons why.

(You can do that right now too.) Just do a complete and total brain dump of all of the reasons that you think  are to blame for your burnout. Go through your current reality and list everything… really go for it too. Don’t hold anything back. Even have a good cry.

Now, ask yourself…

“WHAT’S MY NEXT STEP?”

Hopefully, if you’re here reading this post, you’re familiar with BURNED-IN Teacher and my mission to support teachers going through burnout. I encourage you to read all of the blog posts that outline what BURNED-IN stands for.

You can also go to iTunes or Google Play and download a few episodes of The Burned-In Teacher Podcast where teachers tell their stories of burnout and burn-in and experts offer their advice as well. (You can also go to www.burnedinteacher.com/podcast and listen there. )

Then, join our private and free Burned-In Facebook Group and tell us about you and what you want for yourself and your career. We’ll help you get there.

If you choose to do neither of those things, that’s ok. You need to do what you feel is best for YOU. I wish you the best and want you to be the happiest, most fulfilled human you can possibly be. Just know that I believe in you and that YOU are your own hero.

BURN ON!