The warning signs of burnout

Jo Steer, teacher and experienced leader of SEND interventions, discusses what burnout may look like for those working and leading in schools

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally on Integrity Coaching

The wonders of technology have given us endless ways to blur the boundaries, meaning that we often take our work home, physically, emotionally and mentally. Given our excessive workloads, accountability measures – and the fact that we work more overtime than any other industry – it’s no wonder that 67% of those who work in schools describe themselves as ‘stressed at work’, with many showing actual symptoms of clinical anxiety and depression.

The truly tragic thing is that we’re not surprised by this. To us, the language of stress, panic attacks and antidepressants has become commonplace and normalised.

The risk of burnout

We accept and expect it. Some of us even seem proud of it, bragging about how little sleep we’ve had, or how stressed we are, as if these things are synonymous with success. We tend to ignore the warnings from our bodies, committing ourselves wholly to the school timetable. We don’t stop when we’re tired, we stop when term ends (even if we’ve contracted a moderate version of the Black Death along the way).

Of course, there will always be certain events that trigger an increase in this stress – exam time, data deadlines and OFSTED inspections – but if a bad day becomes a bad week, month or term, you may be getting close to burnout. Here are the signs to look out for.

Restlessness

A racing mind, the need to be constantly busy and an inability to switch off and/or be still are all warning signs that you’re heading for burnout. These can be accompanied by a host of uncomfortable physical sensations including shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, shakes, tight muscles, dizziness, nausea, out-of-body experiences, panic attacks and more. Insomnia is also a common, but distressing, side-effect.

Detachment

Losing interest in work, or everything outside of work (hobbies, activities and entertainment that you usually enjoy) is a worrying sign. When I went through burnout, I felt detached from reality – and incredibly numb.

Mindlessness

If your mind is racing, you’ll very likely have big problems concentrating. Maybe work takes much longer than it should, maybe you’re extra clumsy and forgetful, maybe you get to work, without any memory of how you got there. These are clear signs that your brain is overworked.

Self-doubt

Perhaps one of the cruellest side effects of burnout is that, despite putting work above all else, you’re not even left with your self-esteem intact.

Instead, you’re often left feeling as if you can’t lead your school, that you’re a fraud and that you can’t keep up – therefore, you must be inadequate. If you’re increasingly insecure and unsure of yourself, you might be nearing burnout.

Negativity

Sunday night dread, and ranting about work, isn’t uncommon in any profession but if you’re finding yourself consumed by negativity, unable to think, see, hear or say anything remotely positive, and if those feelings of dread become an everyday feature of life, then there’s something very wrong.

No matter the symptoms, the key here is to notice change; in your body, mind, emotions and behaviour. Like any other disease, it’s better caught early, before it does long-lasting damage.

However, without a chance to stop and consider what’s working and what isn’t many leaders find themselves repeatedly making the same mistakes, or simply leading on ‘autopilot’. This lack of space also means many have very few avenues for exploring, and talking through, the emotional aspects of the role, the challenges it poses and the impact it is having upon them, mentally, emotionally and physically.

In turn, this can, without doubt, increase the risk of emotional ‘burn out’. When this begins to happen, we can experience extreme levels of mental and emotional exhaustion that can be debilitating to our ability to lead others, our health and our overall well-being.  Having been a head myself, I know all too well what this feels like and, equally, what must be done to prevent it!