BEATING THE BURNOUT MONSTER 

"Wanted: A miracle worker who can do more with less, pacify rival groups, endure chronic second-guessing, tolerate low levels of support, process large volumes of paper and work double shifts (75 nights a year). He or she will have carte blanche to innovate, but cannot spend much money, replace any personnel, or upset any constituency." (Evans, 1995)

Does this sound like a job advertisement for your position? Are you struggling with burnout and frustration with your current work? Do you feel like quitting and trying something new?

Don't worry - if you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are not alone. According to a study completed by the American Psychological Association, a third of Americans report living with extreme stress, and 31% of employed adults report difficulty managing work and family responsibilities.

Burnout is a monster that we don't want to think exists until it is too late and realize he was lurking there in the dark all along. People could've spared themselves a lot of struggle had they turned on the light and faced the ugly truth.

So, how do I as a school leader combat my burnout monster and make him go away? The answer may seem rather simple, but it is one many of us don't really think about as the monster is rearing his ugly head, sending us cowering under the covers.

Forbes gives us five clear components to beating the burnout beast in our work:

1. Take a Break

It is when you are physically whipped and exhausted that it becomes tempting to bury yourself in work or to turn off your thought processes by surfing the web, or TV channels. So, force yourself to get up and find something else to look at.

 2. Manage Up

If you are the top of your organization, it usually doesn't occur to you that you should go up the chain. We usually instinctively go down the chain and begin to make decisions for our staff that come across as dictatorial or bossy. This further drives a wedge between us and is often unproductive.

Instead, keep your supervisor or board of directors updated. It is also a great practice to keep notes. Seeing all of your accomplishments on paper is a good method to lift your spirits and remind you of what you have achieved.

3. Contextualize your work

It is in the middle of fighting your monster that every task or engagement can seem oppressive. However, when you really take a few moments to ponder the likeable aspects of your job then you are able to appreciate your work. Even if you think there are no aspects that you like you can reflect on the fact that you are contributing to a greater good in your school or education in general.

4. Reach out

If you constantly feel attacked by your work, it's probably because that is what you have surrounded yourself with. Ask yourself what it is that you have replaced with work? Is it your family? Your faith? Your feelings of inadequacy? Whatever it is, begin to focus on something else.

5. Reward Yourself

This is not a vacation or even something that you have to spend a large amount of money on, but taking the time to take care of yourself will bring more than tangible rewards. Frozen yogurt, a new pair of shoes, leaving school an hour early, or maybe stopping for a doughnut on your way in. Whatever it is that you choose, having something outside of the work day that you can look forward to will give you that little boost to keep on fighting!

If nothing else, choose one tactic and see it through to the end. You never know, it may prove to be that little night light that keeps your monster at bay!

Let me know what you think. Scott Beck