Even when you’ve been teaching for years, being tired is something that can easily sneak up on you. Getting back into the swing of things after the school holidays can be particularly hard. After all those lovely long, lie-ins and working at a steady pace, going back to6 a.m. starts and a hectic work schedule can be really draining.
It’s not surprising that you might feel tired when you consider how much work an average teacher does in a week, with many of us burning the midnight oil to get all our planning and preparation sorted for the week ahead. Add to that any family worries, financial stresses, and other unexpected disruptions, and there will almost definitely be times when exhaustion gets the better of you.
Work-related stress and exhaustion are real concerns in four out of fiveUKschools. Too much work and not enough relaxation can lead to impaired psychological and physical performance, resulting in a complete burnout if circumstances remain unchecked. Many teachers are actually ashamed to admit that they are feeling tired or stressed, as they think it is a sign of weakness. It is a sad fact that stress is now cited as the number one reason for leaving the teaching profession.
Dropping off in the middle of a lesson is a good clue to how tired you are, but you shouldn’t be waiting until such an extreme example occurs! Listen to your body, your family and your colleagues. If people are commenting on how tired you’re looking, don’t take umbrage, question why they might be saying that. If you’re finding it a real battle to get out of bed in the morning, take a good look at how many hours sleep you’re getting and if you’re really giving yourself time to wind down.
Top tips to avoid tiredness
- Avoid caffeine! This will only give you a temporary ‘high’ and will leave you feeling even more tired when the drug wears off.
- Drink plenty of water. Good practice is up to eight glasses a day, but simply drinking enough to keep yourself properly hydrated will stop you feeling sleepy.
- Having frequent, small meals will help combat tiredness after eating.
- Exercising regularly will encourage feel-good endorphin hormones and help you sleep better. Yoga is especially good at helping you beat tiredness.
- Get at least seven to eight hours uninterrupted sleep a night.
- Lavender pillows are very good for helping you to drop off.
- Set yourself boundaries on your work – don’t try and burn the candle at both ends just to get things done. Focus on the quality of your work not the quantity.
Working while tired isn’t just bad for your emotional and physical well-being, it might even mean you are putting your class at risk if you are not alert enough to spot potential problems in your class. This is especially true if you are a Physical Education or Technology teacher, where potentially dangerous equipment is being used.
Be aware: always make sure you are the best you can be whenever you step into the classroom; you are responsible for the welfare of your students.
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