The summer is over and usually here in Dublin, it means that us teachers have a bit of a break and a chance to recharge the batteries. However, this year, after a super busy summer, (so much so that we had to open a separate centre), we are still at full capacity. It's absolutely wonderful as our seasonal teachers have work for longer and the school is still buzzing.
Unfortunately for me, it has been a little bit of a struggle this summer. I got completely burnt out. Since beginning my Trinity Dip this time last year (and working full time pretty much throughout it), I haven't had a holiday. I've had a few days of "staycation", but I've still been contactable and have ended up working on other projects during that time. I had the opportunity to be the Assistant Director of Studies for the summer, which I was terribly enthusiastic about at the beginning of the summer, but thanks to the storms and heavy rain we got flooded and that was the start of my slow descent into burnout.
I felt totally demotivated, my patience completely ran out and everything felt like an uphill battle. I couldn't handle being asked questions by other teachers and they expected me to be at their beck and call. I felt guilty because my other duties took up all of my time and I didn't have time to prep my lessons to the standard I'm used to. My students in class were the only thing that kept me sane and motivated me, but at times, they even began to irritate me. I needed a break, but my contract and other teachers having booked holidays didn't allow me to take holidays until the end of October.
So, I decided that outside of school, I would try to give any ELT related activities a rest and focus on something else. I read an article by Lindsay Clandfield, and I took his advice. I started to do exercise for 30 minutes every day, or most days. I tried to get outdoors as much as possible and I even tried out meditation.
Slowly, I started to feel alive again. I stopped comfort eating and slowly began to lose the 15lbs I had put on over the last year. The spring started creeping back into my step, and, as one of my students told me, my "sparkle" was coming back too!
The final boost came last week when I went to Bath for a conference with the IATEFL PronSIG. My colleague and I took the first flight out of Dublin after only 4 hours sleep and a very long week! I was concerned that I wasn't going to be able to get the most out of the day, but I was excited at the same time as I knew who was speaking at the event.
On walking into the room, I spotted Adrian Underhill, Ray Parker and Mark Hancock. I have to admit I was start struck! Adrian had been one of our guest tutors on the Oxford TEFL Trinity Dip, but we only go to talk to him through the forum. I hold him responsible for awakening my love of phonology and teaching pronunciation! Ray Parker's book that he wrote with Tim Graham provided me with great support for the transcription part of the phonology interview on the Dip. And, well, we all know Mark Hancock's wonderful book of Pronunciation Games. I was in phonological heaven!! I immediately forgot how much sleep I didn't get and had an absolutely wonderfully inspirational day.
To see these guys who are now at the pinnacle of their careers speak and demonstrate with such passion made me realise that I love what I do and that I have so much to more to learn and develop. Their enthusiasm is infectious. The turning point came when I had the opportunity to talk to Adrian. He remembered me from the Dip, we chatted and got excited about using the phonemic chart in class and he was even so kind to give me advice about my career! I bounced into work on Monday morning feeling energised and full of life. My creativity and drive has come back. Yes, it's still a challenge to have a full time position and find the time to work on my own projects, but I feel that I'm now able to manage it all better and find a balance. I've also been able to bring some projects that I'm interested in into my workplace and that has made a difference too.
So, if you feel you might be on the way towards burnout, don't be afraid to take time out. If you can take holidays, great, if your job doesn't allow you, focus on something completely different that makes you feel good or calm. Talk to a colleague, senior teacher or even your DOS. And, when you think you might be on the way back up, seek inspiration. It mightn't necessarily be in the industry, do what works for you. Remember it's only temporary, so give yourself time.
If you want more information on burnout, I recommend this article by Lindsay Clandfield.
