Menu

Levels of teacher stress have increased and it is now a “Five-Alarm Crisis” for K-12 educators.

It’s no secret that educators have experienced record levels of stress in the past few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 567,000 teachers left the profession in the US since January 2020. Poor working conditions are largely to blame. Most teachers struggling to cope with increasing demands that spiked due to the pandemic.

In fact, the National Education Association (NEA) published survey results in early 2022 and found that over 90% of teachers were experiencing burnout. This is defined as an “occupational condition” that results from workplace stress that has not been managed successfully due to inadequate support or coping skills.

Another NEA survey finding was that 55% of educator respondents want to leave their profession early. This may be a warning of future staffing shortages as well as challenges for those who remain. Because when colleagues leave, workloads shift to others. Within the education setting, burnout levels are high, at levels never seen before. 

What adjustments are being made?  

• Many districts are providing extra planning time to ease the pressure on teachers.
• Degree requirements for substitute teachers and full-time teachers have been eased to increase the pool of available candidates. (A previous need for a bachelor’s degree among substitute teachers has been reduced to associate’s degrees, for example).
• School districts aim for more hiring. This is important because hiring is not keeping up. For example, US education labor turnover fell to just 0.57 hires for each open educational position during the 2021-2022 school year.

What works for stress relief? 

Occupational stress reduces quality of life. Individuals affected by stress can take proactive steps today:  

• Nourish yourself with every meal: Teachers are attuned to other’s needs, yet their own bodily requirements often go unfulfilled. Eating a nutritious diet is a challenge, so start with small daily goals such as more veggies and fruit. These fiber-filled foods can help your brain avoid the symptoms of depression. Studies in educators suggest that diet improvements should be a top target for stress reduction among teachers. 
• Making a personalized self-care plan: Studies show that teachers can reduce stress levels by following along to guided practices for self-care. Specific research on effective self-care plans shows that teachers benefit from prioritizing exercise, sleep, and short meditations and breathing exercises.  
• Keep a gratitude journal: Suggestions for teachers include an emphasis on positive reflection. When we consider what is going well, it can deflect from negative emotions. When we practice being grateful, it can also help us move toward other healthy goals because it makes it a little easier to regulate our emotions. 

Treo can help!

Our platform connects users to resources that build mental and physical resilience, so members can work on healthy habits they care about and explore the science behind how these habits work. Through tracking and the option of wellness coaching, we support members as they improve the daily behaviors that benefit wellbeing. Treo’s whole-person platform offers members the option of tracking the habits that are most important to them. We also offer video content directly addressing the top habits for specific health goals. Interested in learning more? Let’s get in touch!