Regroup and Refocus: Strategies to Avoid Professor Burn Out | Faculty Development - Faculty Focus

It’s already the end of the semester! says Katie D. Lewis, EdD, associate professor at York College of Pennsylvania, formerly of Texas A&M International University and Nicole Hesson, EdD, assistant professor of education at York College of Pennsylvania.

Teacher lays head on arm on desk with colorful chalkboard behind him
Photo: Faculty Focus

The shiny back-to-school dust has settled and we have all been rotating through our new COVID-complicated school routines. Most of the students and professors agree that it was better to be back on campus, even with the restrictions and quieter than usual hallways. For the most part, everyone is completing their daily COVID checks, wearing colorful masks, and trying to be more aware of their surroundings. The gears of college seem to be moving forward and learning hasn’t fallen off the wheels. But, if you pause and listen to the rumblings, there is a different message being shared.

Professors are burning out. Anxiety levels are at elevated levels, even among those who aren’t typically anxious. Planning more than a week out seems a risky undertaking. A disproportionate amount of time is spent searching for the best ways to engage students in Zoom sessions while also engaging in face-to-face sessions. We are forced to balance flexibility and understanding while maintaining high academic standards. We have to seek ways to foster student conversation both virtually and in person. This is difficult amongst the unusually quiet students; even the students who were chatty in previous semesters are more reserved now. We have restructured our course content to embed digital collaboration and authentic conversations. We’ve been tasked with checking on the mental health of our students—from seniors who are losing out on practicum experiences and questioning what their post-graduation plans will be to first-year students who are struggling more than normal to adjust to college life to commuters with hectic schedules and nowhere to set-up on campus.

Teaching isn’t our only responsibility. All the while, professors are dealing with research and service duties. Our research agendas have been adjusted to include COVID-related topics because publications have pivoted their focus. Journal articles that were previously accepted pre-COVID have been put on the back burner...

It is too early for teacher burnout. However, it is here and it’s not going to get any better in the near future. Many of us have depleted our surge capacity in handling the stress around this ongoing pandemic. We have to adapt in this “new normal,” and we have to take care of ourselves so that we can prepare our students to be leaders in their field. 

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Source: Faculty Focus