Experiencing Music Teacher Burnout? - Here are some tips!

Dealing with music teacher burnout can feel like an overwhelming experience. If you ever have one of those days where you feel like everything is off or nothing is going right, bask in knowing that you are certainly not alone in that feeling! 

Of course, if you’ve been having bad day after bad day with no light at the end of the tunnel, you may have reached a burnout period where you need to reevaluate. 

You might not be sleeping very well. Maybe your students seem disinterested, and your administration isn’t helping as much as you need. Maybe your lessons don’t feel well-prepared.

The last thing you want is to live in a state of perpetual anxiety about your responsibilities as a professional music teacher, as that negativity and anxiety can rub off on your students. Plus, chronic stress can lead to both physical and emotional exhaustion, making you feel unaccomplished or ineffective in your profession. 

Stress is certainly one of the major components of modern life, and there is truly no way to avoid that. However, if you feel like you’re experiencing it more than normal, there is a good chance that you’re experiencing burnout, and you need to make some changes. 

Let’s dive in and check out some ways you can come back from music teacher burnout.

Recharge

If you’re feeling burned out, the best thing you can do is take some time to recharge. Spring fever is a very real thing, and many students start feeling burned out just like you. During these times, it can be important to take a bit of time for yourself. Even taking five minutes between classes to step outside or go to the bathroom for some alone time is helpful. 

You may consider starting your day a bit earlier to have time for yourself. Take 15 minutes in the morning to read a chapter from one of your favorite books, practice meditation, or sit outside and enjoy your coffee. 

The simple act of taking a deep breath before each day and appreciating the fact that you’re alive and here can breed positivity that can carry you through the day. You might even consider incorporating some recharging time in your classes. You might be surprised how many students would appreciate a 5-10 minute meditation routine in class each day.

Switch It Up

You might be stressed out because your lesson plans aren’t working the way you want them to. In that case, try switching things up! 

For example, things may have been going great throughout the year up until now, though students are a bit more squirrely than they’ve been recently, and they’re having a hard time focusing.

If that’s the case, you might consider incorporating more activities that promote movement. 

Of course, we’re not suggesting that you take the lesson plans you’ve worked so hard on and toss them out the window. We simply suggest that you are open to knowing when what you’re doing isn’t working and adjusting your plans based on what you see. 

Consider bringing your students outside to work on music if it’s a nice day, or allow them some time during class to play and improvise with one another. You might notice that, though the lesson you originally planned didn’t work this week, you and your students will be ready for it next week! 

Talk With Other Music Teachers

Like we said before, you’re not alone in feeling burnout as a music teacher. 

Talking with other teachers, especially music teachers, is a great way for you to express your frustrations and come up with potential solutions. You may even consider joining a community, such as the Music Teachers National Association. 

They hold conferences and events all over the country and have a large virtual community online. 

Determine What Went Wrong By Analyzing Your Past Mistakes

How did you get here?

Self-reflection never hurts. 

Of course, trying to retrace your burnout to a single event might not be possible, as burnout typically comes from the combination of a myriad of events over an extended time. However, by taking small steps to identify what things led to the burnout that you’re currently feeling, you can get outside of your head for a minute and assess where you are in life. 

Do you maybe feel tired or like you’re constantly falling behind? If so, you might consider getting to bed a bit earlier, so you wake up in the morning feeling more rested. 

There are so many ways to combat burnout, and these are just a few! Again, we highly recommend speaking with other teachers around you to get the assistance you need so you can continue teaching happily and healthily.