Teacher burnout isn't actually about teaching. Here's what it really is, and where to start.
This is part 1 of a 3-part replay series pulled from the exact episodes that came out with my book two years ago, and they still hold up completely. We're covering the first step of what I now call the Inside-Out Teacher Framework: Observe. Not observing like a principal walking in with a checklist, but observing like a student teacher who's just genuinely curious about what's going on.
In this episode, you'll learn why teacher burnout and overwhelm are rarely about the job itself, the difference between your thoughts and your feelings (and why most of us mix those up constantly), a Viktor Frankl story that reframes the space between what happens to you and how you respond, and why your nervous system might be running the whole show without you realizing it. If you've been searching for teacher self care ideas or ways to deal with overwhelm as an educator, this is where to actually start.
New episodes of the podcast officially relaunch September 25th, and I'm hosting a masterclass at the end of October that goes even deeper into this framework.
WATCH the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB0N0UbkloQ
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 Why teacher burnout usually isn't about teaching
0:58 Podcast intro
1:05 Why we're replaying these episodes now
2:00 The 3-part series and the September 25th relaunch
3:10 Get on the Teacher Brain Break newsletter
4:15 The book, the framework, and how it came together
7:00 Why the framework came down to three simple steps
9:15 Step 1: What it means to observe yourself
11:00 The "principal vs. student teacher" way to self-observe
13:00 Why observing yourself matters so much
14:00 You're not trying to fix anything yet
15:45 The Instagram poll on teacher burnout
17:30 What's actually driving teacher burnout
19:00 The 3 things to observe: thoughts, feelings, nervous system
20:00 Thoughts vs. feelings (and why we mix them up)
21:00 The Viktor Frankl story on choosing your response
22:00 Cognitive distortions to watch for
23:45 Why you can't just bury your feelings
25:45 Your nervous system and the fight, flight, freeze, fawn response
28:00 The safety check flowchart for regulating yourself
29:45 Self compassion and why change takes time
31:00 What's coming in part 2: Choose
🔗 Links
Get on the Teacher Brain Break list: educateandrejuvenate.com/teacherbrainbreak
Grab the book this episode is based on: educateandrejuvenate.com/book
Next in this series: Part 2, Choose
If you're a teacher dealing with burnout, overwhelm, or feeling like you're always putting everyone else first, this one's for you. Subscribe so you catch part 2 and 3, plus all the brand new episodes starting September 25th.
