The teaching profession in the UK is facing unprecedented challenges, with workload issues pushing many educators to the brink of burnout. In recent years, teachers have been grappling with a significant increase in responsibilities, including excessive paperwork, planning and assessment tasks, and rising classroom sizes. According to a report by the Department for Education, teachers in England work an average of 54 hours per week, with only 43% of that time spent on actual teaching. A 2023 survey from the National Education Union revealed that 53% of teachers are considering leaving the profession within the next two years due to unsustainable workload pressures. This surge in administrative tasks, combined with the pressure to meet performance targets, has made teaching one of the most stressful jobs in the UK.
Recognising Teacher Burnout: The Warning Signs
Burnout is more than just feeling exhausted at the end of a long week; it’s a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Teachers experiencing burnout often feel detached from their work, struggle to maintain enthusiasm, and may become cynical about their role. Common symptoms include chronic fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and a diminished sense of personal accomplishment. In 2022, it was reported that 32,000 teachers in the UK were signed off work due to stress, anxiety, or mental health-related illnesses, a stark indicator of the growing problem of burnout in the profession. These figures highlight the urgent need for better mental health support for teachers, who are crucial to shaping the future of young people.
First-Hand Experience: A Personal Journey with Teacher Burnout
As a secondary school teacher with 24 years of experience, I know first-hand how demanding the job can be. Managing behaviour in the classroom, meeting expectations for exam results, and dealing with pastoral care are all essential parts of the role. However, these responsibilities come with a significant emotional and psychological toll. In addition to teaching, teachers face an ever-increasing workload, including endless marking, lesson planning, and administrative tasks that often spill into personal time.
The pressure to meet targets and ensure student progress is relentless, creating a culture of guilt when you’re unable to balance your professional duties with your personal life. For many years, I struggled with the constant feeling that I wasn’t doing enough, despite working long hours. Eventually, the toll of this workload on my work-life balance led me to step back from my senior leadership team role. I decided to retrain as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist, a decision that has transformed my life. Now, I work part-time in school, while dedicating the rest of my week to helping others improve their mental health and well-being.
Hypnotherapy: A Solution to Teacher Burnout
If you’re a teacher suffering from the effects of stress, performance anxiety, or burnout, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can offer powerful relief. Hypnotherapy combines psychotherapy techniques with hypnosis to help individuals reduce anxiety, manage stress, and build resilience. The approach is rooted in neuroscience, focusing on how the brain processes stress. Stress is managed in the brain’s amygdala, which triggers the “fight or flight” response. When we are constantly under pressure, the brain remains in this heightened state of alert, leading to burnout.
Hypnotherapy helps to calm the amygdala and shift focus to the prefrontal cortex, which governs rational thinking and decision-making. By doing so, it allows individuals to regain control over their responses to stress. In practical terms, hypnotherapy can help teachers regain a sense of balance, feel more confident in their abilities, and reduce feelings of overwhelm. Research has shown that hypnotherapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress by up to 73%, offering a practical tool for teachers looking to manage their mental health.
Through personalised sessions, I work with clients to address performance-related anxiety, regain confidence, and develop coping mechanisms that support well-being both inside and outside the classroom. With the right support, teachers can rediscover their passion for education without sacrificing their mental health. If you’re struggling with the demands of teaching, it’s important to know that you don’t have to face it alone.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy may provide the balance and relief you need to thrive in your professional and personal life.