Sustainable Teaching: Preventing Burnout While Maintaining High-Impact Instruction

Teaching is, by nature, a demanding profession. The high expectations, the massive workload, and the emotional labor that come with it make this job one of the most challenging—and yet, one of the most rewarding. But too often, that reward comes at the cost of our well-being. That’s why sustainability in teaching is so essential. And it’s not just essential for teachers—it’s essential for student success. We cannot show up as our best selves in the classroom if we’re completely depleted.

This newsletter isn’t about just acknowledging burnout. It’s about action. It’s about real, tangible strategies that help us balance effective teaching with self-care. Because teaching should be sustainable, and we have to create systems that allow us to thrive, not just survive.

Recognizing Burnout Before It’s Too Late

The first step in creating a sustainable teaching practice is recognizing burnout before it fully takes hold. The warning signs are there—we just need to pay attention to them. If you’re coming home from work so exhausted that you can’t do anything but sit on the couch, if you no longer look forward to your day, if lesson planning or grading feels like an impossible task, then burnout may already be creeping in.

And let’s be clear: there is a difference between normal work stress and chronic burnout. Stress is a part of life, and teaching is, of course, a stressful job. But there’s a difference between healthy stress—the kind that comes with pushing yourself to be better—and the kind of stress that drains you to the point where there’s nothing left to give. If you’re constantly in a state of exhaustion, resentment, or frustration, then your stress has crossed over into burnout.

We have to remind ourselves that high-impact instruction should never come at the cost of our well-being. The truth is, we can’t be great teachers when we are barely functioning.

Setting Boundaries Without Sacrificing Student Success

One of the hardest things to do as a teacher is set boundaries. We are naturally givers. We want to help. We want to do more. But without boundaries, we will be pulled in every direction until we have nothing left.

The first step to setting boundaries is protecting our non-teaching time. Planning periods, grading time, and personal time are non-negotiable. If your administration asks you to meet during your planning time, you need to ask when you’ll get that time back. And if the answer is “never,” then you have every right to say no.

Boundaries also extend to students and parents. If you don’t set limits on when you’ll respond to emails or take calls, then you’ll be expected to be available 24/7. The moment you start answering emails on weekends, that becomes the expectation. Decide on your boundaries and communicate them clearly.

And then there’s the hardest part—learning to say no. You are contracted to do certain things. If you’re being asked to do more than that, it’s okay to push back. I know how easy it is to become the “yes” person. I’ve been there. I’ve said yes to everything, and I’ve found myself overwhelmed and unable to give my best to anything. We have to use our power to protect ourselves, or we will be taken advantage of.

Technology can also be an incredible tool in setting boundaries. AI isn’t going to replace teachers, but it can make our lives easier. There are countless tools available to help streamline tasks—lesson planning, grading, presentations, even organizing your workload. Learning how to leverage technology is one of the best ways to work more efficiently.

Teaching Smarter, Not Harder

One of the biggest mistakes we make as educators is trying to do everything the hardest way possible. But working harder doesn’t always mean working better. One of the best ways to cut down on stress is to plan ahead. Last-minute planning creates unnecessary chaos. If you don’t know what you’re doing tomorrow or next week, that’s an issue. Planning in advance—batch planning—can completely change your experience as a teacher. The more you can get done in one sitting, the less you have to worry about on a daily basis.

Reusable templates are another game-changer. There is absolutely no reason to start from scratch every single time. Create templates for lesson plans, assignments, and feedback that you can use over and over again. It’s a small change that will save you hours in the long run.

I also swear by self-paced and blended learning. In my classroom, I use instructional videos instead of traditional lectures. That way, students have constant access to the material, and I’m free to focus on small-group and one-on-one instruction. It’s a huge shift from the traditional model, but it makes my job so much more sustainable.

Another way to teach smarter is to maximize student ownership of learning. Peer collaboration, student-led discussions, and independent mastery all play a role in shifting the responsibility from teacher to student. Our job isn’t to spoon-feed information—it’s to create an environment where students take charge of their own learning.

Grading is another area where teachers tend to waste time. Not everything needs to be graded. I used to grade everything, and for what? The only things that truly need a grade are final demonstrations of learning. Everything else is just practice. And when you do grade, use rubrics and checklists to make the process faster and more objective.

And finally, routines. Classroom routines and procedures reduce decision fatigue, streamline daily tasks, and make everything run smoother. And yes, you have to teach them explicitly. But once students know the expectations, everything becomes easier—for them and for you.

Professional Growth Without Burnout

We need to be continuously learning, but that learning should support us, not drain us. If professional development inside your school setting isn’t meeting your needs, it’s time to look elsewhere. Find mentorship, coaching, and professional networks that actually help you grow. For me, LinkedIn has been an invaluable tool. Unlike other social media platforms, it’s built for professionals looking to develop themselves, and the conversations there have helped me become a better teacher.

Collaboration with colleagues is another way to make teaching more sustainable. If you work with a team, don’t work in isolation. Share the workload. Plan together. Divide responsibilities. Teaching is already hard—there’s no reason to make it harder by doing everything alone.

Self-Care is a Non-Negotiable

Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and candles. It’s about mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Prioritizing sleep, movement, and nutrition isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. Stress management techniques, whether it’s journaling, mindfulness, or just setting aside time for yourself, should be part of your routine.

And perhaps most importantly, we have to find joy in teaching again. The systemic issues in education aren’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find happiness in our work. Celebrate small wins. Reflect on the impact you’re having. Reconnect with what made you love teaching in the first place.

Teaching is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

Long-term success in teaching depends on sustainability. If you’re feeling burned out, don’t wait until it’s too late. Start making changes now. Focus on what is within your control, set boundaries, work smarter, and take care of yourself.

And if you want to dive deeper into work-life balance and sustainable teaching practices, I invite you to join me for The Successful Educator Workshop. Let’s make teaching sustainable—for ourselves and for our students.

I’d love to hear from you—what are your best sustainability tips? Let’s keep this conversation going.