This is a really tough one....
If you ask me, if you are a teacher for more than 10 years, you simply cannot avoid burnout...
The thing is how to get over it. We all come up to a point when we feel tired, sick of what we do and complain all the time about everything. And that happens of course just because we are tired....
How can we return to our old selves again? There are a lot of things we can do.
I know that this may sound radical, but, if you are really sick and tired of your situation just change it!! For example, when I felt "trapped" working at a language school I just stopped!! I am now freelance, teaching individuals and small groups and I am much happier. Of course this was a great risk, since you don't really know what will happen if you are on your own.
Another less radical thing you could do is find time for yourself! You should not work work and work all the time. Devote one hour a day doing something else that you really enjoy. For me it is the gym, for somebody else it may be reading, cooking, drawing.... Have at least a day off work. I always have Sundays devoted to my family. No reading no marking no nothing.
Try new things in class! Challenge yourself! Avoid the book! Do fun stuff with your students!!!
Comments
I like your ideas because I feel the same as a teacher teaching large number of students ,but I always devote a time to myself as you said and that makes me calm and happy ! I sometimes listen to music , a gym ,go for a picnic with my family ,making sweets too :)
The most important thing ,too is creating a positive atmosphere inside the class and change our teaching methods from time to time to break the routine .That will be helpful to teachers and students as well .
Thank you for sharing this wonderful blog!