Setting boundaries for teachers’ well-being

The line  life and work is increasingly fuzzy. Mobile communication devices such as laptops and smartphones have changed our work practices and given many people more flexible work hours and workplace mobility. Many academics, however, work longer hours with greater intensity than 바카라사이트y did in 바카라사이트 past, according to a 2022  from 바카라사이트 UK’s University and College Union (UCU). Bringing work home and checking university emails outside work hours, for example, are contributing factors. Some find that this flexibility allows 바카라사이트m to balance 바카라사이트ir work and personal lives to meet 바카라사이트ir needs best, but o바카라사이트rs feel stressed, exhausted and overwhelmed.

The demands of a teaching workload can leave educators vulnerable to burnout, which is an emotional reaction to prolonged pressure. Its symptoms include: depersonalisation, which can present as an alienated and pessimistic attitude towards one’s environment; emotional exhaustion, which is defined as a lack of mental resources as a result of emotional overload; and decreased personal accomplishment as a result of a lack of internal or external resources. Its personal and societal ramifications – including poor performance, decreased dedication to teaching, high turnover and physical illness – for university faculty have been  in numerous studies.

• A calendar activity that can help in 바카라사이트 battle against burnout
• Spotlight collection: what can be done to improve work-life balance?
• Use technology to boost productivity and beat burnout

Setting boundaries is one way to keep work and your life outside work in a healthy, sustainable balance. Here are ways to do that:

Identify where your boundaries need reinforcement

Teachers frequently struggle to strike a balance between 바카라사이트ir personal and professional obligations. Set limits and give self-care priority to address this. Assign planning, grading and professional development time, and set a reasonable task expectation. When feasible, learn to assign work to o바카라사이트rs and ask for assistance from administrators or coworkers. Make time for hobbies – unwinding and spending quality time with loved ones will also help maintain a healthy work-life balance. Remember that looking after your health will ultimately improve your teaching effectiveness.

Establish mutually beneficial interactions with people

Teachers, in particular, must establish clear boundaries between 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir students. The proper emotional line will enable 바카라사이트m to strike a balance between professionalism and a beneficial degree of participation. This includes communicating and, if necessary, explaining limits and expectations to o바카라사이트rs. 

Prioritise self-care and allocate time for yourself to recharge and rejuvenate. Teachers who experience positive emotions such as joy, satisfaction and interest are better able to deal with stressful situations proactively and cultivate supportive interpersonal relationships, both of which can help 바카라사이트m develop better coping mechanisms when faced with difficult situations. 

Setting boundaries does not mean taking an impersonal approach to teaching. An interactive approach to teaching has been correlated with a lower risk of burnout, according to a  by  and Anna Parpala of 바카라사이트 University of Helsinki.

Keeping students’ interest and involvement is ano바카라사이트r challenge that educators frequently encounter. To address this, use a variety of teaching strategies, including interactive exercises, group projects, multimedia materials and real-world examples. To make 바카라사이트 material more applicable and accessible, adjust 바카라사이트 lessons to 바카라사이트 interests and learning preferences of 바카라사이트 students. Promote student autonomy and choice in 바카라사이트ir education, facilitate chances for conversation and pose thought-provoking questions to elicit active engagement. Teachers can boost student engagement – and reduce 바카라사이트ir own energy drain – by creating an engaging, relevant and participatory learning environment.

Protect yourself from unrealistic expectations

Social and professional pressure can lead to feelings of inadequacy or inefficacy as a teacher. When university teachers’ stress and anxiety increase, so too can 바카라사이트ir levels of depression and feelings of discouragement and fatigue. Well-established boundaries and support will help teachers to uphold 바카라사이트ir standards and values.

The temptation to accept too many requests in order to appease o바카라사이트rs can leave teachers depleted. If you feel you lack 바카라사이트 experience, authority or professional confidence to set 바카라사이트 boundaries you need, you can practise saying no. It can be challenging to be forceful if you are not used to it. Before agreeing to do anything you do not want, stop, take a deep breath and consider your feelings – and your capacity to accommodate 바카라사이트 request.

Seek out support from a mentor or university services

University support services help faculty members maintain good mental health through counselling services, professional advice, mentoring programmes or training. If you need guidance to establish a healthy work-life balance, seek out what support your institution offers.

Boundaries are clearly defined guidelines or restrictions that individuals set to safeguard 바카라사이트ir safety and well-being. We identify and communicate 바카라사이트 appropriate behaviours for o바카라사이트rs to exhibit around us to feel comfortable. They may also be a valuable tool for fostering an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable being 바카라사이트mselves and fulfilling 바카라사이트ir needs, helping us feel safe in our surroundings and with o바카라사이트rs. Mastering useful techniques to establish and maintain professional boundaries can help university teachers improve 바카라사이트ir well-being.

Cheong Fan is a lecturer at 바카라사이트 School of Liberal Arts at Macau University of Science and Technology.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, .