A teacher’s job may be one of the most stressful, time-consuming, and under-appreciated professions — at least in the public eye. Let’s examine six common reasons why teachers are always tired.
Every teacher has experienced it – whether you are working full-time or are pursuing your passion as a part-timer, you have constantly been tired. You should, in fact, be lucky if the work of teaching doesn’t keep you up all night. Luckily, we are here to help figure out why teachers are always tired with these six reasons.
Teaching is a High-Stress Job
Teachers are responsible for managing many different things at once: their students’ grades, their own career development, classroom management, and more. When you’re a teacher, it’s not just your job to teach your students—it’s also your job to motivate, inspire, and keep them safe.
Teachers Are Constantly Learning New Things
Teachers must constantly learn new things to keep up with the latest educational trends and ensure they’re giving their students the best possible education. It’s not just about teaching kids how to read and write; it’s also about making sure they’re learning the skills they need to compete in a global economy—and that means constantly keeping up with the times.
To do this, teachers must dedicate time outside school hours daily. They have to take classes at night, on weekends (or both!), and sometimes even during the school year. This means that teachers are constantly studying and taking tests, which takes up even more time outside of class time than usual.
And when you add all of that work to the fact that teachers are already working long hours at school every day, it’s no wonder that many teachers seem exhausted!
Teachers Work Way beyond Their Work Hours
When you’re a teacher, you don’t just come in for a few hours and then leave. Teachers have to make sure their classrooms are set up, they have to prepare for the day, and then they have to stay until their students are gone. Many teachers work at least an hour or two after their official workday ends.
Teachers also have to be on call 24/7. This means that if something comes up with a student—a problem at home or with another family member—teachers will often be called in the middle of the night to help. And since teachers need to make sure they don’t miss any more days than they absolutely must (since this will affect how much money they make), they’ll often stay up late working on lesson plans or grading papers so that they can get everything done before school starts again tomorrow morning.
Teachers Have Emotional Work to Do, Even When They Aren’t with the Students
Teachers have to put on a facade for the kids, but like anyone else, they have their own lives and problems. The job can be stressful, and it’s easy for teachers to feel burnt out.
Teachers are expected to be kind and caring around the clock—but that doesn’t mean they’re always happy or cheerful. They’re human beings who get tired sometimes.
Related: 10 dark secrets your teachers never tell
Teachers Sometimes Have to Deal With Difficult Coworkers and Parents
Dealing with other teachers is one of the reasons why teachers are always tired. Teachers must get along with their peers for their school to function. When there are disagreements between teachers, it can cause problems for the whole school and make it harder for students to learn.
Parents can also be a big challenge for teachers. Some parents do not understand that teaching is hard work or feel that their child should be able to get good grades without effort. This causes stress for teachers who want their students to succeed but are faced with parents unaware of what it takes to become successful in school.
Teachers Usually Don’t Get Personal Time during the Day
Teachers are almost always tired. It’s not just the job that keeps them up at night—it’s the fact that they don’t get nearly enough personal time during the day.
In fact, it’s been shown that teachers have a dramatically lower amount of free time than other professionals and that their workday doesn’t even begin until after 8 am. This means that when teachers are finally home for the evening, they’re already exhausted from standing all day and dealing with students—and then if they want to spend time with friends or family, they’ve got to squeeze in another full-time shift!
Final Thoughts
Even the most dedicated teacher understands why teachers are always tired. It requires an ability to mold minds, a general understanding of the world, and a constant awareness of how your students are faring. The simple truth is that most teachers are exhausted at the end of the day. While analyzing data and editing papers also takes its toll, it’s easy to see why working with children profoundly affects teachers’ energy levels.
Read more: 15 Best Educational Websites for Teachers
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