The Importance of Educator Health and Wellbeing
Educators have played an important role in every single one of our lives. Our educators helped us get from pre-school through high school graduation. For those of us with children, the impact of educators has taken on an entirely new meaning. If you are an educator reading this, know that your influence is immeasurable. We know that your job is not easy. Educators spend their careers serving others. We want to ensure that these educators take the time to serve themselves. In 2024, burnout is all too common. There are many ways that educators can prevent and treat burnout. At Fitness Formula Clubs (FFC), we provide a space for Chicago educators to combat their stress.
In this article, we will tackle one of the most important ways educators can stay energized and motivated in their careers: taking care of their physical health and personal wellbeing. We reference facts about educator burnout, the importance of physical health, and even reference an FFC member and educator!
Risk for Educator Burnout
According to the Rand Findings from the 2024 State of the American Teacher Survey, “compared with comparable working adults, about twice as many teachers reported experiencing frequent job-related stress or burnout and roughly three times as many teachers reported difficulty coping with job-related stress.” Burnout occurs when excessive and prolonged stress creates emotional drainage that leads to a lack of interest and motivation in day-to-day tasks. Educators are tasked with an incredible feat every single day: supporting the well-being of the children in their care. The weight of this responsibility puts them at an automatically higher risk of burnout than other professions. This emotional burden, combined with financial stress, lack of sleep, and an inability to distance themselves from their work (especially since the COVID-19 Pandemic introduced virtual learning), are reasons why educators need to actively find ways to both treat and prevent burnout.
Importance of Educators’ Physical Health for the Educator and for the Students
Chuck Lair, FFC Member and Chicago 2nd grade teacher of 29 years, knows that being an educator takes energy. Where does he find that energy? Daily workouts. According to Chuck, “The more you exercise, the more energy you have. The everyday workouts help me deal with stress at school.” Exercise is proven to not only help regulate stress and boost energy, but also to improve sleep, confidence, and mental health.
Daily fitness routines help educators disengage from the workday. As our world becomes increasingly digital, educators find it nearly impossible to fully separate themselves from job-related stress. Daily fitness routines provide a space to set work aside, focusing on just the workout at hand. They also help educators build a community of friends outside of the classroom. When educators set aside time for their physical health and life outside of the classroom, they are better able to combat burnout and show up as their most energetic, positive, confident selves.
How to Maintain a Healthy Physical Wellbeing
Educators in Chicago like Chuck Lair look to Fitness Formula Clubs as their place to exercise, socialize, and unplug from their careers. Physical wellness can look different for everyone. For Chuck, it includes indoor swimming, group HIIT classes, and focusing on healthy eating with the help of the FFC Nutrition Team. Chuck has built a community at FFC for the past 12 years. The connections he has made through fitness encourage him to stay consistent and have fun while doing so! While educators’ careers will always cause stress, prioritizing daily physical activity helps prevent the lack of motivation and energy that encompass burnout. Educators have one of the most stressful, but also one of the most rewarding careers. At FFC, we encourage educators to prioritize their wellbeing so that they can lead healthy, satisfied lives both in and out of the classroom.
