Faculty Burnout Prevention Strategies

ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
EDINFO Number 98-1

Burnout affects all professions but tends to be more pervasive in human service occupations such as education. Some community college faculty prevent career burnout by taking a "wellness approach" to health. This approach emphasizes optimal development of the physical body, management of the work environment, and productive relations with other people. Community college faculty can apply the following wellness strategies to avoid or lessen career burnout:

Identify aspects of professional life that contribute to excessive stress and work on eliminating them;
Create a prioritized to-do list, a weekly schedule, and/or time log to manage time;
Develop a routine and coordinate personal care needs in advance;
Arrive at meetings early, use transition time productively, and eliminate tasks where possible;
Organize office space and materials to create a stress-free environment;
Attend staff meetings regularly to discuss concerns;
Interact with friends and colleagues who are caring, supportive, and appreciative;
Exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, and eat energy-building food.

This information was reported in ED 399 987, "Avoiding Faculty Burnout Through the Wellness Approach." A full-text copy of this document may be obtained from the ERIC Document Reproduction Services, 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or call (800) 443-ERIC.

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