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Are you a child care director or owner who feels like you’re constantly running on empty? If so, you’re not alone. With the demands of the job and the constant needs of the children and staff, many child care professionals experience burnout at some point in their careers.

So how do you know if you are experiencing burnout? Exhaustion, fatigue, apathy, dissatisfaction, tension headaches, and changes in sleep patterns are all signs of workplace burnout. If you notice that you are experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, you may need to change.

Here are some tips on preventing burnout and staying sane while running a child care facility.

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Fuel your body with the right foods.
Your health should be a priority over the business. I know this can sound impossible, but YOU can choose what you prioritize. Try replacing sugary and processed foods with whole natural fruits and veggies. Plan your meals throughout the day to properly fuel your body instead of reaching for whatever you can find after a stressful morning or afternoon
Move Your Body.
Move your body, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. Take a short break and go for a walk. Get some fresh air. Moving your body improves mood and cognitive performance and helps combat anxiety and depression.
Create systems.
Have systems and processes to ensure you do things the same way every time. Create a system that complies with licensing and make sure you follow the same process every time. For example, create a checklist of everything needed when hiring new staff. Check off each item and create an employee folder to stay organized. Have an enrollment process when bringing on new children. Systems will ensure nothing falls through the cracks and will make everything run more smoothly and efficiently. Click here to read more about what systems to implement in your business.
Delegate tasks whenever possible.
Give everyone assigned responsibilities to do every day so that your program will run on its own without requiring you to be there every second of the day. For example, hire an assistant to enter paperwork, plan field trips, picture days, and keep up with shot records. Promote one of your teachers to Social Media Manager to manage your social media platforms. Train someone to onboard your new staff. Sure, it will be a ton of work initially, but think of the time it will save you in the future.
Set realistic goals and deadlines.
Don’t set unreasonable expectations for yourself or the business. This causes unnecessary overwhelm. Instead of staring at the never-ending to-do list, pick only 3 things to accomplish each day and focus only on those 3 things. Don’t overwhelm yourself with something that can wait.
Take time for your family.
We pour ourselves into our businesses. If we aren’t careful, we could wake up one morning and realize that our own families are suffering because of all the energy we have been pouring into the business. YOUR family and children are more important than any child care facility. Take time to go on vacation. Spend time with family and friends. Set boundaries with your staff and let them know that you should only be contacted after hours in case of an emergency. Put yourself and your family first.
Celebrate Wins.
Look at everything that went right at the end of the day and week! Sure, a lot goes wrong, but focusing on the negative does NOTHING for us. So instead, make a list of all the kind words spoken, the teachers who went above and beyond, the adorable babies and toddlers who made you smile, and that parent who said thank you. If we look, we can find endless things to be thankful for.
Conclusion:
Burnout is a very real issue for many child care professionals. But there are ways to avoid it. What works for one person might not work for another, so find what strategies help you recharge and rejuvenate. Take some time for yourself, spend time with loved ones, get outside, or do something that makes you happy. And if all else fails, know that you’re not alone – we’re here to support you. So how do you deal with burnout? Let me know in the comments below.
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