Tired vs. Burnout - What are the Symptoms of BURNOUT?

[lolaland]

I think clarifying this might be a very useful information for those of you that sometimes feel tired and overwhelmed with the demands of this carrier…
When does the word TIRED becomes BURNOUT? What are the symptoms that make you realize that a daycare provider is no longer just tired but is actually burnout??

I asked myself many times this question when I was struggling to make my daycare business work for my family… I do know NOW that at this moment I’m burnout and there is no turning back for me but to take a very long break from this carrier!
… but I wonder, if I was more aware of when I was shifting from one to another, maybe I could’ve done then something to prevent me to get to this “no turning back” point. Does this make any sense to you??

[Evansmom]

Absolutely! It's very easy to get into burn out and you're right, the only thing is to take a break possibly indefinitely.

So to prevent it in my opinion it's necessary to take smaller breaks along the way. I know it makes parents mad when we close but there is a reason for the term "mental health day"!

I take 3 weeks unpaid vacation per year, 2 in summer, 1 for Christmas. I also close for major federal holidays and the Thursday and Friday of thanksgiving. Plus I do not feel bad taking a mental health day now and then if I feel I need it.

Parents should be able to imagine how tough this job is. No one, not parents or teachers want the teacher to get burned out so the breaks are necessary.

When I break I just remind parents that it allows me to do my job better and for longer, no one wants a burnt out care giver. The parents that don't agree leave and that's fine. You get what you pay for.

Just my opinion folks!

[Evansmom]

Adding: for me, symptoms of burnout are I lose my patience with the kids. After working with kids for 17 years I have what some people say is an infinite amount of patience for them. But if I get snappy, I need a break

[Blackcat31]

VERY valuable information from a very wise and respected member of the forum:

PROVIDER BURNOUT

In a study conducted at the University of Maryland, by Susan Walker, PhD, in-home family daycare providers were proven to be particularly prone to personal stress. The factors that they stated contributed to this were: long hours (average of 60 hours a week), low pay (an average of $15,000 a year), and the low value of their job to the public despite the huge need for care. All of these factors deem daycare providers at high risk for burnout.

There are three stages of burnout:

1. Stress Arousal Stage Persistent irritability and anxiety
Bruxism and/or Insomnia
Occasional forgetfulness and/or inability to concentrate
2. Stress Resistance Stage Absenteeism or tardiness for work
Tired and fatigued for no reason
Procrastination and indecision
Social withdrawal with cynicism
Resentful, indifferent, defiant
Increased use of coffee, alcohol, tobacco, etc.
3. Severe Exhaustion Stage Chronic sadness or depression
Chronic mental and physical fatigue
Chronic stress related illnesses (headache, stomach ache, bowel problems, etc.)

So how do you know if you or a loved one is suffering from burnout?
Here are the early warning signs.

Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
Anger at those making demands
Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
A sense of being besieged
Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbance
Weight loss or gain
Sleeplessness and depression
Shortness of breath
Suspiciousness
Feelings of helplessness
Increased degree of risk taking
Isolation, withdrawal, self-destructive thoughts

What do you do if you are suffering from burnout?

Take a break!!! Get a massage, meditate, hide, stare at a wall...get away!
Ask for love ones to lighten the load and help with your responsibilities.
Simplify your life. What can you take out?
Relax and nurture yourself.
Seek professional help if it gets severe.
Reduce your stress!!!

STRESS
Know thy enemy...

Studies has proven that in-home daycare providers are more prone to stress than the average bear.
Yet there are little or no resources to daycare providers for reducing and managing stress.
Why is this? We can only suppose that everyone is too stressed out to do anything about it!

In a study of providers in Maryland:
37% of providers rated themselves as experiencing very high
or somewhat high levels of stress in the past month
54.5% had effects on health behaviors
51.7% enjoy their job less than typical population
35% report feeling bad physically
33.6% experienced strong moods

WHAT IS STRESS?

Stress is the excitement, feeling of anxiety and/or physical tension that occurs when
demands placed on an individual exceed his or her ability to cope.

We need stress in many ways. It helps us to survive, it is our fight or flight response.
It helps us to cross the street, move out of the way when something is thrown at us, be frightened
when somebody yells “boo”. We want to stay out of the way of danger so our body physically
responds to surprises so we don’t kill ourselves and we fear things.

Stress response: When challenged, the body undergoes a progressive series of responses that are first triggered by an external stimulus termed the stressor. The more prolonged and accelerating reactions produce an intense and severe disruption called strain. All of this moves the body away from homeostasis, the maintenance of equilibrium of the internal body functions in response to external changes.

WHAT CAUSES STRESS?

Psychological causes
Life changes--events, circumstances or perceptions
Overload--too much to do, not enough time to do it
Insufficient resources--not enough money or time
Frustration--lack of happiness or fulfillment
Trauma or loss--death of a close friend or relative

External causes
Occupation
Environmental strain (noise, temperature, etc.)
Substance abuse (alcohol/drugs)
Nutritional excesses (caffeine, sugar)
Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins or nutrients)

Personality causes
Self-perception
Anxious reactivity, hypervigilance, worry
Need for control,
Time urgency
Anger or hostility

Major sources of stress in daycare include:

conflicts with parents
role conflict
not being able to balance work and family
fairness in housework
feeling overloaded
not having enough time for family activities
not enough time with family
not enough money
conflict with their own family
not having enough children in their daycare

Other things that effect our stress:

Poor resource management: Time and money are precious and limited resources. Wasting either of these creates serious tension and stress. Unwillingness to delegate or let go of control also increases stress.

Personal relationships: Romance and love are exciting eustress experiences while conflict, jealousy and resentment are common distresses when a relationship breaks down.

Self-perception: Low self-esteem and self-confidence together with the absence of feeling connected or empowered, can all precipitate stress reactions. Taken to excess (self-confidence) these can lead to egoism and ****iness which will cause different stress reactions.

Beliefs and attitudes: Family scripts like "A penny saved is a penny earned," "A job worth doing is worth doing well" can cause undue stress and force the person to live up to an unrealistic image.

WHAT ARE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON THE BODY?

muscle tightness and tension
decreased immunity, increased sickness
aches/pains in back and neck
fatigue and lack of energy
headaches, migraines
digestive problems
depression and/or anxiety
decreased ability of movement
accelerated aging
These can lead to: high blood pressure; restricted movement;
ulcers; heart attack; cancer; stroke; etc.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT OUR STRESS?

Simplify your life
Avoid over-commitment and over-responsibility
Learn how to say "NO".
Delegate your duties, have others help you.
Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep
Relax and breathe
Take some time for you everyday

REDUCING STRESS

"It's not what happens to you in life that matters,
it's how you react to what happens to you that counts."

4 areas that you can reduce stress in your daycare business:

1. Daycare environment-
How is your daycare set up? Is it cluttered? Are toys and activities easily accessible? Is it bright and cheery or dark and dreary? What colors are the basic colors of the room? Does the area provide space to relax or is it constantly high energy? Did you know that you can use color and scents to induce different moods and tones in your house?

2. Business Practices-
Do your parents drive you crazy? Do they know what is expected of them? Do you have policies in place? Do you act like a professional? Did you know that you can train your parents how to treat you and your business? How do you find the balance between giving the parents what they want and keeping your sanity? Do you run your daycare like a business or like a babysitting service? Do you have preschool programs? What can you do to enhance your services to the family that you can have fun with?

3. Children-
Do the children know what is expected of them? Are you consistent with discipline or is it something you have to continue to revisit? Do children have a balance of relaxing and stimulating activities? Is there enough transition time between activities? Is there enough variety of toys and activities for each child's interests? Do you have engaging activities such as music, exercise or stretching, yoga, dancing, that keeps the children interested and allow them to use fine and gross motor control?

4. Your self-
Do you take enough time for you? (HA!--we all say) Do you think you DESERVE time for yourself? Do you know how to nurture your body, mind, and spirit? Do you exercise some everyday besides lifting kids on and off the diaper changing table? Do you have a hobby that you have been dying to take up? Is your attitude positive? Can you learn how to make some time for yourself everyday? Are you too serious or do you laugh things off easily? Do you over-commit yourself? Do you ask others for help? Do you take time off?

[daycarediva]

I agree. I take a day off. If I don't have one coming for a while, I schedule one a little in advance and then I have a countdown.

I also take care of myself that day. My kids go to school, dh is in and out, use my sitter for DS and take a bath, nap, relax in quiet. It's VERY needed.

[Leanna]

Blackcat31's re-post of Cat Herder's post made me wonder about burnout in the field of child care. I wonder if those who see the job as a lifelong career that deserves education, ongoing training, annual investments, and professionalism experience less burnout than those who are view it as a temporary or fall-back job? No judgment here: I realize the value of being at home with your own kiddos when they are little and/or bringing in a second income that may be badly needed. I am just wondering about how ones (maybe unspoken) outlook may impact their level of stress.

[Play Care]

Blackcat31's re-post of Cat Herder's post made me wonder about burnout in the field of child care. I wonder if those who see the job as a lifelong career that deserves education, ongoing training, annual investments, and professionalism experience less burnout than those who are view it as a temporary or fall-back job? No judgment here: I realize the value of being at home with your own kiddos when they are little and/or bringing in a second income that may be badly needed. I am just wondering about how ones (maybe unspoken) outlook may impact their level of stress.

Eh, I see it more as a backbone issue. Both IRL and on forums it seems that those who let parents walk all over them burn out quickly. My neighbor and I started our childcares the same year. She has her Master's degree, I have my AA. She burnt out the first year and knew she was done. I LOVED it, partly because I was home with my kids and got that much needed second income, but also because I had a firm contract that I enforced from the get go.

I remember that first year, my clients would leave at 4:30 (per the contract) and I would get my kids in the stroller and take a walk, 45 minutes later we would swing back around and she still had all her dc kids... She later told me that she was so jealous of me out with my kids while she still had all her kids.
I think being "too" nice is a hazard in this profession

[Blackcat31]

Eh, I see it more as a backbone issue. Both IRL and on forums it seems that those who let parents walk all over them burn out quickly. My neighbor and I started our childcares the same year. She has her Master's degree, I have my AA. She burnt out the first year and knew she was done. I LOVED it, partly because I was home with my kids and got that much needed second income, but also because I had a firm contract that I enforced from the get go.

I remember that first year, my clients would leave at 4:30 (per the contract) and I would get my kids in the stroller and take a walk, 45 minutes later we would swing back around and she still had all her dc kids... She later told me that she was so jealous of me out with my kids while she still had all her kids.
I think being "too" nice is a hazard in this profession

+1

[Heidi]

Eh, I see it more as a backbone issue. Both IRL and on forums it seems that those who let parents walk all over them burn out quickly. My neighbor and I started our childcares the same year. She has her Master's degree, I have my AA. She burnt out the first year and knew she was done. I LOVED it, partly because I was home with my kids and got that much needed second income, but also because I had a firm contract that I enforced from the get go.

I remember that first year, my clients would leave at 4:30 (per the contract) and I would get my kids in the stroller and take a walk, 45 minutes later we would swing back around and she still had all her dc kids... She later told me that she was so jealous of me out with my kids while she still had all her kids.
I think being "too" nice is a hazard in this profession

[Bookworm]

VERY valuable information from a very wise and respected member of the forum:

Where can I find the original post doing can print it out?

[lolaland]

VERY valuable information from a very wise and respected member of the forum:

Thank you! This is excellent and very informative!! Wow!

I am all over in the highlighted in red... and for a very long time!!

"PROVIDER BURNOUT

In a study conducted at the University of Maryland, by Susan Walker, PhD, in-home family daycare providers were proven to be particularly prone to personal stress. The factors that they stated contributed to this were: long hours (average of 60 hours a week), low pay (an average of $15,000 a year), and the low value of their job to the public despite the huge need for care. All of these factors deem daycare providers at high risk for burnout.

There are three stages of burnout:

1. Stress Arousal Stage Persistent irritability and anxiety*
Bruxism and/or Insomnia*
Occasional forgetfulness and/or inability to concentrate*
2. Stress Resistance Stage Absenteeism or tardiness for work*
Tired and fatigued for no reason*
Procrastination and indecision*
Social withdrawal with cynicism*
Resentful, indifferent, defiant*
Increased use of coffee, alcohol, tobacco, etc.*
3. Severe Exhaustion Stage Chronic sadness or depression*
Chronic mental and physical fatigue*
Chronic stress related illnesses (headache, stomach ache, bowel problems, etc.)*

So how do you know if you or a loved one is suffering from burnout?
Here are the early warning signs.

Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
Anger at those making demands
Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
A sense of being besieged
Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things (not with the DCkids but with my family)
Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbance
Weight loss or gain
Sleeplessness and depression
Shortness of breath
Suspiciousness
Feelings of helplessness
Increased degree of risk taking
Isolation, withdrawal, self-destructive thoughts

What do you do if you are suffering from burnout?

Take a break!!! Get a massage, meditate, hide, stare at a wall...get away!
Ask for love ones to lighten the load and help with your responsibilities.
Simplify your life. What can you take out?
Relax and nurture yourself.
Seek professional help if it gets severe.
Reduce your stress!!!

STRESS
Know thy enemy...

Studies has proven that in-home daycare providers are more prone to stress than the average bear.*
Yet there are little or no resources to daycare providers for reducing and managing stress.*
Why is this? We can only suppose that everyone is too stressed out to do anything about it!*

In a study of providers in Maryland:
37% of providers rated themselves as experiencing very high
or somewhat high levels of stress in the past month
54.5% had effects on health behaviors
51.7% enjoy their job less than typical population
35% report feeling bad physically
33.6% experienced strong moods



WHAT CAUSES STRESS?

Psychological causes:
Life changes--events, circumstances or perceptions
Overload--too much to do, not enough time to do it
Insufficient resources--not enough money or time
Frustration--lack of happiness or fulfillment
Trauma or loss--death of a close friend or relative

External causes:
Occupation
Environmental strain (noise, temperature, etc.)
Substance abuse (alcohol/drugs)
Nutritional excesses (caffeine, sugar)
Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins or nutrients) (I hardly take time to eat all day while with kids in daycare)

Personality causes:
Self-perception
Anxious reactivity, hypervigilance, worry*
Need for control,*
Time urgency
Anger or hostility

Major sources of stress in daycare include:

conflicts with parents
role conflict
not being able to balance work and family
fairness in housework
feeling overloaded
not having enough time for family activities
not enough time with family
not enough money
conflict with their own family
not having enough children in their daycare

Other things that effect our stress:

Poor resource management: Time and money are precious and limited resources. Wasting either of these creates serious tension and stress. Unwillingness to delegate or let go of control also increases stress.*

Personal relationships: Romance and love are exciting eustress experiences while conflict, jealousy and resentment are common distresses when a relationship breaks down.*

Self-perception: Low self-esteem and self-confidence together with the absence of feeling connected or empowered, can all precipitate stress reactions. Taken to excess (self-confidence) these can lead to egoism and ****iness which will cause different stress reactions.*

Beliefs and attitudes: Family scripts like "A penny saved is a penny earned,", "A job worth doing is worth doing well "(Perfectionist personality) can cause undue stress and force the person to live up to an unrealistic image.

WHAT ARE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON THE BODY?

muscle tightness and tension
decreased immunity, increased sickness
aches/pains in back and neck*
fatigue and lack of energy
headaches, migraines*
digestive problems
depression and/or anxiety*
decreased ability of movement
accelerated aging
These can lead to: high blood pressure; restricted movement;
ulcers; heart attack; cancer; stroke; etc."

[lolaland]

Where can I find the original post doing can print it out?

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?p=135157#post135157

[HomeMADE]

I totally set myself up for early burn out. I am looking at childcare as a career, however not forever out of my home. But what I did really wrong was have crazy hours.

I open at 5:15am for one family and close at 6pm for another (2 days a week). Really long days.

I already have plans on phasing out the part time family as soon as possible!!

I did this to get people in the door but I am finding that I don't need to bend over backwards to get clients. With childcare being as much as $225 week for infants and $160 for pre school care, families that can't afford that care and that are looking for part time care are chomping at the bit.

Lesson learned, DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT! Time is the only unrenewable resource.

[Bookworm]

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showth...157#post135157

Thanks

[Starburst]

This is all really good to know and to keep in mind.I want to be able to do this for a long time- until I'm so old that the babies wont be the only ones in my daycare eating mashed up food and wearing diapers. I do have anxiety and some OCD tendancies and I am prone to meltdowns (ok, thats a bit of an understatement ).

But thats also part of the reason why I want to do this because the busier I am the less stressed out about the small stuff I actually get. And I think that sometimes my anxieties also help me to stay motivated to be the best I can be; because I am way worse when I don't have long-term or short-term goals. Sometimes I think I am addicted to stress because that "A job worth doing is worth doing well" is defenatly my way of thinking::.