21 Ways To Recharge When You’re Feeling burnt out, tired and Over It

Toys are everywhere. Parents are late to pick up or late to pay you. One of your littles is a crier. Your space looks boring. You don’t know what to teach this week. You dread a certain family showing up. You’re just plain exhausted.

Like any profession, we all experience burnout. It doesn’t matter how much you love your job, your clients, your co-workers. Burnout happens.

What do you do when you hit that point?

I have compiled a list of 21 things childcare providers do when they begin to experience burnout. This list is from the mouths of other providers. It doesn’t mean they (or you) don’t love their job. We’re so busy taking care of everyone else every day that sometimes we need to stop and take care of ourselves.

It’s okay to be human.

What are signs of burnout

Let’s start with the nitty gritty. How do you know when you are experiencing burnout?

This can look so different for everyone.

1. Evaluate the cause of your stress and finalize a solution.
   • Do you need to cut back your hours?
     • change from 6am-6pm to 730am-530pm
   • Do you have a family that has proven to be difficult?
     • A child who is having a difficult time settling into your program
     • A family who is testing all your policies and boundaries
2. Childcare can be a lonely job. Find an online community with others, a place to vent.
   • Some online communities can be toxic. We all have different opinions and some like to voice them more than others. (Remember to always be nice or bite your tongue)
   • Be careful venting in a public online space.
3. REMEMBER YOU ARE VALUABLE!
4. Find a side hustle you enjoy to spark some joy
5. Go ‘window’ shopping or wander a store alone.
6. Remember why you started
   • Is your why the same?
7. Set aside you time.
8. Take a vacation
   • This idea can cause stress in itself, it’s hard to take time off when you know all these families depend on you
   • They need you at your best just as they try to be their own best
   • Put it in your contract – The second week in July we will be closed. This leaves no room for a misunderstanding
   • If you can’t go on a vacation, enjoy a stay-cation
9. Treat yourself to some pampering
10. Plan to take off one day each month to take care of appointments, get your own things done, take a day to hang out with just your kids
    • Put it in your contract. If you know ‘daycare will be closed the first Friday of each month’ then there is no room for misunderstandings.
    • You could also say ‘daycare will be closed one day per month, I will inform you of this date a month in advance so you can make arrangements’
    • If it isn’t in your contract then post your closures in a spot your families will be able to find easily
11. Plan a fun day with your daycare kids
    • Movie day
    • Pajama party
    • even a 15 minute dance party in the middle of your day
12. Find a hobby or set time aside to pursue a hobby you enjoy.
13. Take a mental health or self-care day
    • If you don’t feel comfortable taking a long vacation or a day off per month, consider a day off every once in a while. Just be sure to give your families enough notice per your contract.
14. Separate personal from business
    • This is very hard, especially when you’ve known a family for many years and multiple children.
    • You can still love your families and be professional. Make it clear that you will not sway from your contract and policies and you should have a wonderful respectful relationship.
15. Remember some people will appreciate you and some won’t
    • When I planned my maternity leave for my first child I had a daycare dad that was upset that I thought I needed a whole week off. Yeah, one whole week. The kicker, I felt terrible because I was letting this family down. They had months to plan for this. Over the years I have kept that moment in the back of my mind. I no longer feel bad for taking one week off to recover, I haven’t felt bad for years.
16. Remember you’re the boss!
    • End of the day this is your business. Yes we need clients in order to successfully fun our business, but your clients need you to be operational or they’re stuck searching for new care. Don’t let anyone tell you how to run your business. Follow your policies.
17. Rearrange your play space
    • Sometimes burn out can be fixed with a little rearranging. This can completely change how your kids act and play. If you need a change, it’s possible they do to.
18. Revamp your program
    • Theme your days
      • Monday is science day, Tuesday is learning to cook etc. etc.
    • If your space allows create centers
    • Add something new, check out this post on a different quirky holiday each day of March and be on the look out for other months.
    • Rotate your toys. The kids really don’t need as much out as we tend to give them.
19. Get a raise
    • How long has it been since you’ve raised your rates? Some providers do it annually.
    • Do some research on your area. Check out Child Care Aware® of America to find your state and average costs in your area.
    • Give your families a written letter about your rate increase effective [insert date]. Have them sign and date the form and return by [insert date].
20. Meet up with friends
21. hug those kids!
    • Sometimes all you (and those littles) need is a big warm hug.

Take Action!

Whether you are in a beginning or later stage of burnout, do something about it before it affects your life outside of work. Don’t let issues affect your sleep, take care of them as they come. If you work for a company, consider discussing what is going on with your boss. If you work alone, figure out what is causing your distress and a solution.

I am a big fan of writing everything down. Take a moment to do this. Write down everything that is bothering you at work. Big or small it doesn’t matter.

• The kids won’t clean up
• A certain family won’t pay for your closed days
• Parents let kids run in the house with their shoes on
• Kids don’t listen at circle time
• Little Johnny is a hitter
• Your space is too cramped
• Write. It. Down

Once you can physically look at all the things that are causing your problems, you can take care of them.

• The kids won’t clean up
  • Put out less toys
  • Have a specific home for each toy
  • rather than saying ‘clean up’ say ‘Suzie, you put away the books. Timmy, you put away the blocks’
• A certain family won’t pay for your closed days
  • What does your contract say about your days off? It’s uncomfortable sometimes but stand up for yourself. Show them the contract they signed. If you let them dictate your policies, what will they try and change next.
  • They may decide to put in their notice, or you may decide to terminate your contract with them.
• Parents let kids run in the house with their shoes on
  • Tell the child the rules in front of their parent. (They know the rules, they just want to see what they can get away with when mom or dad is there)
  • If it continues, mention to the parent to please don’t let this happen.
  • We make things bigger than it needs to be and add stress when it’s unnecessary. Use your voice.
• Kids don’t listen at circle time
  • Try something new. Rather than sitting and talking about the weather, sing a song and dance about it. Find a ‘get your wiggles out’ song and dance.
• Little Johnny is a hitter
  • So tough. We all deal with hitters, biters, screamers. Sometimes it helps with a little redirecting or a two minute ‘break’ each time they do the inappropriate behavior. They can shadow you, if you’re in the kitchen they’re at the lunch table drawing pictures. If you’re changing diapers, they’re playing cars next to you.
• Your space is too cramped
  • This is a great time to revamp your space! Kids don’t need as much as we seem to think they do. Put away half your toys and display it a little different. Your kiddos may like it even better.
• Write. It. Down

What is your biggest cause of stress in the workplace? What have you found helps you feel better?