Overcoming Educator Burnout: Key Insights and Strategies with Michelle Dickinson and Heather Hartinger

In this episode of the Digital Learning Today, Jeff welcomes Michelle Dickinson and Heather Hartinger discuss the critical issues of burnout and resilience among educators. They explore the definitions and symptoms of burnout, the importance of self-awareness, and practical strategies for managing stress. The discussion emphasizes the need for educators to prioritize their own wellbeing, establish boundaries, and implement micro habits that can lead to significant improvements in their mental health. The conversation also highlights the importance of agency and the role of support systems in the journey towards recovery from burnout. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you.  Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today!

Conversation Takeaways

• Burnout is often a cumulative effect that sneaks up on individuals.
• Self-awareness is crucial in identifying stress and energy levels.
• Educators often wait for external changes to feel better, which is counterproductive.
• Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining mental health.
• Many educators struggle to identify what brings them joy.
• Micro habits can lead to significant improvements in wellbeing.
• Sleep, hydration, and nutrition are foundational to resilience.
• Agency is key; educators must take control of their lives.
• Support systems and resources are vital for recovery from burnout.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Burnout
• 03:14 Understanding Burnout: Definitions and Symptoms
• 05:45 Strategies for Identifying and Managing Stress
• 09:08 The Role of Agency in Managing Burnout
• 12:07 Creating Boundaries and Finding Joy
• 15:06 Micro Habits for Daily Resilience
• 17:48 The Journey of Recovery from Burnout
• 21:02 Resources and Support for Educators

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About our Guests

Heather Hartinger

Co-Founder, Partner, Program Director Heather Hartinger co-founded Resilience As A Lifestyle Solutions to redefine resilience as agency, not endurance. With over 20 years in branding, marketing, and culture development, she believes agency—paired with regulation and communication—is the universal solution for responsible living across all sectors. A Conscious Capitalist, she empowers educators and leaders through practical, trust-driven strategies, drawing from her global expertise with Fortune 500s, startups, and Web3 innovators.

Michelle E. Dickinson

Founder of Trifecta Mental Health and Resilience As A Lifestyle Solutions Michelle E. Dickinson is flipping the script on stress management. As a globally celebrated Resilience Visionary, Burnout Interventionist, TED speaker and bestselling author, she's taught over 15,000 people across education, Fortune 500s, and healthcare how to actually deal with burnout - not just talk about it. Michelle doesn't do typical coaching. She teaches practical skills that work right away - like getting a user manual for your brain. Her simple, profound...