Why Burnout Shouldn’t Be a ‘Badge of Honor’

There was a point early in my career when I wasn’t just tired. I was… done.

I was a new teacher and a new dad, and I was running myself ragged trying to do everything and be everything for everyone. I would show up at school around 6 a.m. to get as much done as possible before my students arrived. Then, I was still taking home a pile of work every evening.

It was nonstop. I never felt like I was enough, and I never felt like I was making enough of an impact. No matter what effort I put in, I was getting similar results, which was disheartening and demoralizing.

Eventually, I reached a point where I had two options: I could change what I was doing. Or, I could quit.

I want to dispel a popular myth here. I had bought into the idea that if I wasn’t exhausted as a teacher, I must not be doing it right. Some teachers wear burnout as a badge of honor, but it doesn’t have to be that way! You can be a great teacher and live a complete, fulfilling life outside of school. You can have hobbies, show up for your spouse and children, and enjoy your off time without bringing work home (either physically, in your briefcase, or mentally, in your mind).

From that early breaking point, I went on to earn my master’s degree and my doctorate, and I’m now going on my 13th year in education. Two years ago, my family and I moved from Arizona to the UAE, where I’m the elementary principal at the American International School in Abu Dhabi (AISA) as well as an instructor for Moreland University. I love what I do, and I’m so thankful that, instead of giving up, I made the adjustments I needed to make this a sustainable career.

It wasn’t any one dramatic change but rather small, realistic shifts. Here are 5 things I tried:

Kevin in Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria, in December 2025

1. I left work on time.

This was actually an adjustment to both ends of my schedule, since I had gotten into the habit of starting work so early. But at least one day each week, I made a commitment to start later (still arriving on time, but not early) and to leave at the end of contract hours. It was just one day a week, but it made a huge difference in how I felt emotionally and physically.

I think the one-day caveat is important here. If you’re staying late every day, and you all of a sudden decide you’re going to leave on time every single day, that’s unlikely to stick. And, you may find yourself even more overwhelmed by a backlog of work. But one day? You can manage that.

2. I stopped trying to reinvent every lesson.

I was spending a ton of time trying to customize and perfect every lesson. I was aiming for Pinterest perfect, and it just wasn’t realistic.

So, as much as it pained me initially, I gave that up. Some lessons were a little more standardized than I maybe would have liked. Some of my worksheets were ugly (but still served their purpose!). I’m a perfectionist by nature, but I had to learn when to let good enough be good enough.

3. I picked a few top priorities.

You can’t fix everything at once, and especially if you’re a newer teacher, you’re going to have multiple growth areas. So, pick the top two or three areas that matter most, and focus on those.

When I work with my staff now, I tell them to put their goals in a hierarchy, most pressing to least. I ask them, “What’s keeping you up at night?” That’s what we’re going to attack first.

The biggest thing I wish someone had told me early on? You’re allowed to grow into this job. You’re allowed to have an off day. You don’t have to be perfect to be good.

Kevin leading the monthly assembly at AISA, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in September 2025

4. I found my work friend.

For me it was actually a couple of people, a small group of friends I could be real with at work. When I had a great day, I knew they would celebrate with me. When I had a bad day, I knew I could safely vent.

You can’t do this job alone, so find your person.

5. I found my non-work identity.

If your whole identity is tied to your job, there’s no escape from burnout. And the exhaustion, the wear and tear, it will eventually get to you. So cultivate and protect your identity outside of work.

A few of my must-haves are time with my family, time for exercise and fresh air, and time for travel. Since we moved overseas, my family has traveled 69,000 miles — 2.8 times around the world. We’ve gone to Armenia, Vienna, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and more. When I’m at work, I’m present at work. When I’m off, I let myself be off. I’m not thinking about work or constantly pulling out my laptop, and I’m better for it all around.

This job will take everything if you let it. So don’t let it! Decide what you’re willing to give and what you’re going to protect. Stick to your boundaries. And that will allow you to stick with the profession.

Kevin with his family at Hong Kong Disney, Hong Kong SAR, in October 2025

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Are you feeling burnt out? Take our Teacher Burnout Quiz to see where you fall on our burnout scale. Then, download our Burnout Prevention Workbook. It’s a guided workbook that will help you identify why you’re feeling burnt out and, more importantly, what you can do about it. You’ll walk away with an action plan to improve your well-being and set yourself up for a long, fulfilling, successful career in education.