Being a nanny can be a fun, exciting, and fulfilling job. But, just like any other field, it can also have its stressors. An abundance of different stressors and overall unhappiness in your current work environment can lead to “Nanny Burnout”.
Nanny Burnout is when you start to experience high levels of physical and/or mental fatigue, emotional strain, a drop in performance, a drop in tolerance, or a lack of excitement/passion to go to work.
Causes of Burnout
There are many things that can contribute to burnout. It all centers around your current work environment, the relationship you have with the parents, and in some cases the relationship you have with the child/ren. Causes can include, but aren’t limited to:
- Boundaries not being respected
- Undiscussed additional work
- Parents hovering or micromanaging you while you work
- A big difference in views
- Lack of time off
- Riff or tension with parents
Signs of Burnout
It can be difficult to initially recognize burnout. It can be easily passed off as fatigue or general stress for a period of time. The key to not entering full burnout and rectifying it quickly is recognizing and acknowledging it. So, you must first identify the signs.
Signs of burnout include but are not limited to:
- High irritability at work
- You find yourself lacking in the “get up and go” attitude
- Performance dips (being tardy, not completing all tasks, etc)
- Increase in fatigue
- Everyday tasks feel like a burden
- Insomnia
- High anxiety before and during work hours
What To Do To Manage Burnout
If you realize that you are currently experiencing Nanny Burnout, that is something you want to handle immediately. You want to present your best self when at work. Nannies have big and important roles in a family. To do this job, you must first take care of yourself.
Take Some Time Off
A great start to rectifying burnout is to take some time off to rest, regroup, and analyze what may be causing the burnout. Hopefully, you’ve got some paid time off built into your contract for this very purpose.
- Go do a relaxing and/or fun activity
- Put aside special time to do something you love.
Communicate
It may be difficult to discuss this type of issue with your boss, but you should. Express to the parents how you’re feeling and what may be contributing to it. Also, discuss the possibility of some immediate time off with them.
Update Your Work Contract
If you see some things that need changing, make an adjustment. You have to feel secure and happy with your work expectations. Take a look at your current schedule, PTO, and duties. Make sure it matches what you are looking for.
Reflect On Your Current Position
Take some time and think about whether your current position is still working for you. In some cases, no change can make a difference in a certain place. Things may be too far gone. It’s important to recognize if this is your situation. This allows you to make a plan for your exit.
Being a nanny is such a rewarding job but it can be very demanding as well. It’s important to prioritize self-care and your overall health, mental and physical, to get past the burnout and have a thriving work environment.
