5. Take care of yourself

Early childhood educators give so much of themselves to their careers. Burnout is real, especially when you are new and eager to prove yourself. At first, I was nervous whenever I needed to request time off or couldn’ t stay after my scheduled hours to help. But it’ s

important to focus on your well-being; otherwise, you could start losing your passion for this work.( To learn more, check out the Summer 2025 issue of Educating Young Children, which focuses on educator well-being.)

Early on, I became so burned out that I thought about a career change. Luckily, I have found a new program that values me as an educator and person. For example, my colleagues noticed a time when I wasn’ t my usual self and offered to help so I could rest and spend time with family. Support from my supervisor was crucial too. When they asked me to take on extra hours, I explained how I was struggling with work-life balance and feeling burned out. In response, my supervisor offered me shorter hours and time off so that I could take some time and recover. I also used this time to learn a few self-care strategies, like meditating, going for walks, and journaling— writing about your day, the good and the bad, can help a lot. As a result, my love for this career came back, and I use these strategies each day.

Your first year or so is a chance to see if teaching is the right career for you. Every challenge is a chance to grow. Document your achievements, and make sure people know about them! Most of all, every joyful moment with a child reminds you why you chose this work. Lean into your curiosity, your community, and your commitment to young children. The field needs passionate educators like you, and your voice and growth matter so much.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Xena Casey has been a preschool teacher in North Carolina for three years.

Photograph: © Getty Images. Copyright © 2026 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See permissions and reprints online at NAEYC. org / resources / permissions.

This article supports the following NAEYC Early Learning Programs standards and topics.

Standard 2: Families and Community

Engaging in Reciprocal Partnerships with Families and Fostering Community Connections

Standard 8: Professionalism

Demonstrating Professionalism as Early Childhood Educators

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