Are you helping your school, but hurting yourself? If so, you may be suffering from “PTA burnout.”
But according to the New York Times, stretched-to-the-limit volunteerism is widespread in the U.S., because tight budgets have school’s relying on unpaid parent help.
It’s great to be involved in your child’s school, but for parents who overcommit, the risk of PTA burnout is very real.
The simplest solution — opting out of PTA work altogether — may be a cure, but is not in your child’s best interest. Studies show that when parents get involved at their kid’s school, their child does better.
So, how do you thrive amidst the high-pressure culture of the modern PTA? Here are some tips to make sure you don’t get burnt out on the PTA:
Strike a balance
“Balance is great,” says Tim Sullivan, editor of PTO Today Magazine. “Don’t make it, ‘I can do zero or I can do everything.’ ”
Sullivan says parents whose kids are just starting school often overcommit and find themselves hitting a wall. He suggests picking a few jobs and doing them well.
Don’t over-commit
It’s not how much volunteer work you do, but that you choose what’s right for you.
“If you under-promise, then you can over-deliver,” says Rahti Gorfien, a Brooklyn mom, school volunteer and life coach. “But, if you over-promise, you really are putting yourself in the position to let other people down, and to have to deal with guilt and all of that nonsense.”
Don’t be bullied
Sullivan adds that parents shouldn’t feel worried about being bullied into helping.
“If you say, ‘I can help with this and nothing else,’ they’re going to say ‘yes,’ ” he said. “They’re not going to say, ‘Oh, no, if you can’t give us your life, we don’t want your help with spaghetti supper.’”
Have fun
Look for activities that match your skill set and schedule, because PTA work should be fun.
“Take something that you want to do, and also pick something that you think is fun,” suggests Mary Vines, co-president of the PTA at PS 107 in Brooklyn. “The whole point is that we are a community, and we do this because we’re a community.”
Don’t forget your family
And it shouldn’t come at the expense of family, so watch for warning signs. If your kids resent your volunteering, or your partner wants to reclaim the dining room — now your office — for family dinners, it’s time to reassess. Perhaps you need to delegate duties, refuse a new assignment once in a while, or pass the baton to someone else.
“If kids see us stressed out by volunteering, not having boundaries, and not having agency over our time and resources, that sends a negative message about volunteering, among other things,” says Gorfien.
Delegate, delegate, delegate!
PTAs can support their parent volunteers and help them avoid burnout by welcoming newcomers, dealing with conflict, delegating work, raising funds effectively, and showing appreciation for their efforts.
“It’s funny how much work you can do in a really great environment, with a lot of appreciation and a great team,” says Sullivan. “You might be able to do what other folks would consider to be overload.”
