Returning to teaching after having kids, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stuck in the past while the profession had raced ahead without me. The energy, passion, and confidence I once had felt like distant memories.
Around me, younger colleagues seemed to have boundless energy. They stayed late, volunteered for every club, and buzzed with the enthusiasm I remembered from my early days. But now? I was juggling the chaos of family life and teaching, and it felt like I couldn’t keep up.
I’d compare myself constantly. Am I still good enough? Do my students deserve better? The imposter syndrome was relentless. It was as if I was trying to jump onto a moving train—only to feel like I was always a step behind.
Then, one December evening, everything changed.
I was staying late again, desperately trying to catch up, when a colleague stopped by and said, “You’re working too hard. You need to work smarter, not harder.” That comment hit me like a tonne of bricks.
Had I been so caught up in how things used to be that I couldn’t see the profession had evolved? I realised I was still holding onto outdated practices—trying to do it all, perfectly, at the expense of my well-being.
Thankfully, I was in a school that celebrated collaboration and innovation. It was a place where every voice mattered—teachers, support staff, SLT. I finally felt empowered to rethink my approach. I experimented, embraced simplicity, and focused on the essentials. And to my surprise, my lessons didn’t just survive; they thrived.
But the real win? I stopped comparing myself to others. I found my own rhythm as a teacher and a parent.
This Could Be Your Turning Point Too
You’re not alone if you feel like the job is asking too much of you. The comparison trap, the endless to-do lists, the guilt—it’s not sustainable. But you can take control.
Download my free guide: “Work Smarter, Not Harder – A Teacher’s Roadmap to Balance” to learn the strategies that helped me go from overwhelmed to empowered.
It’s time to stop surviving and start thriving.