Teacher Burnout Is Real: When Loving Your Job Isn't Enough.

I have been teaching for more than 20 years and every year it seems that it gets a little bit harder. In the past, I would dream about work during the holidays. Now I dream about the holidays while I am teaching. And please, don't get me wrong. I still love teaching. I really do. I would not be able to survive in a corporate job, sitting in an office doing the same thing every single day, like staring at a computer... But as the years go by, I feel that I spend way more time in front of a computer than in front of my kids.

Dealing with admin stuff, having to design lesson plans, teaching sequences, a whole new curriculum for one area or another. Answering parents emails, requesting materials, scheduling a meeting, reading endless emails with guidelines, procedures, minutes, invitations, complaints, a nurse'

s note saying that she saw two kids that were fighting during the PE lesson, sending email to parents, organising when to sing Happy Birthday to your student's birthday that day. Phew! It's dismissal time. Ready to tidy up my messy table and set everything up again for the show tomorrow. Wait. It's not the circus.

In the old days, things were easier. Go in the classroom with your planning book in your bag. Get all materials ready and running. Kids come into the classroom when it's time for them to learn. They were running outside until the bell rang. They go quickly to their lines, with all their materials ready and quietly, we go in the classroom and start the register. Names are on the board, calendar is done by the helper with no need to remind them. They knew where to get their resources and they listened to the instructions. No screens, no rush, no dopamine in the vein. They still had learning issues, difficulty to sit still, but it was one in 20 that actually needed intervention or constant support. Now, if you are lucky, you get a class with only half that needs intervention.

I think that most of the times, if only they had more tools to self-regulate, my life would be easier. I would not be drained out of energy at 9 am, because they would know how to solve simple things, and be ready to learn. I have to co-regulate all of my students several times a lesson.

I am utterly drained, both physically and emotionally. The weight of my responsibilities feels like an anchor pulling me down into an abyss of exhaustion. Each day, I wake up with a sense of dread, knowing that I must muster the strength to face the challenges ahead. I often find myself contemplating the idea of quitting, imagining how much easier life would be if I could simply walk away from the demands that seem to pile up endlessly. Yet, despite these thoughts, I still show up for them, who depend on me, those who look to me for guidance and support. I push through the fatigue, putting on a brave face, reminding myself of the importance of my role in their lives. However, the truth is that I am at a breaking point. I cannot accurately predict when my emotional cup will finally shatter under the relentless pressure that has been building for far too long. The stressors I face seem to multiply, each one contributing to an overwhelming sense of anxiety and fatigue. I feel as though I am walking a tightrope, balancing the needs of others with my own well-being, and the fear of falling into despair looms large. The internal conflict is exhausting; I want to be there for them, yet I also yearn for a moment of respite, a chance to recharge my spirit and regain my strength. It is a delicate dance between duty and self-care, and I often wonder how much longer I can keep it up. The pressure is not just a fleeting feeling; it has become a constant companion, whispering doubts and fears into my ear. I know that if I do not find a way to address this overwhelming burden, I risk losing myself entirely in the process. The struggle to maintain this facade of strength is becoming increasingly challenging, and I fear that the moment of breaking is drawing near. I must find a way to navigate this turbulent sea of emotions before it engulfs me completely.

Is it too much?