I can relate to what you have written and also your earlier post on why you left your job without having anything lined up - I did the same, just that I left in the beginning of the year. It's been uncomfortable for me and it's needed for me to learn some critical life lessons like self-love. Otherwise I would have just continued on the path to my own demise. I want to let you know that you have been courageous to step out and you are not alone. Another thing that I can say is your teaching skill is a superpower in other contexts than the classroom, plus your psychology background. These would serve well in roles like a people leader type of roles in at least medium sized organisations. Way too many managers in corporations lack the skills and on-the-job training support to lead, teach, mentor people, facilitate conversations and manage teams, resulting in the dismal levels of engagement among workers.
Thanks for this, and for sharing your own experiences. If you don't mind me asking, what field were you working in before you left your job earlier in the year? And I am also curious, have you been exploring other areas?
The discomfort that you describe is something I can totally relate to, and the idea of giving ourselves some self-love and grace is so important! Your points too about managers lacking support on the job in particular is spot-on. I saw (in education) how knackered managers often were (I was in that sticky area of middle management myself for the last half of my career), and so no wonder some of them, and me at times, didn't have the headspace to support a team or lead effectively.
I know that a huge contributor to the misery at many workplaces is many people who are in some position of leading people (manager, team lead with no hiring/firing power) are not in a structure where they are continuously trained and supported to do their job effectively. It's extremely hard uncomfortable work as it requires doing inner work. There's so much to learn and blind spots to discover. Without being in a structure with suppotive empowering accountability partners, it's easy to not do the necessary work and continue in old patterns (and making everyone else's life miserable).
Sure, I am happy to share more about my experience and background. I have always worked in the tech sector where the products have comprised of hardware and software. Have done software development, people management, team leading, product management, and dabbled in innovation consulting, marketing, technical support. When I stopped working (I had a 3 months notice period), I was in the middle of a career exploration coaching programme to help me to identify areas/topics that I am drawn to. With that, I started to find meetups (online and in-person) on Meetup.com, Eventbrite and podcasts on topics that might be related to my areas of interest. I also shared a lot with 'new' friends (people I got to know not too long time ago and we connected beyond the surface conversations) what I'm drawn to, and one suggested I look at a company whose cause might align with what I'm interested in (professional apprenticeships). Through this method of exploring, I found a bit more clarity, at least in a direction to move towards (organisational development, doing something to create workplace environments where people thrive). I was very lost until March this year. I had been very lost for years. It's still not entirely clear for me ultimately what I want to create. I know the legacy I want to create is connected with community-driven experiential learning programmes (structures) that empowers people to discover their leadership and step into it. Community-driven because I believe co-creation drives adoption and I don't want to be the only source of energy to keep the programmes alive. The questions I have are what's topics/what's needed and wanted? Who is interested to do this? How to deliver this, given my limited experience?
Work for me is more than the stuff we do to get money. We humans need to work (labour, create, build, produce) else we deteriorate really fast mentally and physically. We aren't meant to consume experiences only. Inherently every human except for psychopaths wants to do something that contributes to others than themselves. Given this view and our increasingly life expectancy, I see that we have a societal crisis when so many of us are disengaged in the workplace and still far too many organisation leaders aren't trained and supported on the job in their roles to create a thriving workplace environment.
Ah yeah this resonates with me. If people are disengaged from work, then where does that leave us personally (in our community), for an organisation, and then, at a societal level?
I consider myself having limited experience because I have not been able to codify my knowledge and experience into something that I am confident to teach anyone. Right now I have a feeling of I have dabbled in many areas that are part of running an enterprise but none of it on an in-depth level to teach.
It's interesting that you say that you have 'limited experience' as from what you write here, it sounds like you have a vast amount of experience and lots to offer any organisation! But there are so many factors to consider when it comes to work - we may find what seems like an ideal fit somewhere, and then not click with colleagues or we are told something about our role has changed after we sign the contract.
I got to a point where I felt like I was asking too much from work. And when I sought therapy for a short time a year ago, it did dawn on me that how I viewed work was how I viewed some other relationships in my life - that was a revelation!
The career exploration programme sounds fascinating, and I totally agree that exploring other areas of interest by listening to podcasts, reading, and connecting with others who have gone or who are going through something similar is very helpful. But having said all of that, it can still very overwhelming, especially if you are still working while trying to figure things out.
No easy answers for individuals going through career changes, or at a societal level, given the traditional life route - education - work for a long time - retire... still feels like it pervades everything.
Thank you for sharing your story here, Sarah. I found it very interesting to read, not least because I felt very similar to you. I wonder how many other teachers have suffered/are suffering from burnout? I think it's probably endemic because of the full-on nature of term time, but I've certainly never worked in a school which has addressed it or tried to seek ways to improve the work-life balance particularly well. I definitely got to the point where I didn't care, which I'd never, ever felt before. It was a strange feeling and at the time I didn't know it was burnout.
It's good that you've gone back into the classroom for some supply. That's a sensible way to test the water again. I've found working part-time without any management responsibility to feel a little like that too, although there are still some feelings of the pressure there.
Hopefully taking some time out and writing here is helping you to figure out what might be next for you. Giving yourself time is so important, if possible.
I felt that the longer I left it, the weirder I might feel. And to be completely honest, I do need to get some work/money in too, so I'm glad that I tested the water. It gave me a boost (it was lovely to see kids that I taught there again), but yes, being able to leave at the end of the school day with no meetings to attend, planning to do, or anything - felt amazing!
Your comment about how schools might address it... I just don't know and the answers are not easy. And I agree with you, burnout seems endemic across so many organisations. I was on Facebook the other day and saw a comment on a teaching-related group, I probably should leave it tbh, but someone asked about what 'cool, fun things' could staff do in their wellbeing week. The initial feedback was pretty cynical at best, at worst it reflected that a large proportion are frustrated.
Anyway, sorry for the super long message in response! It's so wonderful to connect with people like yourself who left a job and are out of the other side and loving it!
I can relate to what you have written and also your earlier post on why you left your job without having anything lined up - I did the same, just that I left in the beginning of the year. It's been uncomfortable for me and it's needed for me to learn some critical life lessons like self-love. Otherwise I would have just continued on the path to my own demise. I want to let you know that you have been courageous to step out and you are not alone. Another thing that I can say is your teaching skill is a superpower in other contexts than the classroom, plus your psychology background. These would serve well in roles like a people leader type of roles in at least medium sized organisations. Way too many managers in corporations lack the skills and on-the-job training support to lead, teach, mentor people, facilitate conversations and manage teams, resulting in the dismal levels of engagement among workers.
Thanks for this, and for sharing your own experiences. If you don't mind me asking, what field were you working in before you left your job earlier in the year? And I am also curious, have you been exploring other areas?
The discomfort that you describe is something I can totally relate to, and the idea of giving ourselves some self-love and grace is so important! Your points too about managers lacking support on the job in particular is spot-on. I saw (in education) how knackered managers often were (I was in that sticky area of middle management myself for the last half of my career), and so no wonder some of them, and me at times, didn't have the headspace to support a team or lead effectively.
I know that a huge contributor to the misery at many workplaces is many people who are in some position of leading people (manager, team lead with no hiring/firing power) are not in a structure where they are continuously trained and supported to do their job effectively. It's extremely hard uncomfortable work as it requires doing inner work. There's so much to learn and blind spots to discover. Without being in a structure with suppotive empowering accountability partners, it's easy to not do the necessary work and continue in old patterns (and making everyone else's life miserable).
Sure, I am happy to share more about my experience and background. I have always worked in the tech sector where the products have comprised of hardware and software. Have done software development, people management, team leading, product management, and dabbled in innovation consulting, marketing, technical support. When I stopped working (I had a 3 months notice period), I was in the middle of a career exploration coaching programme to help me to identify areas/topics that I am drawn to. With that, I started to find meetups (online and in-person) on Meetup.com, Eventbrite and podcasts on topics that might be related to my areas of interest. I also shared a lot with 'new' friends (people I got to know not too long time ago and we connected beyond the surface conversations) what I'm drawn to, and one suggested I look at a company whose cause might align with what I'm interested in (professional apprenticeships). Through this method of exploring, I found a bit more clarity, at least in a direction to move towards (organisational development, doing something to create workplace environments where people thrive). I was very lost until March this year. I had been very lost for years. It's still not entirely clear for me ultimately what I want to create. I know the legacy I want to create is connected with community-driven experiential learning programmes (structures) that empowers people to discover their leadership and step into it. Community-driven because I believe co-creation drives adoption and I don't want to be the only source of energy to keep the programmes alive. The questions I have are what's topics/what's needed and wanted? Who is interested to do this? How to deliver this, given my limited experience?
Work for me is more than the stuff we do to get money. We humans need to work (labour, create, build, produce) else we deteriorate really fast mentally and physically. We aren't meant to consume experiences only. Inherently every human except for psychopaths wants to do something that contributes to others than themselves. Given this view and our increasingly life expectancy, I see that we have a societal crisis when so many of us are disengaged in the workplace and still far too many organisation leaders aren't trained and supported on the job in their roles to create a thriving workplace environment.
Ah yeah this resonates with me. If people are disengaged from work, then where does that leave us personally (in our community), for an organisation, and then, at a societal level?
I consider myself having limited experience because I have not been able to codify my knowledge and experience into something that I am confident to teach anyone. Right now I have a feeling of I have dabbled in many areas that are part of running an enterprise but none of it on an in-depth level to teach.
It's interesting that you say that you have 'limited experience' as from what you write here, it sounds like you have a vast amount of experience and lots to offer any organisation! But there are so many factors to consider when it comes to work - we may find what seems like an ideal fit somewhere, and then not click with colleagues or we are told something about our role has changed after we sign the contract.
I got to a point where I felt like I was asking too much from work. And when I sought therapy for a short time a year ago, it did dawn on me that how I viewed work was how I viewed some other relationships in my life - that was a revelation!
The career exploration programme sounds fascinating, and I totally agree that exploring other areas of interest by listening to podcasts, reading, and connecting with others who have gone or who are going through something similar is very helpful. But having said all of that, it can still very overwhelming, especially if you are still working while trying to figure things out.
No easy answers for individuals going through career changes, or at a societal level, given the traditional life route - education - work for a long time - retire... still feels like it pervades everything.
Thank you for sharing your story here, Sarah. I found it very interesting to read, not least because I felt very similar to you. I wonder how many other teachers have suffered/are suffering from burnout? I think it's probably endemic because of the full-on nature of term time, but I've certainly never worked in a school which has addressed it or tried to seek ways to improve the work-life balance particularly well. I definitely got to the point where I didn't care, which I'd never, ever felt before. It was a strange feeling and at the time I didn't know it was burnout.
It's good that you've gone back into the classroom for some supply. That's a sensible way to test the water again. I've found working part-time without any management responsibility to feel a little like that too, although there are still some feelings of the pressure there.
Hopefully taking some time out and writing here is helping you to figure out what might be next for you. Giving yourself time is so important, if possible.
I felt that the longer I left it, the weirder I might feel. And to be completely honest, I do need to get some work/money in too, so I'm glad that I tested the water. It gave me a boost (it was lovely to see kids that I taught there again), but yes, being able to leave at the end of the school day with no meetings to attend, planning to do, or anything - felt amazing!
Your comment about how schools might address it... I just don't know and the answers are not easy. And I agree with you, burnout seems endemic across so many organisations. I was on Facebook the other day and saw a comment on a teaching-related group, I probably should leave it tbh, but someone asked about what 'cool, fun things' could staff do in their wellbeing week. The initial feedback was pretty cynical at best, at worst it reflected that a large proportion are frustrated.
Anyway, sorry for the super long message in response! It's so wonderful to connect with people like yourself who left a job and are out of the other side and loving it!