The Truth About “Work-Life Balance” as a Teacher (and What Actually Helped Me)
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This is all about beating teacher burnout, work-life balance for teachers, and self-care for teachers.
The Elusive Unicorn: Work-Life Balance
Let’s be real, shall we? Most days, work-life balance as a teacher feels like a myth.
For years, I thought the answer was better time management.
I bought the planners. I set the alarms. I color-coded my calendar.
And still—I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and constantly behind.
That’s when I realized something important:
Work-life balance isn’t just about managing your time. It’s about managing your energy. Your boundaries.
True Story: The Day I Walked Away From Teaching
I actually left teaching for two years.
I was completely burnt out. I told myself, “I can’t do this anymore.” And at the time, it felt like the only option.
But here’s the part I didn’t expect…
I missed it.
I missed the joy in a student’s eyes when something finally clicked.
I missed the classroom community, the daily purpose, the chance to make a difference.
Teaching wasn’t just something I did, it was a part of who I am.
And without it, something always felt… off. Like a piece of me was missing.
So I made the decision to come back.
But this time, I did it on my terms.
Work-life balance wasn’t going to be a luxury, it was a priority.
If I was going to be a great teacher and still be a present mom, partner, and human, I needed to approach this career differently.
The Moment I Snapped…(Again)
Even with my return, old habits crept in. I fell into the trap of overgiving, overdoing, and overlooking my own needs.
It was a Thursday afternoon. I had just finished a parent meeting that left me feeling defeated, my students had been bouncing off the walls all day, and I still had a pile of papers to grade that hadn’t budged since Monday.
I sat in my car, staring at the steering wheel, just done.
I wasn’t just tired. I was disappearing.
I had poured so much into my classroom, there was nothing left for me.
That night, instead of opening my laptop, I opened a notebook.
And I wrote: “I can’t keep doing this. But I don’t know how to stop.”
What Actually Helped
That scribbled sentence was the beginning of something I didn’t even know I needed: a space to process, reflect, and breathe.
I didn’t set out to create a habit or change my life, I just needed somewhere to put it all.
But slowly, those few minutes of reflection each day helped me see patterns.
They gave me clarity on what was actually in my control and what wasn’t
They reminded me that I was more than just a teacher trying to stay afloat.
And that’s what eventually became the heart behind the Self Care & Reflection Journal for Teachers I created.
This journal isn’t about adding one more thing to your to-do list.
It’s about giving yourself permission to actually be recognized the impact you’re making. To realize that you ARE doing enough and that, no, you don’t have to say yes to one more thing. It’s about remembering why you chose teaching in the first place and making it actually work for you and your life.
So... Is Work-Life Balance Real?
Kind of.
But maybe not in the way we think.
Maybe it’s not about perfectly dividing hours between work and life.
Maybe it’s about checking in with yourself regularly. Asking:
How am I really doing?
What do I need more of? What do I need less of?
Where can I show myself grace today?
Because when we make space to reflect, we reclaim ourselves.
And when we reclaim ourselves, everything makes more sense.
If You’re Ready for a Realistic Reset…
The Self Care & Reflection Journal for Teachers is designed with you in mind. The exhausted, dedicated, amazing human behind the teacher title.
Inside, you’ll find simple prompts that meet you where you are—on the hard days, the hopeful days, and everything in between.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being present.
✨ Grab your copy here on Amazon.
(And maybe toss in a new pen or two. You deserve pretty things.)
Xox, Alexa
