It was the end of the summer term, 2022. I was back at work following maternity leave, standing on the school field at the summer fayre, sunglasses on, convinced my allergies had flared up.
I had no idea my body was telling me something else entirely.
A week later, I was covered in hives. I sought advice from a medical professional who asked me to explain my current life situation, and from there he told me clearly. My body was reacting to burnout.
I had been teaching for 13 years at that point and had honestly had such a positive experience in education, right up until that moment.
At the time, I was working three days a week but carrying the full workload of both SENDCo and class teacher, getting paid less for the same work. In September 2022, I went back full time, thinking that would help. It did not. I was still emotionally exhausted, experiencing detachment, low morale and withdrawal, and struggling to cope.
I thought maybe it was the hour and a half round commute every day, so I started looking for roles closer to home. That is when the Head of Learning Support role presented itself. I went for it, I got it, and I was so happy and positive about the future.
What I did not realise is that I was not dealing with my burnout. I was just moving it to a different school.
Then in the summer of 2024, I attended the Gloucestershire Healthy Schools conference. That moment was a pivot point for me. I realised I had to take control of my own wellbeing and explore the science behind it, not just to help myself, but to help other teachers too.
To this day, I am passionate about teaching. I believe it is a fantastic career. And that is exactly why I want to help others like me, so that they have the capacity to manage the busyness of school life and protect their wellbeing. That is not selfish. It is the most important thing educators can do to be the best they can be in the classroom.