MASTER TEACHER SERIES

Teacher Burnout Is Real: How I Healed and Reclaimed My Joy

After twenty years in the classroom, I almost lost myself. Here’s how I fought to get my peace — and my life — back.

Sometimes healing begins with the simplest things: a quiet moment, a blank page, and the courage to start again. Photo was AI generated by the author.

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You don’t notice it at first.
It creeps in slowly — disguised as fatigue, stress, or just “a bad week.” You think maybe it’s the time of year. Or the kids. Or the curriculum. You push through because that’s what teachers do.

But one day you wake up, and the thought of walking into your classroom makes your chest tighten. Your mind feels foggy. Your heart isn’t in it. And no amount of caffeine, PD, or Pinterest lesson plans can fix it.

That’s burnout.

I know it intimately. I gave over two decades of my life to teaching — heart, soul, body, and more weekends than I care to count. And I don’t regret the love I gave. But I do regret waiting so long to love myself enough to slow down and make self-care a priority.

Burnout Is More Than Stress

Let’s get this clear: burnout isn’t just being tired. It’s the slow erosion of joy, purpose, and energy. It’s…