Starting a new job in September - panic has set in!

[confidencerequired]

Anyone got any ideas how to deal with chronic anxiety about starting a new job. How to deal with the 'Nobody will like me' and 'They'll realise I am rubbish thoughts'. Woke up this morning just wishing I had stayed where I was - although that was far from an ideal position.
Help!

[FabulousFudge]

This was me this time last year. You will be fine. If I can do it then anyone can! Good luck!

[MercuryRising]

I am having the exact same panic and I will be an NQT so I'm also worried I won't be up to the job

[2kidsintow]

I've worked at my place for 17 years and still can't sleep the night before the children go back after most holidays. And I have the dreams where they run amok or I'm completely unprepared. And I have the 'phew, they haven't realised I can't do this job' feeling after every lesson observation.

[Happy36]

I am feeling that way as I return to my job after two years! I think it´s only natural if your personality is inclined that way - teachers want perfection!

Focus on doing practical things to keep your mind off of the anxiety. Get the cupboards stocked so you don´t need to do a big supermarket shop when you´re knackered at the end of week one, get household chores out of the way, get laundry and ironing and any dry-cleaning done so that you have your clothes sorted, prepare a clear space at home for marking, get your USB, coffee mug, emergency bag of tampons*, etc. ready to take into school...

Also if you wear a watch make sure the battery is working properly.

You can even do stuff like a trial run of getting there one morning, do a recce of the area (if it´s one you don´t know well) to see where things like cashpoints and post offices are (if you tend to use those things), plus arrange hair etc. appointments while it´s still holiday time.

Good luck! You will be fab and knock them - figuratively - dead!


(*Please tell me I´m not the only person who keeps this kind of thing at work?!)

[FabulousFudge]

2kids - every single teacher I know has that exact dream the night before school starts every single year!

[FabulousFudge]

Happy - I agree with your advice. Keep busy getting as organised as possible. Bulk buy everything you can. Give your house, car etc a really thorough clean. Write lists!

[confidencerequired]

FabulousFudge - Thank you!
MercuryRising - Congratulations. Good Luck. Let us know how you get on.
Happy36 - Thank you - great ideas. Organisation is key I think - unfortunately in spite of my best efforts not one of my strengths. Def a work in progress!
2kids- ridiculous isn't it.

Trying hard to keep myself busy!

[LeBearPolar]

I am not starting a new job but I have seen my set lists for the new term and have that child in one of my sets. You know the one that everyone dreads? I am already running imaginary scenarios in my head, trying to work out how to deal with him and how to stop him derailing every single lesson for the others in the set.

This isn't a very comforting post, is it? But I suppose I wanted you to know that all of us, whether it's a new job or not, have got the 'going back' butterflies - you are not alone and you will be brilliant!

[confidencerequired]

Thank you. It is comforting to know that I am not alone and helps to put it into perspective somehow.
Good luck everyone!

[Happy36]

LeBearPolar I had ALL of "those" kids last year...in my Year 10 set so I´m keeping them this year. Other staff don´t believe me until I show them my class list, no one thought it was possible for the school´s worst to be in the same space at one time unless it´s a high security prison. I spent a considerable proportion of my energy this summer trying NOT to think about that. I wish you the best of luck.

[LeBearPolar]

Yes, it's my Yr 10 set too . I hate dreading lessons but just can't see this playing out any other way. He's one of those students who has particular problems with women teachers (authority, etc) but it would have been just too simple to put him into a set with a male teacher, obviously

[Happy36]

LeBearPolar On the bright side, by this time next year, when you´re dreading having him in your Year 11 set, you will at least have a few strategies for coping with him and you´ll be able to look back to now and feel you have learned something and therefore be rather proud of yourself. (Perhaps with your hair growing back from where you tear it out this term, too).

I can´t lie. It will be tough. But there are other kids and even this one will have some good days and some good qualities that will make you smile.

[Happy36]

Pre-term anxiety is pretty common, even for those of us not starting new jobs.

I have had an upset stomach since Wednesday (on and off). Put it down to various things, including the mother in law´s cooking, but realised it´s just pre-term nerves. Technically we´re back at work now (since Wed.) but not full-time until tomorrow and no kids for another week. So I have about 9 days of feeling fraught, then as soon as I teach the first lesson I´ll be able to relax. For the last 24 hours I´ve had terrible stomach pains (always get them when I´m nervous) and have been unable to eat anything. I get a very mild version of this feeling every Sunday afternoon / evening.

I´m trying to take my own advice, as given above to the original poster, and keep busy ("manic" is perhaps a more apt description).

How´s everyone else coping?

[CatKisser]

I'm looking forward to the bits that involve the kids as I've got a great class this year. However, there's a ton of behind the scenes politics going on already, involving a new head and many people's noses being out out of joint.

I'm dreading all that and absolutely determined to stay out of it all.

OP - you say it's a new job. You must have been the best out of a load of candidates so I'm certain you'll be brilliant!

[confidencerequired]

Thank you CatKisser.
I found the following tips on Guardian website, all pretty much common sense but might be useful. www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2014/aug/20/teacher-wellbeing-how-to-prepare-for-new-school-year?CMP=new_1194

[coffeewithchips]

This was me last year after moving to a school nearer home. Although it was hard at first, by the end of the first term I had found my feet and was getting used to the different routines of the new school. It's natural to feel like this because you get used to your old school/placement and nobody really likes change.

Just remember - they've chosen YOU from a selection of others so they must be certain that you'll do a good job. I've been teaching for a few years and I get end of the summer holidays anxiety every single year! Good luck :)

[Happy36]

Thanks, confidencerequired, the Guardian article is really helpful! I´ve managed to eat a boiled egg at last! Thank you. I hope you are also feeling more confident about starting your new job. When do you begin?


CatKisser Don´t say that! We have a new head, but I had mentally assigned that to the "good things" list. (I met him last week and he seems like "buena gente" as we say here - rough translation - a decent person, or a good egg).

[confidencerequired]

Happy36 - I am so pleased to hear that you found the Guardian article helpful and that you have managed to eat something!
I have an induction day on Friday and then start 'properly' on Monday.
Trying to stay in the present moment and keep busy so that my thoughts don't run away with me.
Hope that your new head does indeed turn out to be a good egg.

[mosaicone]

Good luck everyone!
I never could sleep the night before going back after a holiday but especially the long one!! Though sometimes just Sundays were tricky ;)
This year I am going to a new job on my 35th birthday!
I dont know anyone, I am so scared!!

[noblegiraffe]

I've already had the 'class running amok and not listening to me' dream and I'm going back to the same school I've been in for ten years!

There are going to be big changes in my school this year, new head, new HOD, joining up with other schools in an academy. That's the problem with teaching, there's always something new going on to add to your workload.

[thisonebreath]

Good luck ConfidenceRequired.

I'm in the same position as MercuryRising - starting a new job as an NQT (oldie though - I'm 37). I know what I'm teaching, I've been through the SOW, have my lessons planned for the first six weeks...and can feel the anxiety rising. I'm petrified I'm going to stand up and forget everything I've ever known.

I am telling myself that it is all just because it is so new and it will be fine - they selected me so must think I'm up to it. And I AM up to it...just petrified.

[teachymcteacher]

thisonebreath we are in very similar positions! I am also 37 and an NQT. However I only have the first week planned, oops.
I'm quite anxious and also looking forward to it.

[40thisisit]

What an ace thread!! I too am an NQT starting back this Friday. Wow thisonebreath 6 weeks planned already. You and teachymcteacher are nqt youngsters, I'm 42!!! I too have only (semi) planned the 1st week.

[40thisisit]

What an ace thread!! I too am an NQT starting back this Friday. Wow thisonebreath 6 weeks planned already. You and teachymcteacher are nqt youngsters, I'm 42!!! I too have only (semi) planned the 1st week.

[40thisisit]

Whoops soz