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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Teaching and going to the Gym

141 replies

liquoricecolours · 18/08/2021 22:05

Hey everyone, I'm doing a PGCE for the next year, any advice on having a routine for going to the gym from fellow teachers, I used to go to the gym before the pandemic but have fallen off the wagon and not been to the gym since. I'm a bit worried that I'm going to be so busy working that going to the gym will simply not happen as I would like to get back in to going to the gym.

OP posts:

LizzieVereker · 19/08/2021 22:36

I’m a FT teacher and a parent - it is possible but you have to be pretty determined!

I go to the gym every weekday morning at 6am. I can then shower there and get ready and be at my desk for 7.45am. I also manage to go 2 or 3 evenings, but this is only possible because DH is ace and does all the housework/ cooking. I stay at work and mark/ prep until about 5.45pm and then gym from 6.30pm. I don’t think I could do it I’d DH wasn’t so obliging or if my children were tiny and went to bed early, as I’d never see them.. Mine are older teens so we get time for a good chat in the evening.

Good luck with your PGCE.

surreygirl1987 · 19/08/2021 22:47

To the people who seem to think that finding time to go to the gym as a teacher is the same as anyone else with a full time job... it's really not. Especially PGCE. Toughest year of my life. The first few months all I did was work, and those who mention popping out to the gym at lunchtime are unlikely to be teachers (duties, extra curricular clubs, helping pupils with coursework etc...). OP, you are totally right to try to ring- fence time for yourself and exercise. I'd look at your timetable and work out your lightest days, or days when you have the largest blocks of planning time, and base it around that. I'd try to work in two weekdays gym sessions and one weekend gym session. Then aim for a minimum of 2 out of the 3 (if that feels like enough for you?). On your way home from school might work? Depends a bit if you intend to stay at school to get work done, or leave earlier and get work done at home in the evening. These days I prefer the former but it depends on your preferences and lifestyle.
Best of luck with the PGCE. It can be really tough but actually it depends a lot on the school you end up in, the mentor you're allocated and the support you get.

I'm a full time teacher in middle management and have a baby and a toddler (plus doing a doctorate)... I admit I find exercise tough in term time but that's largely because I don't make it a priority. At the end of the day, a decent workout (a 4-5km jog for instance) can be achieved in just half an hour. My biggest obstacle is probably tiredness and lack of motivation, but I make the excuse that it's a time issue.

surreygirl1987 · 19/08/2021 22:48

@YOUmadeabear hahaha that sounds familiar

TheWholeWorld · 19/08/2021 22:54

My husband has just finished his pgce and I'm not gonna lie, he didn't have the energy/time to do much outside work. He worked every day after school and at least one day at the weekend, both if an essay was due.

I work in a school and I go to the gym before school sometimes, there's a couple of classes at 6:30 I try to go to and I can get to work for 7:45. I have to be quite organised though.

LawnFever · 19/08/2021 22:59

To the people who seem to think that finding time to go to the gym as a teacher is the same as anyone else with a full time job... it's really not.

Most people who are teachers have never done lots of other jobs, lots/most other jobs take up time & energy

GiveMeAUserName123 · 19/08/2021 23:01

I assume nosy go in the morning before school, forget that!

I’d rather go after, come back and fall into bed!

RAOK · 19/08/2021 23:21

Your going to be exhausted most of the time as PGCE is so full on. Be kind to yourself if all you can do is work, eat and sleep. I would just try and go at weekends to start with.

RAOK · 19/08/2021 23:21

You’re even 🙊

RAOK · 19/08/2021 23:22

@Funnylittlefloozie

Is this about going to the gym? It isn't totally clear from your post

😂😂😂

Snoozer11 · 19/08/2021 23:58

@LawnFever

To the people who seem to think that finding time to go to the gym as a teacher is the same as anyone else with a full time job... it's really not.

Most people who are teachers have never done lots of other jobs, lots/most other jobs take up time & energy

No matter how many times you say this, they won't listen.

Stellaroses · 20/08/2021 00:15

"other jobs take energy and time"

No, I'm sorry, but this is nonsense. Most of my colleagues have done other jobs, as have I, and of course many of us have friends, family and spouses in other areas of work. Close friends who are lawyers, in retail, consultants and other time-consuming roles. None of them have so little time to themselves.
There is full time, demanding job (normal teaching is one) and then there is the PGCE year in term time.

speakout · 20/08/2021 06:20

Stellaroses

None of them have so little time to themselves.

But it is term time only and for a total of less than a year.
Really does not compare to a hard permanent job.
At best someone doing a PGCE will take 9 months out of your life when you dont have much time to exercise.
Many many people are in a worse situation..

My DD is a nurse - you think that is a walk in the park?
My OH works 70 hours a week.
Many people running a business work 7 days a week.
As a mum of small children and zero family support I barely had time to pee never mind go to the gym.
Teachers have hard jobs, but no harder than many other positions.

UnsuitableHat · 20/08/2021 06:30

Your spare time might be quite full of work when you’re on placement. Maybe go early morning both weekend days?

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 20/08/2021 06:43

Ignore the teacher bashing OP, or get used to it as I'm sure you have noticed all threads about teaching end up like this.

PGCE year is very hard to fit gym in as you have so much to do and it all takes ages at first. My gym doesn't even open until 6.30 so before school would not have worked for me, and after school there's a lot to do as well. I used to get to school for 7 and leave about 6.30, and in fact I still do those hours as SLT so I go running at 5, back at 5.45, showered and dressed by 6.45 and I only have a short drive to school. In other jobs and before I could drive I bar had an hour commute so fitting exercise in was impossible and I became really unfit!

My advice would be to try to exercise as home or run outside as you don't have to factor in travel time to and from the gym unless it's really close. Maybe do classes in the holidays, if you're not totally wiped out.

It's great to think about how you will fit in exercise as you will definitely need something to help you switch off and give you headspace. When I'm running I go through all the things I've got on that day in my head, and it does help me to start the day with a clear head. It's also when my kids are asleep so I'm more available in the evenings.

Good luck with the PGCE and welcome to the profession!

PastryLlama · 20/08/2021 07:00

I go to the gym at 5.30am so that I can shower and be at work at 7am.

Worked in other industries. None ate up my time as much as the PGCE year did. Depends if you work at a crap school too. I used to do 65-70 hour weeks standard but my new school values their staff so it’s more like 50-55 now. Much better work life balance.

Ignore the teacher bashers, they are nasty and ignorant. No idea.

babouchette · 20/08/2021 07:11

I agree with PP, running or cycling to work might be easier to fit in with a gym visit as you are essentially using your travel time.

Icenii · 20/08/2021 07:23

Leave the idea if the gym until after the exams? Focus on something easier. 20 minutes run outside several times a week. Before or after work. It can be fitted in, it's whether you want to fit it in.

Get a 30 day app for situps, squats, pressups or what ever and do that. Do it between revising etc as a 10 min break.

Backtomyoldname · 20/08/2021 07:28

In my experience of doing my own pgce, one of my children doing one and monitoring others doing them you might find it hard to go every day.

There will be times in your year where you have little free time.

This does depend on…… travel time, subject and nature of school.

But I’d say go for it as much as you can. Its important to make time for yourself.

Once the year is over teaching in your own room, with your own class/es if far easier than your pgce year.

All the best.

robotcollision · 20/08/2021 07:49

@Cherryana

I used to go at 6am. Drive to school, have a shower, eat breakfast and start a 8am.

I always packed my clothes, shower stuff, breakfast and lunch the night before.
I kept a hairdryer at school.

The routine of it made my life more productive.

That's what I'd suggest. A gym near school. 45 mins- 1 hr class or workout, shower there and in school by 8am.

Treezan82 · 20/08/2021 07:56

I'm a teacher and I think if I'm honest, PGCE year was very full on. You'll find you naturally have a quieter day mid week so you could go after school then but I always needed that time for planning. Friday after school would probably work, or weekend. If I were you I would aim for once a week.

Eralos · 20/08/2021 08:01

I’m not sure where people have got the idea that in teaching you have to work u til midnight every night. It’s a job that can be done in the hours of 7am-5/6pm. Just go to the gym after work like any other job. Or find a 24 hour gym abs go before work. If you’re working until midnight you’re doing something wrong. I’m a teacher and I start early, work through lunch and get home for about 5. I don’t work on weekends.

PhoboPhobia · 20/08/2021 08:03

No advice but wanted to come on and say good luck. As demonstrated in this thread, I’m surprised we have any new teachers joining the profession these days.

I also have a full on full time job but it doesn’t mean I don’t have empathy for people in other professions. Why is MN obsessed with competitive ‘who has it harder’?

(Possibly bitter having worked in one of the other professions that continually gets bashed!)

Antsinyourpanta · 20/08/2021 08:03

00:15Stellaroses

"other jobs take energy and time"

No, I'm sorry, but this is nonsense.

Its nonsense that other jobs take energy and time?

Teaching is often undervalued, underpaid and stressful and of course teachers work long hours, especially in pgce year but it's really not teacher bashing to suggest that some other jobs are also stressful with very long hours.

Some junior drs work 90+ hours a week, and there was a news story a few months ago about Goldman Sachs employees wanting to have a cap at 80 hours a week. (Some were working 100 hours a week)
My own DH is self employed - he left the house for work yesterday at 7.30am and got in after midnight having been at work/commuting all that time. Admittedly yesterday was extreme but 12 hour days are pretty standard for him.

Monestera · 20/08/2021 08:06

I’m a teacher and I start early, work through lunch and get home for about 5. I don’t work on weekends.

PE?

Heyha · 20/08/2021 08:08

Why don't you just start your course (well, wait til you're on placement) and see how you get on before deciding if you can fit it in? It's hardly life and death and nobody else here can know your exact routine.

PS nobody here can plan your lessons for you or your route to work so do use the time to get used to having to make decisions independently 🙄

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