Teaching and going to the Gym

[liquoricecolours]

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.

I think fitting in regular gym going with full time work (never mind full time plus study) plus kids/having a life is very tricky and requires dedication. I've never managed it and have stuck to running, and home workouts as you can literally do that when you can fit it in.
Other suggestions re pre-booking classes or slots seem sensible.
If its really important to you I think you should try and make it work, but if you can maybe cut yourself some slack for a while.

It's the feeling that you've never actually finished. It's the fact there's always something else that needs doing. It's how unpredictable it all is: I'll plan to do an hour from 4-5 prepping, then 5-545 marking then drive to my class at 630. But I've suddenly been hit with a load of phone calls -home-. And an urgent request from a -parent- colleague. And that data needs looking at again. And can I see you about that -essay- report?

With a few changes this happens regularly in every professional level job I've ever had.

Admittedly I don't have to deal with a classroom of kids or teenagers, I'd hate that and that's why I won't swop my job for teaching.

surreygirl1987 I'll bite.

I worked part time, 2 days a week for 10 years when my DCs were little. I did all the nursery drop offs and puck ups, all the school runs and wraparound childminder runs, all the parents evenings, all the kiddy admin. Loved my days with them but when I was working I was up at 5.30am to get showered, got kids ready, drove 30 mins to nursery, taught all day, did marking and meetings, collected from nursery at 6pm, drove home, cooked dinner, did bedtime, did more work.

A full time opportunity came along, eldest is 10, youngest 7. Youngest is at my current school, 5 mins from home, eldest is at juniors next door.

For 10 years DH had the opportunity to progress in his career, have weeks away with work, do courses, etc whilst I took a back seat. It was my turn to have a proper career and I loved it. DCs now stay up quite late in the evening so even if I get home at 7pm after the gym I have 2 hours with them. Plus, working on site I'm there for them if they are sick.

I'm going back to part time in September but yes, for a year I was full time with 2 DCs and still went to the gym.

@surreygirl1987 I didn't tag you properly sorry. ⬆️

Plus, on evenings when I didn't go to the gym or during the day (DH has a managerial position so flexible diary) DH does his own exercise so it's not like I'm the only one exercising. I've had to prioritise my health after a long period of illness and getting fitter has been hugely beneficial to my health.

Haven't read the whole thread... read too many posts from people indignant about you wanting advice from people who've experienced a PGCE

You're right to ask people who've done the course because, as I'm sure you've been warned, it is utterly draining and will consume so much energy (physically, mentally and especially emotionally). I've done several jobs and I'm educated to PhD level, but the PGCE is the most difficult thing I've ever done.

If you can fit the gym in, it might be a nice escape and good for your mental health, but don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get to the gym at all!

Good luck with the course!

@Fizbosshoes

Weve deviated from the thread but I know lots of teachers in RL and most of them are not like the typical MN teacher. They do have free time to do sports, hobbies and go away for weekends etc, along with friends from other professions (admittedly they are not in pgce year) I certainly couldnt be a teacher - the amount of admin, meetings, changing curriculum, covid protocols, dealing with parents ...before you even get to trying to engage a class of children and make lessons interesting.(and I'm sure lots of other stuff that I am unaware of) But I think it is a little bit patronising of some on here to explain that you wont possibly be able to understand having a stressful and all consuming job, working long hours, or there being an unpredictable nature to it ...unless you are, or live with a teacher. MN teacher ; teachers work longer, more stressful hours than any other job MN non teachers ; some other jobs exist with stress and long hours MN teachers ; teacher bashing!! It always ends like this.

Actually, it went more like this:

OP: can I have advice from teachers about fitting in the gym during a PGCE?
Non-teachers: wHy oNly TeaCheRs?! Other people work hard!
Teachers: from our actual experience, the PGCE is extremely time-consuming etc.
Non-teachers: other people work hard... without holidays! 🙄

It is teacher bashing. Other professions are completely irrelevant to what was asked, and they're only mentioned to dig at the OP and teachers generally.

F/T teacher here. Far to knackered for the gym at the end of a working day!!

Eralos
Quite
“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.”

Bet you are not key stage 2 primary with 30 maths, English and topic books to be marked every day - as well as 6 lessons to be planned for 5 levels of differentiation?!

Bet you are not key stage 2 primary with 30 maths, English and topic books to be marked every day - as well as 6 lessons to be planned for 5 levels of differentiation?!

Quite. I am shuddering just thinking about going back after the holidays.

It's an early start with many teachers arriving at work between 7-8am. Could you train after work? Maybe you leave at 4/4.30pm, work out, eat and do some planning in the evening. I kept training through my PGCE but had no kids of my own. You'll have to be very disciplined and timetabled to fit your fitness training, planning and writing lesson plans, and keeping your evidence folder up to speed.

It is teacher bashing. Other professions are completely irrelevant to what was asked, and they're only mentioned to dig at the OP and teachers generally.

It’s the complete opposite, other professions are in no way irrelevant- it’s the assumption that only teachers possibly work so hard/so many hours as opposed to other jobs that’s just irritating.

From the initial question to the patronising ‘no other job can possibly be so demanding/time consuming/unpredictable’ and the utter disregard that lots of people have busy stressful jobs.

The only thing that could be viewed as bashing is from people irritated by the holier than thou attitude that some people project and the insinuation that nobody else could possibly understand.

It’s not teachers being bashed, it’s that ridiculous attitude.

A more reasonable question would be how do people with busy lives fit in exercise to their schedule, the specific job is utterly irrelevant.

It isnt teacher bashing.

And doing a PGCE is a red herring. How long does that last? 9 months at most?
So no different to many vocational courses, with students also having to work part time too.
I would be interested in hearing a qualified teacher explainig their working week and hours- any takers?

*It’s the complete opposite, other professions are in no way irrelevant- it’s the assumption that only teachers possibly work so hard/so many hours as opposed to other jobs that’s just irritating.

From the initial question to the patronising ‘no other job can possibly be so demanding/time consuming/unpredictable’ and the utter disregard that lots of people have busy stressful jobs.

The only thing that could be viewed as bashing is from people irritated by the holier than thou attitude that some people project and the insinuation that nobody else could possibly understand.

It’s not teachers being bashed, it’s that ridiculous attitude.

A more reasonable question would be how do people with busy lives fit in exercise to their schedule, the specific job is utterly irrelevant.*

Totally agree.

@Winter2020

Eralos Quite “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.”

Bet you are not key stage 2 primary with 30 maths, English and topic books to be marked every day - as well as 6 lessons to be planned for 5 levels of differentiation?!

Hate this constant race to the bottom. Not sure why it's a prize so many people wish to win, that you even compete against those in your own sector to 'prove' you have it worse than even them.

@lawnfever

The OP:
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.

Tell me, where is "the assumption that only teachers possibly work so hard/so many hours as opposed to other jobs" that you and others have found "so irritating"? I can't see why anyone would even need to mention how hard others work other than to bring the poor OP down a peg or two and to teacher bash. She simply wants advice from others who have experience of the same course.

@speakout

It isnt teacher bashing.

And doing a PGCE is a red herring. How long does that last? 9 months at most?
So no different to many vocational courses, with students also having to work part time too.
I would be interested in hearing a qualified teacher explainig their working week and hours- any takers?

If you'd done a PGCE, you'd know it's not a red herring. It's not the same as doing a teacher's job. That's why she's asking. If you're clueless, that's fine, but why post as if you're not?

Do you need to commit to a gym membership?

C25K is 30 minutes 3 times a week, so quite easy to fit into a busy week. Would save you money on the membership, time for commuting to the gym, and potential embarrassment of seeing students there! Or could you get something like an exercise bike to use at home?

On a side note, if you have audible then I really recommend "Atomic Habits" by James Clear.

FFS a teacher who can't spell 'too'

@elkey yes! That's exactly how the conversation went!

@waveafterwaveslowlydrifting
"I worked part time, 2 days a week for 10 years when my DCs were little. I did all the nursery drop offs and puck ups, all the school runs and wraparound childminder runs, all the parents evenings, all the kiddy admin. Loved my days with them but when I was working I was up at 5.30am to get showered, got kids ready, drove 30 mins to nursery, taught all day, did marking and meetings, collected from nursery at 6pm, drove home, cooked dinner, did bedtime, did more work."

Gosh. I have to admit, I do find this hugely impressive! Although I can see why you only did a year full-time... I'm HoD and it is a real grind. Good on you for making it work. My husband is also a teacher which is helpful in some ways but not in others.

When I did teacher training I had a horse that I saw twice a day and rode once. I did literally nothing else though. I ate maximum once a day and used to wash my hair on Sunday nights because I wouldn't have time in the week.
There's probably a happy medium.

I suppose I clicked on the thread because I was intrigued how there could be anything unreasonable about teaching and going to the gym (there isnt) or how they were linked.
Although the OP asked for experience from people who had done PGCEs, it could (probably, despite protests) have been applied to other demanding jobs with long and unsociable hours.

@fizbosshoes actually I changed gyms because my pupils were always there. When I clicked on this thread I wondered if it was a similar issue.

@surreygirl1987 I'm a HoD. Have had to deal with students taking photos of teachers at the gym/swimming etc and then these making the rounds.

Go the gym, enjoy, but go FAR AWAY FROM SCHOOL.

Same applies with living really, otherwise you spend your whole life looking over your shoulder